Basketball

Illinois move up to seventh place in its 12-team […]

IlliniGuys Staff

May 9, 2022

After Skyy Clark and then ZZ Clark and then Terrence Shannon Jr. in the span of a couple of weeks, it has been super quiet on the Illini men's basketball recruiting front.

But that's about to change.

The recruiting dead period has ended and, with the NBA and G-League trials about to start, we will start to hear more buzz on future Illini.

This afternoon, IlliniGuys' Brad Sturdy gave us an update on the top targets and where the Illini stand with each.  You're probably out of popcorn by now, so go get a refill and then check out the latest.

Combined, Sturdy and IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince have been doing this stuff for more than a quarter of a century and it shows.  Coaches here and over there, recruits and their families...it seems everyone knows and TRUSTS Brad and/or Ked.  And that makes IlliniGuys.com one cool place to be!

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 9, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy USA Today)

There's definitely some talent in this year's NCAA basketball transfer portal. Last week, I said Northwestern's Pete Nance would be a big asset to Illinois if they could land him.

For players who are still available in the portal, Nance would be the #1 priority and Baylor's Matthew Mayer would be #1A.

IlliniGuys insider Brad Sturdy said Mayer is the most talented big man left in the portal because of the several positions he can play on the court.

For me, Nance edges out Mayer for one reason; I rank him as a better defender.

May 7, 2022 Coach Slone appeared on this week's […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 5, 2022

One of the worst-kept secrets in the NCAA transfer portal is Northwestern's Pete Nance and his collegiate future should he elect to withdraw from NBA Draft consideration and return to play one final season.

Since the departure of two-time All-American Kofi Cockburn, Illinois has been hunting for a big man, but one who is a different type of player.

While Cockburn was arguably the most dominant player in college basketball the last three years - and two decades ago would have been a top five NBA pick, today's game is different.  Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said, "The NBA has already changed, and the college game is starting to look a lot like it. Two years ago, all the post-season NBA awards went to foreign players."

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 3, 2022

Illinois women's basketball coach Shauna Green is taking a page out of men's head coach Brad Underwood's playbook: Go big or stay home.

Recently Green offered one of the nation's top prospects Laci Steele, a 6-foot wing from Edmond High School in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Considered one of the nation's best wings in the class of 2023, IlliniGuys.com caught up with Steele to get her thoughts on the Illini.

The University of Illinois has ended the exploration of […]

April 30, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Viva The Matadors)

Remember when Kedric Prince was trying to tell you on Twitter on Wednesday that you needed to join IlliniGuys.com?  Right now?!!

Now you know.  The blockbuster news we learned about then through our sources became public yesterday afternoon, when Texas Tech transfer Terrence Shannon Jr. tweeted that he was joining the Fighting Illini program.

Both Kedric and Brad Sturdy have stories here on our front page about how he is such a great fit for this Illinois roster and break down what his addition means to the program.

And both have shared their respective backstories on how this happened.  Great stuff that you will find only on IlliniGuys.com!

Former Texas Tech star Terrence Shannon Jr. joins Illini […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting April […]

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff

April 29, 2022

These are special times to be an Illini fan.

At this moment, there are only two Illini players who have ever started a game for the Orange and Blue.  And Coleman Hawkins and RJ Melendez have a total of 15 career starts between them.

So, get ready to see a lot of new faces getting a lot of playing time this upcoming season.

And that's not even the half of it.

The deadline for players to enter the transfer portal is midnight Sunday night and, with Illinois coach Brad Underwood sitting with at least three vacant scholarship spots, the conversations are non-stop.

The information flies so fast and moods change so often that we sometimes get conflicting info within the hour.

This much we know:

This winter's Fighting Illini basketball team will be the most athletic roster we've seen since the famous Flyin' Illini of 1989...and it very easily could surpass that!

We also know this --- there's one place to be for the very latest Illini inside stuff and that's IlliniGuys.com.  Our Brad Sturdy posted an update just hours ago this morning and there are some name on the potential future Illini list that will make you say 'wow!'

Unfortunately, I can't give away more than that at this moment.  But...you need to get in here.  It appears that something is about to go down...!

Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood joins Sturdy to […]

Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins says he hasn’t yet had his final season-ending meeting with Illini head coach Brad Underwood and gives a non-committal answer on his future with the program. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 27, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- By every definition of the word, miscommunication currently exists between Coleman Hawkins and the Illinois coaching staff. 

In his first media availability since the end of the 2021-22 season, Hawkins conveyed a different picture about the clarity to his future with the Illini program than the one portrayed by Brad Underwood - the program’s fifth-year head coach. 

Hawkins, who just finished his second season at Illinois and averaged 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 14 starts and 33 games, said Wednesday he has yet to have his exit interview with the Illini coaching staff about his future role as a upperclassman on this team. 

“I’ve talked to them a little bit but things have been, it’s kind of been hard to communicate in a way,” Hawkins said Wednesday. “I haven’t seen them that much. I’ve been with (strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher) a lot but we haven’t had a true exit meeting so hopefully that will come soon so we can figure whatever the future is out.”

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.