Basketball

April 9, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Arizona Athletics)

If you've been hanging around with us these past few years, you know the transfer portal isn't for the faint of heart.  Face-to-face conversations as you work on retaining your current players while holding Zoom or phone calls with interested transfers...who are also talking to other schools.

Two words:

Portal Kombat!

Two more words:

It's nuts!!!

But, we've got IlliniGuys Insider & Analyst Brad Sturdy and IlliniGuys.com's Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince having their own conversations.  They post several times a day inside the IlliniGuys message forums with the latest updates.  Here's a quick sample of some of the latest chatter:

(And by the way...we are just getting word of a potential major development.  Stay with IlliniGuys.com for the very latest!)

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 9, 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of college basketball, the NCAA Transfer Portal has become a pivotal factor in reshaping the dynamics of high school recruiting. The recent decision of Jase Butler, a highly touted four-star recruit, to open up his recruitment highlights the shifting tides in the recruitment process.

The 6-foot-4 180-pound Butler, a Combo Guard from Point Reyes Station, CA, has undeniable talent and potential. Regardless of where he ultimately lands, his future appears to be promising. However, his situation proves a trend coming: the transfer portal's influence on high school prospects.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 8th, 2024

(Photo courtesy Wisconsin Athletics)

One of the most sought-after transfers in the NCAA portal this year is Wisconsin sophomore - and Rockford native - AJ Storr. IlliniGuys recently had an exclusive interview with AJ's mother, Annette Brandy, to shed some light on the latest developments in his recruitment.

Storr is a 6-foot-7 shooting guard who averaged an impressive 16.8 points per game and 3.9 rebounds for the Badgers last year and as a result he's a highly sought-after player in this spring's transfer portal and is being pursued by several major programs.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April x, 2024

In a surprising turn of events, highly touted freshman guard Jase Butler has decided to decommit from Illinois, signaling a shift in the team's recruitment strategy.

(Editor's note: IlliniGal Adalia McKenzie appears each week on […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 6, 2024

Dante Maddox Jr., a transfer from Toledo, has recently emerged as a top prospect for several prominent programs. The scoring guard is 6-foot-2, 195-pounds. Originally from Bloom Township High School, his name has garnered attention in collegiate basketball circles.

By IlliniGuys Staff April 5, 2024 (Photo courtesy Illinois […]

By IlliniGuys Staff

April 4, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Wisconsin Athletics)

It's that time of year.  The season is over, postseason conversations are had, and players and coaches are already looking  toward the future even as the uniforms from the final game of the season are still in the dryer.  It's what we like to call...

Portal Kombat!  Illini edition

IlliniGuys members get access to the very latest insider information on who is in and who may be out of Brad Underwood's locker room.  The only thing for certain is Terrence Shannon Jr, Quincy Guerrier, and Justin Harmon are out of eligibility.  Otherwise, there are a countless number of options being weighed by everyone involved.

Our Brad Sturdy and Kedric Prince are keeping us in the loop several times a day with what they are hearing from their sources.  Here's a taste of what they've learned over the past couple of days:

On a night where Adalia McKenzie had one point offensively, she proved the point Illinois head coach Shauna Green and her staff have been preaching to the talented, athletic junior wing. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 4, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS --- For the entire 2023-24 season, Illinois head coach Shauna Green has constantly tried to tell Adalia McKenzie that she’s one of the most important pieces of the basketball team and nothing about her value involves scoring points. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 4, 2024

Illini fans are adjusting to the fact that Dain Dainja will not be back next season. Dainja, standing at 6-foot-9 and weighing in at 255 pounds, has left many fans wondering about the future of the Illini frontcourt.

Here at IlliniGuys, we have learned of a few possibilities and current players who could play a pivotal role for next year's Illini.

The five straight Illinois wins for a 2024 WBIT championship saw the return of a confident Makira Cook to the court where she proved she’s one of the nation’s best perimeter players. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 3, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS --- Postseason play saw the return of a healthy, confident and rejuvenated Makira Cook. 

The Illinois guard effectively put away all anxiety and frustrations from early and midseason struggles related to a severe concussion in non-conference play. The recent play of the 5-foot-6 guard in March and the two games in Hinkle Fieldhouse in April more resembled the star perimeter who led Illinois to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. 

By IlliniGuys Staff April 3, 2024 INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - […]

Illinois will look to push the pace inside Hinkle […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 1, 2024

Today, Illinois basketball received a significant boost as they welcomed Jake Davis, a talented shooter, to their roster. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 210 pounds, Davis, a freshman from McCordsville, Ind., previously attended Cathedral High School and brings with him three years of eligibility following his transfer from Mercer.

Davis's decision to commit to Illinois came after considering offers from several other schools, including Butler, DePaul under new head coach Chris Holtman, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Colgate, and Wyoming, among others. His announcement was made via Twitter on March 13th that he was going to enter the transfer portal.

For the first time in program history, Illinois women’s […]