Basketball

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:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 14, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Prep Hoops)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Early last week, Illinois assistant coach Zach Hamer extended a scholarship offer to Colin Rice, a 6-foot-7, 180-pound small forward from Waukee, Iowa. Rice is an intriguing prospect, especially considering that players from the Hawkeye State often choose to stay close to home. But Rice’s interest in Illinois is real.

Thomas Detry’s roller coaster Friday round included leading the […]

Thomas Detry finished as one of 10 players in the 156-player U.S. Open field to post an under-par score in the first round. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer

June 13, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Jeff Haynes/USGA)

Thomas Detry is one of 10 players to finish the opening round of the 2025 United States Open with an under-par score. 

The 2015 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, who was a two-time All-America selection at Illinois and is currently ranked No. 35 in the world, posted a 1-under-par 69. Detry, who hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation, opened with a bogey-free, front-nine 32 and survived the back-nine despite bogeys on No. 10 and No. 18. 

Jackson Buchanan will have his childhood friend Sam Haynes on the bag as the former All-American and four-year starter at Illinois makes his professional debut in the 2025 U.S. Open.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 12, 2025

Even before graduating and finishing his college golf career at the University of Illinois, Jackson Buchanan began planning out the start of his professional career and for a golfer, your caddie is one of those critical decisions.

Against the consistent advice of his parents, his new agency and his new equipment partner, Buchanan was set on beginning this journey with his childhood friend who’s played the game with as a kid growing up in Gwinnett County in suburban Atlanta. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 11, 2025

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: Destiny Jackson and Brandon Lee.

Player Biography: A 5-foot-6 point guard from Chicago's Whitney Young High School, Destiny Jackson has won a plethora of awards and was one of the biggest recruiting victories during Shauna Green's tenure as head coach at Illinois so far.

ESPN HoopGurlz ranks Jackson as the No. 29 prospect in the 2026 class. The 2025 Miss Basketball in Illinois picked the Illini over Arizona, Baylor, North Carolina, West Virginia, Iowa, Florida, and Michigan State.

What we know:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 11, 2025

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: Brandon Lee and Destiny Jackson

Player Biography: Brandon Lee is a 6-foot-5, 180-pound combo guard from Hillside, New Jersey, where he played at The Patrick School. A high-scoring guard, one of the main reasons Illinois associate head coach Orlando Antigua was drawn to Lee was his natural scoring ability. His upside speaks volumes. While his offer list might not have turned heads, he passed the eye test for the Illini coaching staff. Lee ultimately picked Illinois over High Point, Rhode Island, and Missouri State.

What we know:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 9, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram 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: Manuella Alves and David Mirkovic

Player Biography: Manuella Alves is a 6-foot-3 forward from IMG Academy (Fla.). Alves is a four-star prep prospect, ranked as the nation's 48th-best player in the class of 2025 by ESPN HoopGurlz. She chose Illinois over programs like North Carolina, Louisville, Iowa, and Miami (Fla.).

What we know:

The new regulations being put in place following the House vs. NCAA settlement isn’t about creating a level playing field or fairness for Illinois or any other program. It’s just another attempt to restrict/cap athlete’s revenue while still avoid making them employees.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 9, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Just when you might think it’s impossible for college sports administrative leadership could make its governing system worse, they manage to always find a way to dig the hole even deeper.

The more I read the 76-page opinion of U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approving the House vs. NCAA settlement in California, I’m once again reminded to never underestimate how athletics directors and university athletics administrators never cease to make a situation more deplorable especially if their intention was to fix something.

Is the settlement historic? Obviously, yes. Athletes will now get a piece of the revenue they create in a way that should have happened decades ago and nothing about that is wrong or bad. This fact is undoubtably a step forward for the workforce (the athletes) that has been the backbone of creating these big brands in college sports to allow university administrators see millions of school revenue in ticket sales and donations while also see the total college sports dynamic reach billions of dollars in revenue in media rights contracts.

Is anything else in college athletics fixed? No, it most certainly is not.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 8, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois assistant coach Zach Hamer is starting to emerge as a key figure on the recruiting trail for the Fighting Illini. Head coach Brad Underwood appears to have identified Hamer’s potential early, seeing value others may have overlooked. Known for being a quick study and highly adaptable, Hamer is now working to prove himself in the critical area of recruiting.

Starting July 1, all Division I schools will have the opportunity to directly pay players for the first time in collegiate sports history.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 7, 2025

In just over three weeks, all Division I athletics departments will have the opportunity to directly pay players via revenue sharing for the first time in the history of collegiate sports.

Following the 76-page opinion, U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken detailed will offer $2.8 billion in damages to past athletes who did not have the opportunity to receive such revenue sharing payments during their time as athletes as well as allow all Division I schools to pay out as much as a reported $20.5 million annually to all the current players in their athletic departments.