Basketball

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 29, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Since the moment Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis stepped foot on the Illinois campus, talk of his NBA future was unavoidable. Scouts, analysts, and coaches alike touted the Lithuanian guard as a potential lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

But when June 25 arrived, the one-time projected lottery pick slid to the No. 20 overall selection.

After the draft concluded, a source with NBA ties shed light on why Jakucionis went from lottery lock to a late first-rounder.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst June 28, […]

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

June 25, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy ESPN)

Will Riley was seen as a late first or early second round pick heading into the NBA Draft Wednesday night, but Riley was easily in the 1st round, going at #21 to the Washington Wizards. 

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

June 25, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy ESPN)

There are always lottery picks that slide later in the first round, but sometimes you find a great fit in that late first round. For Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis, the fall to #20 led to a tremendous opportunity with the Miami Heat. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer June 25, […]

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer June 25, […]

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and several members of the Illini coaching staff will be in New York City to view two one-year talents get drafted for the first time in program history.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 25, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

To suggest tonight is a historic moment for the University of Illinois men’s basketball program is a giant understatement.

Neither Kasparas Jakucionis nor Will Riley were born the last time Illinois had two first round picks in the same draft class. Because there’s been a 20-year gap between when Deron Williams and Luther Head heard their name called in 2005 by then-National Basketball Association commissioner David Stern at Madison Square Garden and tonight’s 2025 draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood doesn’t know when this kind of moment will happen again.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 24, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – In March 2017, Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman hired Brad Underwood as the 18th head coach in the program’s history. During his introductory press conference, Underwood laid out his vision for the Illini and didn’t hesitate to say, “Illinois is a dream job for me.”

In a conversation at an AAU event, Underwood shared with me a few personal goals he hoped to accomplish during his tenure in Champaign.

Ked's Recruiting By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – It’s that time of year again when IlliniGuys offers subscribers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Illinois basketball’s summer workouts and early progress updates.

As many fans are aware, some players have yet to arrive in Champaign. We’ll provide updates on them when they do, but for now, here’s what we’ve learned from sources close to the program.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men’s basketball program has made waves with its international recruiting success, but the staff hasn’t taken its eyes off top domestic talent either, and when they target players in the United States, they’re going after the biggest fish in the pond.

One of those names is Alex Constanza, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound combo guard from the Class of 2026, ranked #17 nationally by ESPN.

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

June 17, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

With less than two weeks until the NBA draft on June 25th, the Illini have two players mocked in the first round and will be on the minds and on the tongues of the talking heads on draft night. The question remains as to where the one-and-done stars will be selected on Wednesday evening in Brooklyn.

With that in mind, IlliniGuys caught up with 3 NBA scouts and executives that work for 3 different franchises, and they gave us some anonymous takes on what they see for the Illini duo.

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood confirmed Monday details to what has led to Zvonimir Ivisic, David Mirkovic and Mihailo Petrovic being absent for the start of summer workouts.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Illinois men’s basketball program began summer workouts Monday without any of its three international additions to the 2025-26 season.

Third-year transfer portal center Zvonimir Ivisic and the pair of first-year college basketball signees Mihailo Petrovic and David Mirkovic were in present with the rest of Brad Underwood’s makeshift roster for the upcoming season for various off-the-court reasons related to the Illini head coach’s plan to invest heavily in European players.

Ivisic, who is a transfer from the University of Kentucky and Arkansas programs and is the twin brother of Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic, is in Champaign after signing a Big Ten Athletics Aid Agreement in April. However, as we now flip the calendar to mid-June, the 7-foot-2 and 245-pound athlete from Vodice, Croatia has yet to be officially admitted as a student to the University of Illinois. Underwood stated he and his staff have been required to “get all of his international [transcripts] as well and get it all translated as well”.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Iowa Athletics)

For the next several days, I will break down one current men’s and women’s basketball player each day and discuss what expectations might be for the upcoming season.

Today's Double Dribble 2-1 Focus: Aaliyah Guyton and Keaton Wagler

Player Biography: Aaliyah Guyton transferred from Iowa, most call it staying home or coming back home, but the 5-foot-8 guard appears to be more drawn to the Illinois coaching staff, family environment, and opportunities than anything else. Illinois head coach Shauna Green was once again able to recruit the Peoria, Illinois, prep standout and demonstrate why Illinois is a good fit for her.

One Iowa source cited that Aaliyah’s father, A.J. Guyton, former first-team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year in 2000, wasn’t pleased with her development in Iowa City. ESPN HoopGurlz ranked her the No. 58 player in the country coming out of high school. She had several big-time offers including Ohio State, Mississippi State, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, and Nebraska.

What we know:

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood confirmed 21-year-old wing Ty Rodgers has suffered a major knee injury that will require a medical procedure to fix and will “require some time away”. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 16, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.  — Ty Rodgers’ status for the upcoming 2025-26 season is currently in doubt after suffering a major knee injury that will require surgery. 

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood confirmed Monday in a summer media session that the 6-foot-6 wing suffered the injury while playing pickup basketball earlier this summer and that Rodgers will require a medical procedure to fix this injury before he can again be medically cleared for basketball-related activities. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

For the next several days, I will break down one current men’s and women’s basketball player each day and discuss what expectations might be for the upcoming season.

Today’s Double Dribble 2-1 Focus features Keaton Wagler and Aaliyah Guyton

Player Biography: Keaton Wagler is a 6-foot-4, 175-pound shooting guard from Shawnee, Kansas. A four-star high school recruit, Illinois believes Wagler’s upside could land him a meaningful role on a Big Ten roster. Head coach Brad Underwood was sold on Wagler due to his consistent winning impact at every level he's played at. He chose Illinois over Minnesota, DePaul, Saint Louis, Tulsa, and Colorado State.

What we know: