A once-top target for John Groce’s Illinois staff has now won NBA Finals MVP.

Jalen Brunson was the one of the top players in the 2015 class out of Stevenson (Lincolnshire) after winning the IHSA 4A state title.

Brunson’s decision came down to the Illini and Villanova in late 2014. He went with the Wildcats.

Brunson went on to win two titles with Villanova and famously graduated in three years before darting for the NBA where he spent time with the Mavericks before joining the Knicks.

Now, Brunson may be proclaimed the best player in the world after scoring 45 points in Saturday’s Game 5 to lift New York to its first NBA title in 53 years.

Imagine the world where he committed to Illinois.

Is Groce still here? Does Illinois find a way to get back to the tourney sooner? Do we ever get Ayo, then Kofi, then TSJ, then KJ/Will, then Keaton?

Probably not.

It still probably ends poorly, just a few years later for Groce, meaning Brad Underwood never arrives in Champaign, and we’re in a totally different timeline.

Congrats to (my high school classmate) Jalen and the Knicks! I think it worked out in the long run for all of the parties involved.