basketball recruiting

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 8, 2025

The Illini are back home for a Wednesday night battle with the Penn State Nittany Lions. PSU sits at 12-3 and have presented problems for Illinois over the years, with Illinois losing 4 in a row in this matchup, including a colossal meltdown a year ago. Now the new look Illinois are as hot as ever, winning 4 in a row including an historic beat down of Oregon, and look to come home for a pair of Big Ten wins.

Let’s look at the matchup.

Setting the Stage

#13ap/15 Illinois (11-3, 3-1) vs. Penn State (12-3, 2-2)
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 // 8 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: BTN – Jeff Levering (Play-by-Play), Shon Morris (Analyst), & Andy Katz (Sideline)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Meet the Lions

*Penn State is 12-3 on the season, 2-2 in Big Ten play, and heads to #13 Illinois Wednesday night for the first of three-straight matchups vs. top-20 teams.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Wooden Award Website CHAMPAIGN, […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 7, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois basketball team has a roster filled with potential NBA draft prospects this season; guard Kasparas Jakucionis, center Tomislav Ivisic, wing Ben Humrichous, and standout freshman guard Will Riley.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 6, 2025

The Illini struggled at times coming off of their domination of Oregon, but they came away with the Pacific Sweep over Washington 81-77 to move to 3-1 in Big Ten play and 11-3 overall. Kasparas Jakucionis led the way with 18 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, while Tre White had 17 and 7 and Kylan Boswell added 14, all in the second half to lead the way. Illinois led by as many as 17 points in the first half and never trailed in the game.

Here’s a look back.

These 3 Things

By IlliniGuys Staff January 5, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 4, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

I’m going to be a wet blanket on our Final Four projections and San Antonio reservations. The Illini are not as good as they looked on Friday night. Nobody is, at least every night. The Illini shot 16-29 from 3 point range and dominated #9 Oregon 109-77. They moved up to 5th in the NCAA NET and 8th on KenPom and the hype is over the top for now. But I will say this, and I have said this for 7 months. The upside, or ceiling, of this team is the Final Four and a potential national title, but the floor is still lower.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BIHmqxCzxI    

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 4, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has revitalized a basketball program that was teetering on the brink of irrelevance under former head coach John Groce, who led the team from 2012 to 2017. Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman decided it was time for a change.

Enter Underwood—a beacon of hope for the Illini. On the court, Underwood portrays a tough, no-nonsense persona, signaling that when you face Illinois, you'd better come prepared to battle.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 28, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Crosnier Julien/KMSP)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois men’s basketball program will have a rare opportunity to host a potential recruit during Sunday afternoon’s game.

Illinois will welcome Jonas Boulefaa, a 6-foot-9 power forward who currently plays for Pôle France, as the Illini take on Chicago State at 1:00 p.m. CT at the State Farm Center.

Kylan Boswell grew up watching the Braggin’ Rights game as an Illini fan but his 36 efficient minutes led Illinois to a second straight win over Missouri.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 22, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When asked to describe his backcourt mate on this Illinois team, Kasparas Jakucionis needed just one word to accurately depict Kylan Boswell’s value. 

Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Illini Insider and C0-Host IlliniGuys Sports […]

Illinois get 20 points from sophomore guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger […]

By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular 

December 20, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

(Editor's Note - Larry is the co-founder of IlliniGuys.com. His journalism career spans nearly four decades and includes more than 60 major championships worldwide and thousands of shows on CNN, TNT, and NBA TV. He is a Murrow, Emmy, and Peabody Award winner who is entering his second season as host of the WNBA on Ion Friday night studio show.)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - It's almost 51 weeks to the day when Terrence Shannon Jr.'s life turned upside down.  The All-American candidate found himself in Lawrence, Kansas answering to a rape allegation while, hundreds of miles away, he was being temporarily removed from the Illinois basketball team. The latter being reversed three weeks later, but only after he won a temporary restraining order against the school he represented.

Shannon maintained his innocence and was later cleared of all charges in Kansas after the season ended and, on February 15th, another step of putting one of the most bizarre turn of events in Illinois athletic history further in the rear-view mirror will be taken when the university will raise his jersey to the rafters.

No one is more deserving.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 17, 2024

BETTENDORF, Iowa – The Quad Cities has added another nationally ranked prospect to Illinois' recruiting radar. Jhaliana Guy, a 5-foot-9 combo guard, has showcased an exceptional athletic ability that has drawn the attention of 25 college programs, including the Illini.

Guy, ranked in the top 10 nationally by ESPNW, displayed her talents Friday night when the Bettendorf Bulldogs faced the Assumption Knights. While she didn’t dominate the scoreboard on this night, she did finish with 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting. But here's why she's drawing so much interest:

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) (Cover photo courtesy Joe […]