Basketball

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

October 24, 2024

The fall is always a time when the hype train is ratcheted up for college basketball teams, but this year it is on steroids for the Fighting Illini. Despite the fact that the Illini are unranked, it only takes one look at a practice session to see that this team has the tools to be very good. 

Thus the hype train. 

Is the hype real? Let’s look at the hype we have heard and break it down. 

1. Kasparas Jakucionis is a lottery pick.

From Illinois Sports Information Office October 24, 2024   […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 24, 2024

Champaign, IL – Illinois assistant men's basketball coach Geoff Alexander has been instrumental in scouting overseas talent for the program. However, he may have also found one of the most prolific scorers on the Illinois roster domestically.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 23, 2024

Over the years, I've developed solid relationships with a few NBA scouts. One of them attended an Illinois practice for the first time Saturday morning and understood what the buzz is all about.

He said scouts are texting each other, saying "You have to see an Illinois practice."

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 18, 2024

Champaign, IL – Tre White, a combo guard/wing who transferred to Illinois from USC and Louisville, was the second transfer to commit to the Fighting Illini this offseason, following sophomore Jake Davis. White brings experience to Illinois, coming in with more court time than anyone on the 2024-25 roster, aside from returning junior Ty Rodgers.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 17, 2024

Champaign, IL — During the Illinois-Purdue football game on Saturday, several key football prospects were present. Typically, it’s easy to distinguish football players from basketball players, but among them on the east side of Memorial Stadium was a 6-foot-11 young man who clearly wasn’t a football player. It was Sheek Pearson, a power forward from St. Louis, Missouri.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 14, 2024

Champaign, IL — The Illinois basketball community was thrilled when news broke that head coach Brad Underwood was bringing back one of the top recruiters in the game, Orlando Antigua.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting October 12, 2024 […]

Why nearly all of Ben Humrichous’ current teammates had never heard of him before they arrived on the Champaign-Urbana campus for offseason training for the 2024-25 season. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 12, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — With smartphones, easy access to worldwide internet and recruiting services becoming a billion-dollar industry in 2024, the world of elite youth basketball talent is a small place to navigate. And yet there is always a Ben Humrichous around to point that basketball players can emerge from the most little-known places in the United States of America. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 11, 2024

Champaign, IL – Early in Illinois head basketball coach Brad Underwood's tenure, practices, and workout sessions were occasionally open to fans and media. But that’s a thing of the past. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting October 10, 2024 […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 10, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — On March 18, 2017, Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman introduced Brad Underwood as the new head coach of the Fighting Illini men's basketball team. This hire felt different. Underwood said at the introductory press conference, where Underwood spoke about the rich history of Illinois basketball, even mentioning a Brian Cook jersey he purchased demonstrating he knew the history and was a fan of the program.

Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular Co-Host and Illini Insider

October 9, 2024

I wanted to share an interview from the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular. If you like this interview, you'll love the show!

You can find out where to listen right here:  https://illiniguys.com/radio/ or you can go to your favorite podcast distributor to find the show (don't forget to subscribe).   

IlliniGuys Staff October 9, 2024 The Illinois Men's Basketball […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 6, 2024

Champaign, IL – The 2024-25 college basketball season is underway with practices, though games have yet to be played. However, recruiting has not slowed down for the Illinois men’s basketball program, as the staff extended two key offers to potential prospects this week—both of whom appear to be high-priority targets.