Basketball

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood knows his squad will be drastically different without the focus of a 7-foot 290-pound All-American in the middle. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 20. 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN -- We’ve reached the point where the basketball program at Illinois must now figure out how to function in a post-Kofi Cockburn world. 

The 7-foot, 290-pound center has literally and figuratively been the figure the Illini have revolved around on both ends of the playing floor for the better part of two seasons. Over the last three seasons with Cockburn on the roster, Illinois has produced a 68-27 overall record, a 44-16 mark in Big Ten Conference play and won the 2021 Big Ten Conference Tournament championship and won a share of the 2022 league regular-season title. 

On the date of April 20, 2022, Brad Underwood stood in the Fighting Illini Center for Excellence offices beginning the explanation of what his team could look like and how it’ll function without arguably the most dominant center in program history and in all likelihood, all five starters from the 2021-22 season. 

“I think we’ll just be different…and that’s okay. I’m not afraid to change,” Underwood said. 

Kofi Cockburn ends his career in college basketball by […]

April 19, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

Illini fans looking for a decision from All-American center Kofi Cockburn regarding his future will get their wish, as the superstar player sent out a tweet earlier today that he will make an announcement on Wednesday.

Returning to the Illini for his senior season?  Entering the NBA Draft for the third and final time?  Leaving Illinois and entering the transfer portal and the search for another collegiate program?

One man has the answer and he's posted about it and is discussing with IlliniGuys.com members RIGHT NOW on our message forums.

IlliniGuys' Brad Sturdy answers the Kofi question and fills in some other blanks in this Q&A session.  Kudos to IlliniGuys member "Glenview Illini" for some fantastic queries:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

April 18, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Prep Hoops)

It is April, COVID-19 appears to be on the back burner, and now the college basketball coaches can get back out to see players live, not having to depend on videos to land top prospects.

Being able to see players first-hand can never be replaced. Illinois assistant basketball coaches are on a roll. This time around talking to recruits and giving them offers is a much easier sell because Illinois has been a mainstay as one of the nation's best.

Allow me to introduce to you to Kaden Cooper, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound small forward from Ada, Oklahoma and a member of the class of 2023.

Cooper received an Illinois offer, one he wanted and was honored to have.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

April 18, 2022

On Monday, 2024 PG ZZ Clark made his decision to follow older brother Skyy to Champaign and join Morez Johnson in the Fighting Illini's class of 2024. 

ZZ hasn’t gotten the same early hype as older brother Skyy, but this is a talented basketball player. He’s built in the same mold as his brother, with broad shoulders, natural strength, a low center of gravity and solid athleticism. ZZ has a nice shooting stroke and lets it fly with confidence. He can score the ball from 3 levels and is comfortable playing on or off the ball.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

April 18, 2022

If the last name Clark catches your eye, there is a reason for that. Zachiah "ZZ" Clark, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard in the class of 2024, is the brother of Skky Clark, who committed to the Illini last week on ESPN. 

Skyy is currently on his official visit at Illinois with his father for the next two days after the family had gone on an unofficial visit to Champaign before.  And it appears to be a great place for both Skky and ZZ to call home for the next few years, as ZZ announced his commitment to the Illini this morning.

ZZ is currently a sophomore who has already had an incredible list of offers: Arizona State, Creighton, DePaul, Kansas, and Vanderbilt. But he decided to pick Illinois today knowing that - after seeing what Illinois has to offer in the classroom, in its coaches, on the court, and a hungry fan base - they expect to win.

IlliniGuys Staff

April 17, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

Whether you are celebrating Easter, Passover, or Ramadan, we wish you many blessings on this fantastic weekend!

Now...let's get down to it.

Six weeks ago, it appeared as though Kofi Cockburn's immediate future was set.  He'd talk to NBA scouts and get some feedback...and then very likely announce a return to the Illini for a fourth and final season.  Kofi was enjoying his time at Illinois and was getting rich off NIL deals with even greater financial rewards awaiting in his senior season.  He's close enough to sniff Deon Thomas and James Augustine and replace them atop the respective all-time program scoring and rebounding charts.

Kofi has until April 24th - that's a week from today - to enter the NBA Draft if he chooses to do so.  Keep in mind, this would be his third entry into the draft and the third time is the charm - he cannot return to school if he makes this move.

Is he working out at Ubben? Working with a trainer?  Working with NBA peeps with an eye on improving his draft status (at the moment, he isn't on any mock draft boards).  Nope...he's back in Jamaica with family.

It's a situation that is strange, to say the least.  But as always, IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy and IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince have their ears to the ground and have posted a few surprising notes over the weekend.

There could be more changes to this Illini basketball roster than we thought...

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

April 15, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Memphis Commercial Appeal)

Jaye Nash, a 6-foot-2, 165-pound point guard from Memphis, Tennessee, has been outstanding with his recent play. So much so that Illinois assistant coach Chester Frazier offered him a scholarship to play for the Fighting Illini.

Nash admitted that he was extremely honored to receive an offer from Illinois.

"Yes, sir, I mean it’s a huge offer just knowing their history and knowing they just signed a five-star recruit in Skyy Clark. I know that my work is gonna pay off, and this just shows how hard I work," Nash said.

When asked how he approaches players who inform him they’re entering the transfer portal, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said the conversation isn’t lengthy. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 16, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN -- If you’re a player informing Illinois head coach Brad Underwood that you’re entering the transfer portal, the conversation is concise and to the point.

Underwood made this idea very clear Wednesday during the media conference announcing the signing of five-star guard Skyy Clark inside Memorial Stadium. When asked about the conversations he’s had with the three players (Andre Curbelo, Omar Payne and Brandin Podziemski) who have entered the portal from the 2021-22 roster, Underwood stressed the level of re-recruitment on his end is almost non-existent.

