Basketball

Friday night, Arkansas State will give it a try.

The Red Wolves run north to face the Illini for the first time ever. They beat Division II Harding in their season opener Tuesday night, 81-55.

The man to watch for Arkansas State is Norchard Omier, who did his best Kofi Cockburn impression last season.  The Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and all-Sun Belt Conference player tied Cockburn for 2nd nationally with 15 double-doubles, which was also the highest total for a freshman...

Illinois assistant coach Chester Frazier helps his alma mater reload at the guard position with two early signees who he primarily recruited for several years. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 11, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Chester Frazier sat in the back of the State Farm Center media room soaking in his boss' talking points about his long-term recruiting efforts that were able to instantly help his alma mater. 

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy November 10, 2021 The season is […]

In a 71-47 win where Illinois was down its top two ball-handlers and its National Player of the Year candidate in Kofi Cockburn, Coleman Hawkins versatility was showcased.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 10, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Let’s hope Illinois fans got a good look at point forward Coleman Hawkins during its season opener because the Illini coaches never want to see it again. 

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The Fighting Illini picked up a big-time recruit Morez Johnson from Chicago's  St. Rita High School, a 2024 nationally ranked prospect. Johnson is a  6-foot-7 power forward who many consider the best stretch-four Illinois coach Brad Underwood has recruited since he arrived at Illinois.

St. Rita's head basketball coach Roshawn Russell did a podcast for Brad Sturdy's 'Sturdy for 30'.

Illiniguys Cagley and Sturdy talk about the Illini opener […]

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer November 9, 2021 What: […]

Tuesday night the Fighting Illini basketball team will tip off their 117th season with as much optimism as the program has ever seen.  Rare has been a campaign that opened with a returning All-American, teamed up with a potential All-American, AND a player picked by one outlet (FOX Sports) to be the defensive national player of the year.  By winning the Big Ten tournament, compiling the best regular season record in the Big Ten, and earning the fourth #1 NCAA tournament seed in program history, Illinois has proven it is once again one of the elite teams in the country.
Now…the challenge is to stay there.

On Friday, Illinois picked up an amazing basketball commit.  Morez Johnson is a 6-foot-7 power forward from Chicago’s St. Rita High and most feel he is the number one prospect in the state in the class of 2024. Johnson is already a four-star player at such an early age.

Chicago St. Rita coach Roshawn Russell joins Sturdy to […]

IlliniGuys Insider Brad Sturdy always has his ear to the ground and offered these thoughts on our message forums this morning after the Morez Johnson commitment.  Be the first to be in the know -- subscribe to IlliniGuys.com today!

-I am pretty sure most people outside the program were shocked by the Johnson commitment, but this has been what Illinois was hoping to do in 2024 since they hired Tim Anderson. and this is a just a start...

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