Basketball

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.”

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 3, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

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 will be Berry Wallace and Andrej Stojakovic (both former McDonald’s All-Americans).

Player Biography: Berry Wallace is a 6-foot-1 combo/wing from Pickerington Central High School in Pickerington, Ohio. A five-star recruit, she was ranked No. 20 nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz and became the third signee in Illinois women’s basketball history to be named a McDonald’s All-American. She was also named the 2024 Ohio Capital Conference Buckeye Division Player of the Year and finished third in Ohio’s Miss Basketball voting.

What we know:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 3, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Cal Athletics)

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 will be Andrej Stojakovic and Berry Wallace (Both Former McDonald’s All-Americans).

Player Biography: Andrej Stojakovic is a 6-foot-7 wing and transfer from California. A 2023 McDonald’s All-American, he graduated from Jesuit High School (Carmichael, Calif.) and was ranked a four-star recruit by ESPN and On3 at No. 22 and No. 24, respectively.

Stojakovic started his collegiate career at Stanford during the 2023-24 season, where he made 34 three-pointers, ranking 10th all-time among freshmen in school history, and scored 18 points in back-to-back games against Santa Clara Nov. 14 and Eastern Washington Nov. 17. During his sophomore season at Cal, he led the team in scoring (17.9 PPG, sixth in the ACC), blocked shots 1.2, and also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 33.4 minutes per game.

What we know:

Jackson Buchanan, a former All-American and four-year starter at Illinois, finishes a 36-hole sectional qualifying round in his home state to qualify for his second United States Open Championship.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 2, 2025

Jackson Buchanan has survived what is commonly nicknamed ‘golf’s longest day’ to advance through sectional qualifying into the 2025 United States Open Championship.

The former Illini star player, who recently turned professional following the Illini’s finish in the 2025 NCAA Championships, will play in his second consecutive U.S. Open after making it through local and sectional qualifying stages.

Buchanan fired an 18-under par total over the 36-hole sectional qualifying round with back-to-back 63s at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, which is approximately 35 miles from his hometown of Dacula, Georgia. Buchanan finished in second place on Monday in the 84-player field where only five qualifying spots were available.

May 31, 2025

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

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 will be Cearah Parchment and Zvonimir Ivisic.

Player Biography: Cearah Parchment is a 6-foot-2 wing from Fort Erie International Academy (CAN).

May 31, 2025

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

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 will be Zvonimir Ivisic and Cearah Parchment.

Player Biography: Zvonimir Ivisic,

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 28, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

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 will be Gretchen Dolan and Ty Rodgers.

Player Biography: Gretchen Dolan, 5-foot-11, combo guard/wing, a redshirt sophomore from Buffalo, N.Y. (Williamsville South High School)

What we know: