Basketball

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

April 27, 2022

The rankings for the class of 2024 are right around the corner, but one thing you can be sure of - Illinois will have two of the nation's top 50 in the class:  Morez Johnson and now ZZ Clark, who recently committed to the Illini.

I talked to ZZ while he was in Champaign last week.

"This is a great feeling for me; words can't explain how I feel right now. I just committed to the University of Illinois. I'm with my family right now, my brother Skyy is on his official visit, but for me, this an unofficial. But I get to see how it's all done," said Clark.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

April 26, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Prep Hoops)

Photo courtesy Quad City Times

Quad City high school basketball fans have bragged about the talent level in the area for years. So many times that if there was a major Division I prospect, it was certain that they would end up at Iowa, Iowa State or UNI. Especially if they played football.

The last two great Rock Island Rocks who had a chance to play for the Illini went elsewhere. Brea Beal, a consensus high school All-American, picked South Carolina, where she just won a national title.  At the time of her decision, Beal said, "Illinois was my second choice; they did a great job of recruiting me, and it's my home state."

Chasson Randle, who was Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois, picked Stanford over his favorite team growing up, the Fighting Illini. Randle finished his college career as the all-time leading scorer in Cardinal history with 2,375 points. Randle did not have a great visit to Champaign which sent him to Stanford.

Now comes Amarion Nimmers, an outstanding 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard who plays for the Rocks. The soon-to-be Class of 2022 graduate played his AAU basketball for the Illinois Wolves and is just now making it on the scene with all the top programs.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

April 22, 2022

Courtney Ramey, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound point guard from Webster Groves, Missouri who played his collegiate basketball for the Texas Longhorns, entered the transfer portal a couple of weeks ago.

Illinois jumped on the Ramey train early along with several other schools: UConn, Missouri, Marquette, Kentucky, Villanova, DePaul, Maryland, Gonzaga, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, and Wisconsin.

According to IlliniGuys.Com insider Brad Sturdy, Illinois is still in play with Ramey when it appeared the ship might have sailed.

April 25, 2022

IlliniGuys.com's Brad Sturdy spent the weekend watching Illinois prospects at the EYBL event in Indianapolis.  The entire Illini coaching staff was in Nap City as well, pursuing the talent and even handing out some new offers to kids in the class of 2023,

Upon his return home Sunday night, Sturdy opened up for questions from IlliniGuys members and the following is the exchange.  Sturdy also adds some additional notes from the weekend.  What Illinois coaches think about transfer center and Kofi Cockburn replacement Dain Dainja and what makes the Illini's class of 2022 commits so special and unique?

April 24, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy ID Prospects)

IlliniGuys' Brad Sturdy is watching it all at the EYBL this weekend in Indianapolis.  He posted this on the IlliniGuys.com message forums late last night with more nuggets to come later today:

I was able to watch Meanstreets 16U (2024) squad twice today, they are playing up at 17U. Some thoughts. Illinois was the only school to watch them.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

April 23, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy The Depaulia)

David Jones, a 6-foot-6, 195-pound small forward from Scott Depot, West Virginia, is a sophomore  many Illinois fans will remember. The Illini went toe-to-toe with DePaul for Jones two years ago. But at the end, he wanted to be a Blue Demon.

Now Jones is in the NCAA transfer portal, one of more than 1,400 players looking for a better situation elsewhere. And Illinois is in the mix.

Jones is considered one of the top players in the portal.  This southpaw does not look as though he is going hard because of his demeanor, but Jones is a great athlete and very effective. 

Against Georgetown in February, Jones recorded the first-triple double in DePaul history. He had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. He is another player who can score on all three levels and the kind of athlete the Illinois coaching staff is collecting.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

April 21, 2022

Now that it is official that All-American center Kofi Cockburn will try to play professionally next year in the NBA, Illinois must keep moving.

The Illini already possess the nation's 10th best-recruiting class in 2022, but expect to really hit the transfer portal hard in the coming weeks.

A name that has surfaced before in the transfer portal and now may get more attention is Manny Bates, a 6-foot-11, 230-pound forward from Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The North Carolina State big man played in just one game before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury this year and then choosing to become the fourth player to leave the Wolfpack program this spring.

April 21, 2022

 IlliniGuys Staff

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

So...it's the morning after.  The smoke has cleared and the Illini now step into a future that will be defined in the history books as the "post-Ayo & Kofi" era.

The impact that All-Americans Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn made on the Illinois program can and will never be denied.  From a record-setting 21-loss season to a seat at the table as one of the top 20 teams in the country.  And climbing.  With two conference championship banners as conquests of the nation's toughest conference, you could argue their current status is even more exclusive than that.

As Cockburn waves goodbye and now works to follow his ex-Illini teammate into the NBA, the Illinois coaching staff can now move forward.  

So what will this roster look like this fall?  Who are the top targets to fill the open scholarships as the Illini chase after a repeat Big Ten regular season title?

