Hoosiers Now

Big Ten Roundup (July 24): 3-Star Forward Commits to Illinois, 4-Star DL Commits to PSU

Three-star forward Jason Jakstys is staying in-state to play for Brad Underwood and the Illinois Fighting Illini, while James Franklin and the Penn State football team landed its second four-star defensive lineman of the weekend on Saturday.

Daniel Olinger

Big Ten Roundup (July 24): 3-Star Forward Commits to Illinois, 4-Star DL Commits to PSU
Big Ten Roundup (July 24): 3-Star Forward Commits to Illinois, 4-Star DL Commits to PSU /
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Jason Jakstys — a three-star forward out of Yorkville, Ill. — will only need a two-hour drive to reach his new home for his college ball.

The 6-foot-10, three-star forward committed to Illinois on Sunday to play for head coach Brad Underwood, making him the Illini's second committed basketball prospect in the class of 2024.

In football news, James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions landed T.A. Cunningham — yet another four-star defensive lineman set to play for PSU in 2024. 

Here's everything you need to know in today's Big Ten Roundup:

Jason Jakstys Commits to Illinois

While Jakstys isn't as high a profile commitment as four-star guard Morez Johnson was for Underwood and the Illini, he still adds to a 2024 recruiting class that is coming together quite nicely. 

The lanky forward announced his commitment to Illinois on Twitter (I will not call it "X" until I'm legally forced to) on Sunday evening. 

Jakstys is the 47th-overall ranked power forward in the class of 2024, and the 7th-overall ranked prospect in the state of Illinois for the class, according to 247 Sports. Illinois beat out mid-majors Drake, Illinois State, Indiana State and Lehigh for his commitment. 

It's still early in the cycle, but with the four-star Johnson and the three-star Jakstys already in tow, Underwood has assembled what is currently rated as the 17th-best 2024 recruiting class in the country, according to 247 Sports. 

T.A. Cunningham Commits to Penn State

Every day in the roundup it seems like one of Ohio State, Michigan or Penn State have added another four-star or five-star to their ranks, and it's no different today.

Four-star defensive lineman T.A. Cunningham out of Miami Central High School committed to James Franklin and the Nittany Lions on Saturday, making him their 11th four-star commit in the class of 2024 already, according to 247 Sports. 

Cunningham announced his commitment on a YouTube live show with On3, and PSU beat out several recruiting powerhouses in Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Miami to land him. 

For more on the commitment of Cunningham, check out the full story on our sister site All Penn State. 

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Daniel Olinger
DANIEL OLINGER

Daniel Olinger is a Sports Illustrated/FanNation reporter for HoosiersNow.com. He graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in both journalism and economics. 

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