Basketball

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting June […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

June 18, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Rock Island Dispatch-Argus)

Back in early March, Illinois was all alone in second place in the Big Ten.  It was a day in which eight potential recruits were on campus to see them face their bitter rivals, the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The stars aligned for the Illini, as the last place team in the conference (Nebraska) went into Madison and knocked off the front-running Badgers, giving Illinois a chance to play for a Big Ten title later that night.

I remember like it was yesterday--all the recruits were fired up and rightly so! They were on a visit and would have a front row as Illinois played for a title.

Bettendorf, Iowa's Caden Wilkins, a 6-foot-6, 202-pound forward, considered by Prep Hoops to be the top junior in the state, was one of those recruits.

This past week, DI coaches were allowed to contact juniors and Wilkins got a call.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

June 20, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy The Hoop Hustle)

The class of 2023 has a big man that you can expect the full-court press in coming weeks. Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso is a 6-foot-11, 195-pound center from Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut.

Because of Onyenso’s size and skill, he is becoming one of the top players being pursued in his class.

Onyenso was offered a scholarship by the Fighting Illini staff last Tuesday. But Illinois coaches will have their work cut out for them.

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer June 19, 2022 This […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

June 18, 2022

(Cover file photo courtesy Richard Barron's Twitter page)

(EDITOR'S NOTE: IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy and Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince were both in attendance at RBS on Friday.  Brad offers his day one thoughts below and will post updates all day during day twoj on the IlliniGuys message forum.

-Brad Underwood and Tim Anderson were in attendance at this event, while Chester Frazier (DMV) and Geoff Alexander (AZ) were elsewhere.

-James Brown and Morez Johnson will head to Colorado for USA Basketball Saturday morning and did not play on Saturday. Brown talked Illinois to Kedric Prince and was very complimentary of the program. Illinois is really in deep with Brown.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 18, 2022

(Cover file photo courtesy Journal & Topics)

(EDITOR'S NOTE:  IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy and Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince were both in attendance on Friday.  Brad posted updates throughout the day on the IlliniGuys message forums on Friday and Kedric's notes are posted below.)

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and assistant Tim Anderson were in Riverside, Illinois on Friday watching several potential athletes. Underwood was able to see some really good players. Some already have offers and Terrance Smith from West Aurora was extended a visit to the Illinois campus.

June 17, 2o22 (Cover photo courtesy Chicago Sun-Times) It's […]

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said Wednesday he feels new forward Matthew Mayer has yet to reach his potential development despite being a highly attractive transfer portal signing. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 15, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Whether it’s been while recruiting him years ago as a high school prospect, seeing him on the opposing sideline two years ago in Indianapolis or now, Brad Underwood says he’s always been convinced of two things about Matthew Mayer. 

Illinois' newest signing out of the transfer portal is a player Underwood has coveted for several years going back to when he was a Top 100 prospect out of Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. However, despite being on preseason All-Big 12 teams along with preseason Naismith and Wooden Award watch lists before the tip of the 2021-22 season, the Illini head coach is convinced the 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward still has the potential to improve his overall game in his final season of college basketball in Champaign. 

“I think it’s about continuing to become that guy who is a consistent 40 percent from three,” Underwood said. “I think we have the opportunity to get him those looks and him potentially being a focal point of what we want to do on that end will help him grow in those areas as well.”  

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

June 16, 2022

Illinois football recently picked up four verbal commitments, keeping them among the nation's best in 2023. 

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

June 13, 2022

The big man search for Illinois is not over.

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

June 12, 2022

St. Rita High School in Chicago is loaded with basketball and football recruits these days.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

June 10, 2022

Former Illinois basketball coach Nancy Fahey and her staff knew their lack of size was a problem for them. Assistant coach John Patterson left the states to find one.

Liisa Taponen is 6-foot-5, strong with a great upside, but, more importantly, she will be able to rebound and make layups.

Patterson shared with IlliniGuys previously, "It's not a secret we need size badly. We recruit players in the states; we do well, but in the end they pick other programs. I spent a lot of time out of the states, and found Taponen. She's strong, and doesn't really know how good she can be."

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

June 9, 2022

The Illinois men's basketball program figures it is still one big man away from maybe finalizing the 2022-23 basketball roster.

The Pete Nance situation is puzzling at best. I cannot blame Nance for really looking for the right fit, as this is his last go round.

For those who are members on our IlliniGuys message board, I have shared that Illinois will always have another card up its sleeve.

I wasn't sure there was any steam coming from the Illinois end regarding former DePaul and Western Kentucky big man Jaylen Butz, but sources have confirmed that this is someone who might get added to the roster.

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer June 8, 2022 After […]

Three-star OLB Pat Farrell from Chicago’s St. Rita High School is the 12th in-state high school prospect signed by Illinois since Bret Bielema was hired in Dec. 2020. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 5, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Bret Bielema’s rebuild of the Illinois football program has placed the Chicagoland area as a cornerstone to his recruiting philosophy and Pat Farrell continued that tradition Sunday night.