IlliniGuys' Brad Sturdy always has the goods.  He was the first to tell you Tuesday afternoon that Kofi was turning pro and last night he delivered the very latest on who could be next up.

It's a fun time to be an Illini fan!

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood knows his squad will be drastically different without the focus of a 7-foot 290-pound All-American in the middle. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 20. 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN -- We’ve reached the point where the basketball program at Illinois must now figure out how to function in a post-Kofi Cockburn world. 

The 7-foot, 290-pound center has literally and figuratively been the figure the Illini have revolved around on both ends of the playing floor for the better part of two seasons. Over the last three seasons with Cockburn on the roster, Illinois has produced a 68-27 overall record, a 44-16 mark in Big Ten Conference play and won the 2021 Big Ten Conference Tournament championship and won a share of the 2022 league regular-season title. 

On the date of April 20, 2022, Brad Underwood stood in the Fighting Illini Center for Excellence offices beginning the explanation of what his team could look like and how it’ll function without arguably the most dominant center in program history and in all likelihood, all five starters from the 2021-22 season. 

“I think we’ll just be different…and that’s okay. I’m not afraid to change,” Underwood said. 

Kofi Cockburn ends his career in college basketball by […]

April 19, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

Illini fans looking for a decision from All-American center Kofi Cockburn regarding his future will get their wish, as the superstar player sent out a tweet earlier today that he will make an announcement on Wednesday.

Returning to the Illini for his senior season?  Entering the NBA Draft for the third and final time?  Leaving Illinois and entering the transfer portal and the search for another collegiate program?

One man has the answer and he's posted about it and is discussing with IlliniGuys.com members RIGHT NOW on our message forums.

IlliniGuys' Brad Sturdy answers the Kofi question and fills in some other blanks in this Q&A session.  Kudos to IlliniGuys member "Glenview Illini" for some fantastic queries:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

April 18, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Prep Hoops)

It is April, COVID-19 appears to be on the back burner, and now the college basketball coaches can get back out to see players live, not having to depend on videos to land top prospects.

Being able to see players first-hand can never be replaced. Illinois assistant basketball coaches are on a roll. This time around talking to recruits and giving them offers is a much easier sell because Illinois has been a mainstay as one of the nation's best.

Allow me to introduce to you to Kaden Cooper, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound small forward from Ada, Oklahoma and a member of the class of 2023.

Cooper received an Illinois offer, one he wanted and was honored to have.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

April 18, 2022

On Monday, 2024 PG ZZ Clark made his decision to follow older brother Skyy to Champaign and join Morez Johnson in the Fighting Illini's class of 2024. 

ZZ hasn’t gotten the same early hype as older brother Skyy, but this is a talented basketball player. He’s built in the same mold as his brother, with broad shoulders, natural strength, a low center of gravity and solid athleticism. ZZ has a nice shooting stroke and lets it fly with confidence. He can score the ball from 3 levels and is comfortable playing on or off the ball.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

April 18, 2022

If the last name Clark catches your eye, there is a reason for that. Zachiah "ZZ" Clark, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard in the class of 2024, is the brother of Skky Clark, who committed to the Illini last week on ESPN. 

Skyy is currently on his official visit at Illinois with his father for the next two days after the family had gone on an unofficial visit to Champaign before.  And it appears to be a great place for both Skky and ZZ to call home for the next few years, as ZZ announced his commitment to the Illini this morning.

ZZ is currently a sophomore who has already had an incredible list of offers: Arizona State, Creighton, DePaul, Kansas, and Vanderbilt. But he decided to pick Illinois today knowing that - after seeing what Illinois has to offer in the classroom, in its coaches, on the court, and a hungry fan base - they expect to win.

IlliniGuys Staff

April 17, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

Whether you are celebrating Easter, Passover, or Ramadan, we wish you many blessings on this fantastic weekend!

Now...let's get down to it.

Six weeks ago, it appeared as though Kofi Cockburn's immediate future was set.  He'd talk to NBA scouts and get some feedback...and then very likely announce a return to the Illini for a fourth and final season.  Kofi was enjoying his time at Illinois and was getting rich off NIL deals with even greater financial rewards awaiting in his senior season.  He's close enough to sniff Deon Thomas and James Augustine and replace them atop the respective all-time program scoring and rebounding charts.

Kofi has until April 24th - that's a week from today - to enter the NBA Draft if he chooses to do so.  Keep in mind, this would be his third entry into the draft and the third time is the charm - he cannot return to school if he makes this move.

Is he working out at Ubben? Working with a trainer?  Working with NBA peeps with an eye on improving his draft status (at the moment, he isn't on any mock draft boards).  Nope...he's back in Jamaica with family.

It's a situation that is strange, to say the least.  But as always, IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy and IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince have their ears to the ground and have posted a few surprising notes over the weekend.

There could be more changes to this Illini basketball roster than we thought...