Basketball

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 26, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Naperville Sun)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.- Big things are happening in Champaign this weekend. Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff will be on campus to cover the football game, and it’s also Homecoming as the No. 23 Illini host No. 21 USC at Gies Memorial Stadium.

While the football program will be in the national spotlight, Illinois men’s basketball is also making headlines. Brad Underwood and his staff are taking full advantage of the weekend atmosphere, hosting a number of high-profile recruits who will get an inside look at the program.

By IlliniGuys Staff

September 25, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Anoke Deitg-Blanchard)

IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy delivered the latest buzz to the IlliniGuys premium message boards yesterday morning:

2026 Top 30 prospect Adam Oumiddoch will visit the U of I campus in mid-October. (Photo courtesy Phenom Hoops Report)

--NCAA looking at new legislation to allow

September 23, 2025

IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy reports on the first day of practice for the Illini men's basketball team:

--Andrej Stojakovic progressing well

By IlliniGuys Staff CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois football […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 19, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Just before Illinois hosted Western Michigan in a 38-0 shutout victory last Saturday, a handful of recruits lined the edge of the north end zone. A few 2027 recruits and a 2026 commit were taking in the atmosphere, but there was no recruit bigger – literally – than Sinan Huan.

Huan, a larger-than-life 7-foot center who is part of the 2026 recruiting class, is rated as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports, a top-100 recruit, and the tenth-highest rated center in the class.

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

September 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini schedule for the 2025-26 season is a gauntlet, but that’s just the way Brad Underwood wants it. Illinois will play a total of 25 games against high major opponents with a veteran team capable of making a run.

“Players want to play in big games,” Underwood told IlliniGuys.com last summer. “They want to play against the best. We’re going to play good people. We don’t shy away from it.”

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois hosted one of the nation’s top young prospects last weekend when Keller Daugherty, a 6-foot-9 shooting guard from the class of 2027, made his visit to Champaign. For Daugherty, the experience matched what he was hoping to see.

“It’s everything I thought it would be,” Daugherty said. “Yeah, for sure, for sure.”

Assistant coach Tyler Underwood is the lead recruiter for Daugherty, saying they have built a strong connection.

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 17, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Jaxon Davis, a 6-foot-1, 165-pound point guard from Gurnee, made a trip to Champaign to watch an Illinois men’s basketball workout this past weekend, and he walked away impressed with what he saw. Ranked No. 53 in the country by ESPN, Davis described his visit as a business trip, focusing on how the Illini develop their guards both in and out of season.

“I loved the guard play here and the freedom they have,” Davis said. “I was paying attention to the little things they do, because they’re all different players. (Kylan) Boswell, (Keaton) Wagler, and (Mihailo) Petrovic are very fast, athletic, and shoot the ball good.”

There had been speculation about Davis

By IlliniGuys Staff

September 17, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy delivered the latest news on the men's basketball board on our premium forums earlier this week. Here's what we found out:

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 16, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – On Saturday, the nation’s ninth-ranked Illinois football team hosted Western Michigan. Head coach Bret Bielema and his staff brought in a large group of potential football recruits, but the men’s basketball program also made noise, welcoming one of the top players in the 2026 class to campus.

Cameron Holmes, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Millennium High School in Goodyear, Arizona, made his first trip to Champaign for an official visit. For Holmes, the experience was eye-opening.

"I am really glad to be here. I didn't know what to expect, but wow

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

Five-star Bolingbrook Prep shooting guard Brady Pettigrew, ranked No. 15 nationally by ESPN, visited Illinois this weekend and didn’t hesitate to share his first impressions. “I’m having a blast down here right now,” Pettigrew said.

Only a sophomore, Pettigrew is already ranked No. 15 in the country and continues to gain national attention. Illinois understands that getting him on campus early and often might play a major role when it comes time for him to make his decision.

By llliniGuys Staff

September 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy USA Basketball)

IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst and the co-host of the syndicated radio show IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular Brad Sturdy was all over campus on Saturday...and posted this report on the IlliniGuys message boards about the latest on the Illinois men's basketball team and a number of prospects who have the Illini on their radar:

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 12, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois men’s basketball will welcome an intriguing prospect to campus as the program continues to build momentum heading into the fall.

IlliniGuys confirmed that Keller Daugherty, a 6-foot-9, 180-pound shooting guard from Lees Summit High School in Missouri, will begin an unofficial visit to Illinois today.

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 9, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – If you love college recruiting, this time of year, along with the transfer portal in the spring, you should stay glued here at IlliniGuys. The Illinois football program is hosting several recruits this weekend, and the men’s basketball staff is bringing in two important targets of its own.

The Illini have been heavily involved with 7-foot, 225-pound center Sinan Huan from Georgetown Preparatory School in Rockville, Maryland. The four-star Class of 2026 big man is a priority for the Illinois staff and someone they have been pursuing for a long time.

According to a source, Illinois feels it has a very good chance to land Huan, though Purdue remains a major threat. Other top programs in the mix include Florida, Creighton, Maryland, Alabama, and Mississippi State.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Reporter

September 4, 2025

Today’s Player Focus features Illinois men’s center Jason Jakstys.

Player Biography: Jason Jakstys, a 6-foot-10 center from Yorkville, Ill., joined the Illini with the intention of redshirting his first season. Ranked No. 144 overall by On3, Jakstys was a three-star recruit and the No. 5-ranked player in Illinois according to PrepHoops Illinois.

What we know: