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By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 28, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – For the past four years, much of the attention in college athletics has centered on the transfer portal. While it continues to play an important role in roster building, there is a noticeable shift back toward recruiting and developing high school talent. Illinois is no exception. This year’s roster features several experienced transfers, but one freshman in particular is already creating buzz among those around the program.

Keaton Wagler arrived at Illinois this summer with a strong resume.

By IlliniGuys Staff

(Cover photo courtesy Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette)

Illinois has been blessed with some immensely talented basketball players over the years.  All-Americans, Big Ten Players of the Year, and those who have reached the penultimate level in college hoops.

IlliniGuys co-owners Mike Cagley, Larry Smith, and Brad Sturdy and IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince all grew up in the 1970s and 80s, so we posed the question - who is the greatest Illini power forward in your lifetime?

That was the debate in this edition of the I On The Illini podcast:

https://illiniguys.com/illiniguys-top-fighting-illini-pfs-in-our-lifetime-4-star-2027-qb-commit-fantastic-four-first-steps-movie-review-491/

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – One of […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 26, 2025

Today’s Focus features Illinois women’s guard Erica Finney.

Player Biography: Erica Finney, a 6-foot-0 guard from Sydney, Australia, is ranked as the No. 13 prospect by SportsEngine Global Rankings. She represented New South Wales at the 2024 Australian National Championships, where she averaged 12.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range.

What we know:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 25, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Today’s player focus features Illinois men’s guard Jake Davis.

Player Biography: Jake Davis transferred to Illinois from Mercer, becoming the first recruit landed by Illinois assistant coach Tyler Underwood, with help from head coach Brad Underwood.

A 6-foot-6 wing from McCordsville, Ind. (Cathedral), Davis played in 32 games last season for the Illini. During his senior year of high school, he was named Academic All-State and selected to the Indianapolis Supreme 15. He also helped lead Cathedral to the 2022 Indiana Class 4A state championship.

What we know:

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 26, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — The closer we get to the 2025 season beginning, the less interested the folks who work inside the Smith Family Football Complex sound about making their play evaluations complicated.

While nobody surrounding the University of Illinois football program would deny Hudson Clement has found some adversities since arriving in Champaign-Urbana from West Virginia this past spring. Clement himself during the on-campus media day two weeks ago would admit the transition has had setbacks on and off the field including adjustment to the Barry Lunney Jr. offensive scheme and some nagging injuries that hampered not only his confidence but his summer conditioning program before entering preseason practices this month.

And after all of the meetings, practices, film work, conditioning drills and every analytical tool used to evaluate skill position players on a football field, Lunney Jr.’s answer to what he likes most about Clement since his arrival from the transfer portal was a back-to-the-basics formula that practically everybody can and should understand.

Bielema hints that players who were dealing with nagging injuries in preseason camp may be on a play snap count in Friday night’s season opener vs. Western Illinois.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 26, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — After he confirmed his star left tackle had returned to the practice field with full medical clearance, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema hinted that J.C. Davis may not be the only player on the roster being intently watched by this coaching staff.

As Bielema stated last week, the Illini head coach said Davis was given full medical clearance to return to practice on Saturday and was on the field for a Monday morning practice just four days before the No. 12 Illini host Western Illinois Friday night (6:30 p.m. CST, Peacock) at Memorial Stadium after being held out of most of the preseason training camp due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

"Today was his most reps by far," Bielema said. "He took all the team (reps) today and didn't have any issues.”

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 26, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women’s basketball staff spent the summer evaluating potential recruits, attending AAU events to keep close tabs on players. Some of those athletes already hold offers, while others are still hoping the Illini will be the next to extend one.

One of the top players in that spotlight is Quincy native Khloe Nicholson, a four-star sophomore who received an offer from Illinois last year as a freshman.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema would rather not hear about historical disappointments following successful seasons and subsequent preseason hype.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 25, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Yes, Bret Bielema knows the history of the football program he’s in charge of.

He understands Illinois will begin its 2025 season with a number by its name for the first time since 2008 after being ranked No. 12 in both the Associated Press and Coaches preseason polls. Bielema has been informed the last time Illinois began a season ranked in the preseason and finished a year ranked was 1990. Oh yes, he’s very well aware of all of this.

“I always go back to everything here seems to always go back to either 1990 or 2008 for whatever reason. I mean, every single stat known to mankind seems to go back to 1990 or 2008.”

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular August 25, 2025 We […]

Pat Farrell came to Illinois in the 2022 recruiting class as a 235-pound outside linebacker but is now in the mix to start as a 280-pound defensive lineman in Bret Bielema’s developmental system.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 24, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — If there’s a representation of Illinois as a player developmental program, it may very well be Pat Farrell.

As a 235-pound stand-up rush linebacker, Farrell was recruited out of St. Rita High School in Chicago due to his high explosiveness and motor that led him to be named a 2022 All-Chicago Catholic League first-team selection. Farrell’s highlight tape constantly showed up laying players out with excruciating hits and running sideline-to-sideline to make chaotic plays in open space.

After two years in the Illini defensive system as an outside linebacker, Farrell transitioned his body to make the move into the positional room of his primary Chicagoland recruiter - Illinois defensive line coach Terrance Jamison.

The Illinois coaching staff continues to carefully deal with the plantar fasciitis of its projected All-Big Ten left tackle as the Illini transition out of preseason camp and into game preparation.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 23, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Amongst the laundry list of injuries of Illinois offensive linemen throughout this preseason camp, JC Davis is the only one still on the inactive list of Illini head coach Bret Bielema.

In his final preseason media session Thursday afternoon, Bielema expressed Davis’ extended absence from action might be an intentionally ‘overly cautious’ move from the Illinois coaching staff to possibly prevent future damage to the preseason All-Big Ten left tackle.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Naperville Sun)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men’s basketball program continues to line up key visits this fall, and with its national reputation, the Illini are attracting really good talent.

Cole Kelly, a 6-foot-6, 185-pound small forward from Naperville (Neuqua Valley High School), recently shared on Twitter (X) that he has two unofficial visits scheduled. He will visit Nebraska this weekend before making his way to Illinois on Sept. 27.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN - Illinois men’s basketball continues to establish itself as a national recruiting presence, with more than 35 Division I offers extended to members of the class of 2026.

Since head coach Brad Underwood’s arrival in March 2017, the Illini have resurrected their program to prominence largely through recruiting, now competing consistently for elite high school talent again. That work has paid off again, as Jasiah Jervis, ranked the nation’s No. 50 player by ESPN, has included Illinois in his final list of eight schools.

By IlliniGuys Staff

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Illinois has been blessed with some immensely talented basketball players over the years.  All-Americans, Big Ten Players of the Year, and those who have reached the penultimate level in college hoops.

IlliniGuys co-owners Mike Cagley, Larry Smith, and Brad Sturdy and IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince all grew up in the 1970s and 80s, so we posed the question - who is the greatest Illini small forward in your lifetime?

That was the debate in this edition of the I On The Illini podcast:

https://illiniguys.com/illiniguys-top-fighting-illini-sfs-in-our-lifetime-490/