Basketball

Ked's Recruiting Roundup: High School, Prep School, AAU Basketball, Can It Compete With the Transfer Portal Now?

Ked's Recruiting Roundup: High School, Prep School, AAU Basketball, Can It Compete With the Transfer Portal Now?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 24, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Just think: in today’s world, people can pay bills through cell phones, drive cars that help them stay in lanes if they nod off, and hit golf balls 40 to 50 yards farther thanks to technology-enhanced drivers.

In the ever-evolving world of college basketball recruiting, the conversation has shifted dramatically as well. With the explosive growth of the NCAA transfer portal, high school gymnasiums, once sacred scouting grounds for coaches, are beginning to feel outdated.

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Illini Maintain Top 8 Spot Following Day 1 of 2025 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships

Illini Maintain Top 8 Spot Following Day 1 of 2025 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships

Despite collectively falling off in the final holes once again, Illinois found itself inside the top eight after the first day of the 2025 NCAA Championships.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

While leaning on the talents of its star trio, Illinois managed to hang onto one of the top eight match play qualifying spots following the opening round of the 2025 NCAA Championships.

The Illini’s top three players of Ryan Voois, Max Herendeen and Jackson Buchanan managed to combine to post 2-under-par 286 to lead the Illini to a three-way tie for fifth place with after its first 18 holes at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Could the Peoria Pipeline Reopen for Illinois Men’s Basketball?

Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Could the Peoria Pipeline Reopen for Illinois Men’s Basketball?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 23rd, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Nike EYBL basketball event took place in Memphis, Tenn., this past weekend, and Illinois assistant coach Geoff Alexander was in attendance. Among his priorities: checking in on one of the premier AAU teams in the state, MeanStreets.

Peoria basketball has historically been good to the Illini, producing talent that helped elevate the program. But in recent years, the talent level hasn’t matched that tradition. Iowa commit Cooper Koch is one of the most recent standouts, but now another name is emerging: Quinton Kitt of East Peoria.

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Stevens: Illini Counting On Freshmen Impact in NCAA Championships

Stevens: Illini Counting On Freshmen Impact in NCAA Championships

Illinois head coach Mike Small has elected to go with a pair of freshmen, Jake Birdwell and Trey Marrion, in his opening round lineup for the NCAA Championships starting Friday.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

URBANA, Ill. — Regardless of the particular order, Illinois head coach Mike Small knew the first three names he’d be writing down on his lineup card when first round tee times were created for the 2025 NCAA Championships.

It’s the final two names, and what the Illini can count on for production out of those spots, that Small still has questions about heading into the sport’s national championship tournament that starts Friday morning.

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COLUMN: Josh Whitman’s Gamble On Bielema & Underwood is a Bet Illini Fans Have Wanted

COLUMN: Josh Whitman’s Gamble On Bielema & Underwood is a Bet Illini Fans Have Wanted

As new long-term contracts for the football and men’s basketball head coaches were approved today, Illinois athletics director has completed his gamble on betting the coaches he trusts the most.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Mike Cagley/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In some way, shape or form, every athletics director at a power conference program is a gambler.

Like it or not, a big part of Josh Whitman’s job description is consistently making decisions with multi-million dollars of consequences for the current and future revenue of his department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. When he commits that kind of guaranteed money to a head coach, it’s part of what he calls “the formula of success”.

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Stevens: It’s “back to the drawing board” Before NCAAs For Illini Star Sophomore Max Herendeen

Stevens: It’s “back to the drawing board” Before NCAAs For Illini Star Sophomore Max Herendeen

Illinois sophomore Max Herendeen knows his golf swing is in good form but his mental game needs a reboot before the Illini head to the NCAA Championships in California.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 21, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

URBANA, Ill. — It’s a good news, bad news week for Max Herendeen.

With a week to prepare for the upcoming NCAA Championships, the Illinois sophomore All-Big Ten selection currently believes the technical components of his golf swing are more than solid.

Following his three days of play last week at the 2025 NCAA Urbana Regional, Herendeen made it very clear that his issues were a golf mental and golf maturity issue.

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Heat Checks & Hail Marys - EYBL Memphis - Devin Cleveland

Heat Checks & Hail Marys - EYBL Memphis - Devin Cleveland

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular May 21, 2025 […]

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Illinois Women's Basketball Adds Another Piece to Their Roster

Illinois Women's Basketball Adds Another Piece to Their Roster

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 20, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Franklin Pierce University)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women’s basketball team has added another veteran presence to its backcourt with the commitment of Long Island transfer Gisela Segura. The news was announced by the University of Illinois Sports Information Department.

Segura, who will join the Fighting Illini for the 2025–26 season, arrives with one year of eligibility remaining. Her addition provides needed depth and flexibility at the guard position, a spot where Illinois had to adjust on the fly last season following the departure of senior guard Makira Cook.

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Heat Checks & Hail Marys - EYBL Memphis - Lincoln Williams

Heat Checks & Hail Marys - EYBL Memphis - Lincoln Williams

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular May 20, 2025 […]

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Heat Checks & Hail Marys - EYBL Memphis - Dylan Mingo

Heat Checks & Hail Marys - EYBL Memphis - Dylan Mingo

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular May 19, 2025 […]

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Sturdy: Adidas Targets On Display and More….

Sturdy: Adidas Targets On Display and More….

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

May 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy 3SSB)

There was some great talent and some great matchups on Saturday at the Adidas 3SSB in Council Bluffs, Iowa. there were Guards and wings, but a big man showed off as much as anyone in front of a multitude of coaches. Here’s a look at how some Illini targets fared on Saturday:

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Prince: Illinois Basketball Duo Making Waves at NBA Combine

Prince: Illinois Basketball Duo Making Waves at NBA Combine

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois fans expected freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis to be a one-and-done, but few anticipated just how impactful Canada’s Will Riley would be in his brief time with the Illini.

This week at the NBA Draft Combine, held at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, both players continued to elevate their draft stock. A source attending the combine shared insight on how the Illini duo performed, what the combine entails, and what’s next in the process.

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Sturdy: Open Period Commences

Sturdy: Open Period Commences

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

May 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

The Illini coaching staff will be out in force this weekend, with the EYBL in Memphis, the Under Armour in Ohio, and the PUMA Pro 16 circuit in Kansas City. Illinois will have coaches at each of these events. But perhaps the biggest event for Illini fans to follow is the Adidas event in Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

Here’s a look at a few players to watch:

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Underwood Going Outside His Basketball Circle With Hiring of Camryn Crocker

Underwood Going Outside His Basketball Circle With Hiring of Camryn Crocker

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is betting on a youthful and quick-rising player-development candidate with the expected hiring of Colgate assistant coach Camyrn Crocker.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Brad Underwood has elected to go outside his basketball circle fill his vacant assistant coach spot with a youthful candidate that has built his career on a reputation of player development.

The Illinois eight-year head coach is expected to hire Colgate assistant coach Camryn Crocker to fill the spot on Underwood’s bench left by Tim Anderson shortly before the 2024-25 season.

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Hail to the Victor: Michigan’s Hunter Thomson Wins NCAA Urbana Regional Medalist Honor

Hail to the Victor: Michigan’s Hunter Thomson Wins NCAA Urbana Regional Medalist Honor

Troy advances to program’s first-ever team NCAA Championship as […]

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