Basketball

By IlliniGuys Staff

October 23, 2022

Two things are going down right now:

The leaves from the trees
The countdown clock to the 23rd ranked Illini basketball team's first - and only - exhibition game Friday night.

Just five days and counting until Quincy comes to State Farm Center to match up with the 6th edition of Brad Underwood's Illini.  In typical Underwood fashion, he scheduled his secret scrimmage against defending NCAA champion Kansas and former Illini coach Bill Self.

IlliniGuys.com Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy has his sources tied to both programs and offered the following summation last night on the IlliniGuys message boards:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

October 21, 2022

St. Rita's All-State forward Morez Johnson was on campus for an official visit last weekend.

The Class of 2024 Illinois commit now stands 6-foot-9, weighs 230 pounds, and is getting stronger each day. Illinois invited him to practice last year and that is all it took. He wanted to commit on the spot, but waited until he got home to deliver the news to head coach Brad Underwood that he was going to be an Illini.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

October 15, 2022

Just six months on the job, it's clear that new Illini women's basketball coach Shauna Green is already putting her stamp on the program.  The former Dayton coach is infusing new energy and a fresh attitude into an Illinois team that's gone nearly 20 years without an NCAA tournament appearance.

Today Green and her marvelous coaching staff received some great news, landing a commitment from 4-star Nashville native Cori Allen.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Basketball Insider/Analyst

October 15, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Nashville Tennessean)

New Illinois Head Coach Shauna Green hit her first 2023 high school recruit on Saturday and it was a big one, when 4-star guard Cori Allen picked the Illini.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

October 20, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Melvin Bell's Twitter account)

Illinois football is hot right now: they are sitting at the top of the West Division in first place. Recruits are coming to Memorial Stadium in record numbers.

But let us not forget about Brad Underwood and his staff as they just continue to reload. The success Illinois experienced over the last four years makes recruiting "sexy" as Underwood phrased it.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

October 19, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

Illinois landed in the 23rd spot in the preseason Associated Press poll released earlier this week.  A Big Ten network analyst and NCAA basketball contributor said, "Frankly I think Illinois should be in the high teens."

Here's a brief outlook on the recent play of the men's basketball team, in no ranking order:

y Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

October 18, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

ZZ Clark, the brother of current Illini point guard Skyy Clark, decided it was in his best interest to re-open his recruitment.

Illinois is ranked in the preseason Associated Press men’s […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

Oct. 15, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Buffalo (N.Y.) News)

After recently narrowing her final list of suitors to four schools, New York scoring machine Gretchen Dolan pulled the trigger today, committing to Shauna Green's Illinois Fighting Illini.

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 15, 2022

Trey McKenney made the visit to Champaign back in August; the outstanding 6-foot-5, 200-pound combo guard finished the summer ranking in the top 30 nationally.

Illini Athletic Director Josh Whitman gave media members a […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

Oct. 13, 2022

When 6-foot-9 power forward Morez Johnson from St. Rita committed to Illini basketball almost a year ago, not a lot of people knew much about him. The skinny from gurus was all the same; he's young, needs to shoot better, get stronger blah, blah, blah.

The current high school junior just simply rolled up his sleeves and went to work. Johnson, now a guaranteed first-team all-state selection, is one of the nation's top 50 basketball recruits. The extra notoriety hasn't changed the perspective on his future at all.

October 12, 2022

IlliniGuys' Brad Sturdy (front row, 3rd from left) was one of several media members to accompany the Illinois basketball attendees at the Big Ten Media Days event in Minneapolis earlier this week.

Big Ten Basketball Media days took place in Minneapolis and although it was by far the smallest media turnout outside of a COVID year, it was still a fantastic event that gave us an opportunity to learn more about the Big Ten.  IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy made the trip north and offers these thoughts:

By IlliniGuys Staff

October 10, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy IlliniGuys Staff)

In case you are counting at home - and, trust us, we are counting down here! - it is now just 28 days until the Fighting Illini men's basketball home opener.

This is year six of the Brad Underwood era and, without question, the most intriguing start of any season during his tenure.  The 58-year old has not only become a fan favorite, but is establishing himself as one of the top coaches in the country and one who will impact all of college basketball for the next decade.

IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy spent the day with the team on Friday during Media Day and offers these insights:

Illini men's basketball coach Brad Underwood begins his 6th […]