Basketball

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.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 7, 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: David Mirkovic and Manuella Alves-Fernandez

Player Biography: David Mirkovic is a 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward from Niksic, Montenegro. Illinois fans got a glimpse of Mirkovic at the Nike Hoops Summit. Most came away with a better understanding that he's not a roster filler, he's going to see time on the court this upcoming season.

What we know:

Illinois reportedly adds premier home non-conference battle against Texas […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 5, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – IlliniGuys, it's been a tad slow, but things are about to pick up again for the Illinois men's basketball program.

Here are a few updates to get the blood flowing for Illini Nation in June, so let’s dive right into it.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 4, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The silence from former Illinois freshman Will Riley at the NBA Draft deadline last week made it clear: the former 5-star recruit isn't coming back to Champaign as a player. Maybe to visit, but that’s it.

The NBA Draft process is still unfolding, but Riley's camp remains focused. According to his mother Tracy, “Will is still going through the process. He's currently in Los Angeles training. I was with Will at the Combine in Chicago, it was well-run and effective. I think Will did well at the combine, in the gym, and in the interview process. When he was in Los Angeles, part of his training was to prepare him mentally and physically. Will is locked in, focused, and spending countless hours in the gym and recovery.”