“Best of luck. Best of luck. Good luck,” Underwood said when asked what his response is to players informing him of a transfer decision. “I am 100 percent acceptance of everybody who wants to leave. I wish them nothing but the best. I’m going to say it again and I’m sure you guys are sick of me saying it. Winning is really hard and if you’re not both feet in, go.” 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

April 15, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Louisville Courier-Journal)

Most Illini fans are familiar with the name Bryce Hopkins, after their pitch came up short a little more than a year ago.

The 5-star forward from Oak Park, Illinois committed to Louisville instead, but an ongoing NCAA investigation into the Cardinals program drove him to Lexington and the Kentucky Wildcats instead.

That didn't turn out the way the 6-foot-6, 220-pounder had hoped.  Hopkins saw very little playing time for coach John Calipari, averaging 2.1. points and 1.4 rebounds a game while shooting 43 percent from the field.

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff

April 14, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

In a word: wow!

So...I'm about to walk out the door this morning for a road trip when IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy did an insider information dump...and I just had to get it posted!

The latest on Kofi, it looks like a final decision has been made on Curbelo, and what about potential transfer Terrence Shannon or an Adam Miller return? Other players in the transfer portal of interest? A possible top target for 2023?

There's a lot here to dissect and the IlliniGuys.com members are doing that right now.  It's a pretty interesting conversation.  Click the orange bar at the top of our front page and find out why IlliniGuys.com is the fastest growing Illini insider website around!

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood expresses little to no concern about the partial tear of the ACL that newly signed five-star prospect Skyy Clark suffered last summer.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 13, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Larry McCormack/Nashville Tennessean)

CHAMPAIGN -- On the day he signed the program’s highest-rated guard in nearly two decades, Brad Underwood publicly denied any concerns over the left knee of highly-touted guard Skyy Clark.

Clark made his verbal commitment official Wednesday on the first day of the spring period by signing his National Letter-of-Intent with Illinois at Montverde Academy in Florida. The talk around the five-star prospect, who decommitted from Kentucky in early March, has been the injury suffered to his left knee last summer at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in July. The injury produced a lengthy rehabilitation process and forced him to be inactive for most of his senior season of high school and most of the grassroots circuit this spring.

April 13, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Purdue Athletics)

The thing about recruiting and the transfer portal...things can change in a snap.

Some interesting stuff posted a few hours ago by IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy.  Inside details on what led to Brandin Podziemski's decision, Terrence Shannon, and - maybe the biggest surprise of all - the latest on Andre Curbelo.

Let's get to it!

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff 

April 12, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

There are no games being played on the court at the moment - of course! - but work continues at Ubben both physically and on paper.  The renovation of the Illinois basketball facility is clearly obvious, while the roster construction for the 2022-23 season is also constantly in motion.

You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you that IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy and IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince were constantly working the phones, but it's true!  It's not unusual for them to put their cellphones down for a few hours while on the day job and pick it up with 100+ text messages waiting.  I've sat next to them on press row and at dinner and it is non-stop!

The cool thing for US is...they only share their knowledge on IlliniGuys.com!

I'll share a true story with you:  we recently had a new subscriber sign up and a couple of days later send us an email asking to cancel his subscription.  Naturally, we'd rather that not be the case, but we obliged and gave him instructions on how to do.  A day later, he wrote back: "hey, is it too late to change my mind?  You guys have better info!"

Now, please know this:  we have tremendous respect for our competitors.  But we take great pride in what we do and receiving emails like that lets us know we're on the right track.

Just like the workers who are shaping the future look of Ubben AND of Illini basketball, we are also always building.  100+ new members in the past month - 15 on Monday alone! - and an ever expanding staff and platform, we're excited to see what each day brings.

Our members got the very latest scoop on Illini basketball today from Mr. Sturdy and his notes are below.  If you can't see them, we invite you to click the orange bar above and sign up for a free 7-day trial.   Access to all of our feature stories and analysis awaits and be sure to check out our Multimedia section for our latest podcasts and episodes from the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular syndicated radio show that's heard on 25 stations in six states every weekend.

Three generations of Illini coaching eras were represented at the Gordyville Coaches vs. Cancer event in Rantoul with the return of Lon Kruger & Bill Self to Central Illinois. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 12, 2022

GIFFORD, Ill. -- The past, present and future of the men’s basketball program at the University of Illinois were honored Tuesday night at the Gordyville USA event hall. 

Three eras of head coaching for the Illini program were the honored as current Illini coach Brad Underwood wanted to bridge the gap for fans, produce some history and make some money for the American Cancer Society in a National Association of Basketball Coaches event by bringing back Lon Kruger and Bill Self to Central Illinois for one night. 

“We don’t get to do that nearly enough anymore,” Underwood said Tuesday night. “For the three of us to be able to connect with other people in something that isn’t basketball related is really special.”

The evening, which was the first University of Illinois Coaches vs. Cancer dinner and auction since 2019, allowed the public to see three men who have combined for 253 all-time total wins, eight all-time NCAA Tournament appearances and four regular season Big Ten Conference championships. 

The event was held just eight days removed from Self’s Kansas program winning the 2022 national championship in New Orleans after the Jayhawks took down North Carolina 72-69 in the title game. 
For Kruger, who hasn’t been the leader of the Illini program since 2000, the temporary return to Champaign brought back some nostalgic memories as he noted he was around when the Ubben Practice Facility was being built and during a campus tour, he was able to see the construction of the new renovations of the building this spring.