Basketball

Basketball Recruiting Spotlight - Bryce Dixon 2026 6'4

Basketball Recruiting Spotlight - Bryce Dixon 2026 6'4" SG

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio

Cover photo courtesy of Brandon Rowell, BGREAT Athletics

January 2, 2024

On Christmas 2023, Bryce Dixon a 6’4” SG from Deron Williams country (The Colony High School in north suburban Dallas) tweeted out that he had an offer from the University of Illinois. Coach Cleve Ryan, who was an assistant coach during Deron’s high school career noted that Deron won The Colony a lot of games.

After watching Dixon play in their holiday tournament, Dixon has a lot of strengths that show on the court. The first is his size. He’s only 15 years old but he’s 6’4” and still growing. He also has a big frame, and he will clearly be able to carry more weight as he grows. He is the definition of a big guard.

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Illini Top Moments In 2023

Illini Top Moments In 2023

By IlliniGuys Staff

January 1, 2024

10) Illini men’s golf team reaches NCAA quarterfinals – Mike Small’s program has made reaching elite success commonplace,

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Illini See Streak Against #16 Indiana Continue In Road Loss, 77-71

Illini See Streak Against #16 Indiana Continue In Road Loss, 77-71

By IlliniGuys Staff December 31, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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Illini Resume Big Ten Play at #16 Indiana

Illini Resume Big Ten Play at #16 Indiana

(From Illinois DIA Office) December 31, 2023   Illinois […]

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Joe Lunardi: NCAA Tournament Selection Committee Likely To Have New Evaluation of Post-Shannon Illini

Joe Lunardi: NCAA Tournament Selection Committee Likely To Have New Evaluation of Post-Shannon Illini

According to the student-athlete conduct policy, Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. is slated to have a review by the ‘Student-Athlete Conduct Panel’ to assess his suspension. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 29, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — If Terrence Shannon’s indefinite suspension continues to resume, the 2024 NCAA Tournament selection committee will likely be forced to judge an Illinois resume differently starting right now.

ESPN.com analyst Joe Lunardi confirmed to IlliniGuys.com that Brad Underwood’s Illini squad will have a different skeptical eye upon its results now that Shannon, a first-team All-Big Ten guard averaging a team-high 21.7 points per game and 40.8 percent of his three-point attempts, will not be on the active roster for the foreseeable future. 

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Sturdy's FDU Rewind - Illini Roll

Sturdy's FDU Rewind - Illini Roll

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio, […]

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#11 Illini Rout FDU Without Leading Scorer Shannon, 104-71

#11 Illini Rout FDU Without Leading Scorer Shannon, 104-71

By IlliniGuys Staff December 29, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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Whitman: Illinois Athletics Officials Didn’t Know Complaint Against Terrance Shannon Jr. Existed

Whitman: Illinois Athletics Officials Didn’t Know Complaint Against Terrance Shannon Jr. Existed

Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman says neither he nor anybody in his department were aware for three weeks of a document time-stamped on Dec. 5 consisting of felony charges being made against Terrence Shannon Jr.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 29, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Josh Whitman’s answer to the reason no disciplinary action was taken against Terrence Shannon Jr. immediately following a charging document being filed on Dec. 5 in Douglas County, Kansas District Court is simple. 

He hadn’t seen it and neither did anybody else in his office.

The official stance of Whitman, the athletics director at the University of Illinois, is that nobody in his department - including himself - was aware for over three weeks that such a document existed.

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The Next Step For Terrence Shannon Jr.? A Student-Athlete Conduct Panel

The Next Step For Terrence Shannon Jr.? A Student-Athlete Conduct Panel

According to the student-athlete conduct policy, Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. is slated to have a review by the ‘Student-Athlete Conduct Panel’ to assess his suspension. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 29, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — The next step for Terrence Shannon Jr. and his indefinite suspension from the Illinois men’s basketball program is a three-person committee to determine if his punishment should stand.

Terrence Shannon Jr. surrendered to authorities in Douglas County, Kansas Thursday morning on rape charges after an arrest warrant was issued the previous day. Citing the university’s student-athlete misconduct policy, Shannon Jr. was immediately suspended indefinitely from all activities regarding the men’s basketball program.

In his media conference Friday night inside State Farm Center before No. 11 Illinois hosts Fairleigh Dickinson University, Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman confirmed the next step in the process for Shannon under the university’s student-athlete misconduct policy is an official review by the ‘Student-Athlete Conduct Panel’

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Terrence Shannon Jr.’s First Court Appearance Slated For Jan. 18

Terrence Shannon Jr.’s First Court Appearance Slated For Jan. 18

The first time that Terrence Shannon Jr. is slated […]

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Illini Men's BB Fairleigh Dickinson Preview

Illini Men's BB Fairleigh Dickinson Preview

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio, Illini Uber-Insider

December 29, 2023

Despite the off-court issues that are facing the Illini, they are set to play the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights on Friday evening in their last tune up before they take on 19 Big Ten opponents over the next 3 months. 

The Illini will be without Terrence Shannon Jr, the All-American Guard who is currently suspended for a rape charge in Kansas and will have to learn to navigate the difficult remaining schedule without their star. It starts on Friday against Fairleigh Dickinson.

Setting the Stage

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Sturdy's Recruiting Nuggets

Sturdy's Recruiting Nuggets

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio and Illini Uber-Insider 

December 29, 2023

Brad Sturdy has a lot of information and here it is.

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Illini Guard Terrence Shannon Charged With Rape; Suspended Indefinitely

Illini Guard Terrence Shannon Charged With Rape; Suspended Indefinitely

Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. was arrested after turning […]

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Morez Johnson Living Up to the Hype

Morez Johnson Living Up to the Hype

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio & Illini Uber-Insider

December 27, 2023

It’s been a while since Illinois grabbed an early commitment from a prospect like Morez Johnson, probably going back to Jereme Richmond in the class of 2010. While Richmond slid a bit in the rankings, Johnson has moved up due to some excellent play on the Nike EYBL Circuit that saw him lead the entire circuit in rebounding while helping Meanstreets into the final 8 at the Peach Jam. This was an early victory for Illinois assistant coach Tim Anderson and Brad Underwood. 

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Brad Underwood's Blueprint for Reloading

Brad Underwood's Blueprint for Reloading

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 26, 2023

When the NCAA decided to change the outlook of college athletics with transfers, transfer portal, and recruiting in general, head Illinois head coach Brad Underwood set the tone for the University of Illinois.

A lot of coaches do not like the new landscape of college athletics and the direction it is going. Unfortunately, those who do not embrace the new trend may be fighting an uphill battle or looking for a new job. 

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