Junior forward Fred Nkemdi's jump shot is not what impressed Illinois head coach Bruce Weber.

Nor is it Nkemdi's rebounding ability. Or his defensive play.

"He's a big body and we told him the first thing, if you're a big body kid, you got a better chance," Weber said.

Weber has given the 6-feet-6-inches, 220-pound Nkemdi the chance to practice with the men's basketball team for the next few days. After that point a decision will be made if Nkemdi is going to be a permanent member of the Illinois team.

"It's a great opportunity they have given me," Nkemdi said. "They have given me a chance to walk on to the team, learn the offense and hopefully help them out at practice."

Nkemdi played junior college basketball at Morton College in Cicero, Ill., before transferring to Illinois. At Morton College, he was a member of the Skyway Conference 2001-2002 All-Academic Team.

In high school he played at Riverside-Brookfield. Throughout his whole basketball career Nkemdi has found himself playing in the post.

"Because every team I have always been on I have been the bigger guy, I have always played with the taller guys," Nkemdi said. "So that is my most natural position, is the four."

When practicing with the Illini there are six players taller than Nkemdi on the team. The only player he could potentially guard who is his same size is junior forward Roger Powell. At Morton College, Nkemdi was the tallest player on the team and the team's center.

Nkemdi is not too familiar with Weber's motion offense. He says he could play the power forward or small forward for Illinois. Now Nkemdi is taking the time to learn the offense before he sets in on one position with the Illini.

"Once I figure out the offense and everything, I should be able to shadow something at a given position," Nkemdi said. "Right now I am playing the four."

Wait On The Redshirt

With all the returning talent to the basketball team, redshirting the freshman has been thrown around. Weber said he has not decided on it yet and nothing would be done until next Saturday at the earliest.

"That's right before that first exhibition game, if we'd even do it," Weber said. "Then you can always hold a kid out of the first exhibition and see how things go and then maybe throw him into the mix next one."

Weber has not brought up redshirting this season with any of the freshmen.