Basketball

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 22, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – While much of Illini Nation remains on edge during the heart of Portal Kombat, the Illinois men’s basketball staff continues to work strategically behind the scenes. Without revealing much publicly, the staff has quietly and methodically been assembling a roster it believes can win.

Today, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported that Illinois received a verbal commitment from Serbian point guard Mihailo Petrovic. The 6-foot-3, 22-year-old guard, who represents the Serbian national team, brings with him both international experience and the potential to make an immediate impact in the Big Ten.

By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

April 22, 2025

(Photo courtesy Cal Athletics)

(Editor's note: Larry is a co-founder of IlliniGuys.com and is a veteran award-winning journalist who has covered nearly 70 major championships worldwide, including a dozen Final Fours and six NBA Finals. He is the host of the WNBA on Ion studio show, which launches its second season on May 16th.)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Navigating the transfer portal as a fan takes patience. Every spring, it's the same for Illini fans - and supporters of other programs as well. 

Some names get mentioned.

Some names are close. 

Some names join the team, but more often than not, prospective transfers choose to go elsewhere.

There are only so many roster spots. There is only so much NIL money, though Illinois it appears is going to rank among the nation's elite when it comes to spending.

Illini head coach Brad Underwood and staff more than made up for the unexpected transfer of Morez Johnson Jr. to Michigan by bringing in Arkansas 7-footer Zvonimir Ivisic and European power forward David Mirkovic. Now, they seem primed to make Illini Nation forget all about the failed pursuit of former Iowa sharpshooter Josh Dix by landing a much more talented wing prospect...

Andrej Stojakovic.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular April 21, 2025 This […]

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 19, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Earlier this week, one of the best players in college basketball entered the NCAA transfer portal: California’s Andrej Stojakovic, a former five-star recruit and 2023 McDonald’s All-American.

When the announcement became official on Thursday, Stojakovic immediately added the “Do Not Contact” tag to his portal profile, which was broken by DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony.

Friends,

Things just got interesting on Thursday. 

Andrej Stojakovic, the former 5-star McDonalds All-American recruit and son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic, entered his name in the transfer portal with a "do not contact" tag. Which would lend one to believe that the 6'7" Cal forward has an idea where he is headed.

National pundits have listed Illinois, Auburn, Duke, and North Carolina as his possible destination. But what do IlliniGuys insiders Brad Sturdy and Kedric Prince have to say about it?

It's been interesting to say the least. The very latest recruiting news on our premium message forums. Here are some other notes posted by Sturdy on Thursday:

While at his annual Coaches vs. Cancer event at Gordyville USA, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood stresses his desire for Ben Humrichous to play another season with the Illini.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — If all things remain equal and the same, the Illinois men’s basketball coaching staff wants Ben Humrichous back on the roster for a second consecutive season.

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

April 16, 2025

(Editor's note: the following includes the update Brad shared with IlliniGuys members on our premium board this morning. Sign up for up-to-the-minute updates.)

Dame Sarr is going to declare for the NBA Draft

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 16, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – When the transfer portal opened on March 24, IlliniGuys urged fans to buckle up for what was sure to be a wild ride during Portal Kombat. But no one could have predicted one of the earliest surprises, former Illini guard Adam Miller entering the portal and expressing interest in returning to Illinois.

After winning the Big Ten Conference’s Sixth Man of […]

Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis will attempt to become the […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

Photo courtesy of eurohoops.net

April 13, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A lot has happened in Illini basketball land since my last report, so let’s get going with the latest update.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 13, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's basketball program didn’t panic when players entered the transfer portal or committed to other programs. Illinois is looking for a certain type of player, and they continue to live by their creed: They do things #OneWay.

The Nike Hoop Summit is a week-long event held in Portland featuring the top young players from across the globe culminating with a USA v the World game on Saturday night.

Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Insider

April 13, 2025

Numerous players that will eventually make an impact in both college and the NBA participate and on Saturday the Illini got to check out a pair of players they have interest in.

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

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 11, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The recent miss of former Iowa Hawkeye sharpshooter Josh Dix to Creighton may have taken the spotlight away from a major addition to Illinois’ roster for the 2025-26 season: Zvonimir Ivisic. The 7-foot-2, 245-pound forward joins his twin brother Tomislav in Champaign from the transfer portal from Arkansas, and while the move didn’t seem to grab headlines, it certainly should have.