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By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois fans expected freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis to be a one-and-done, but few anticipated just how impactful Canada’s Will Riley would be in his brief time with the Illini.

This week at the NBA Draft Combine, held at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, both players continued to elevate their draft stock. A source attending the combine shared insight on how the Illini duo performed, what the combine entails, and what’s next in the process.

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

May 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

The Illini coaching staff will be out in force this weekend, with the EYBL in Memphis, the Under Armour in Ohio, and the PUMA Pro 16 circuit in Kansas City. Illinois will have coaches at each of these events. But perhaps the biggest event for Illini fans to follow is the Adidas event in Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

Here’s a look at a few players to watch:

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is betting on a youthful and quick-rising player-development candidate with the expected hiring of Colgate assistant coach Camyrn Crocker.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Brad Underwood has elected to go outside his basketball circle fill his vacant assistant coach spot with a youthful candidate that has built his career on a reputation of player development.

The Illinois eight-year head coach is expected to hire Colgate assistant coach Camryn Crocker to fill the spot on Underwood’s bench left by Tim Anderson shortly before the 2024-25 season.

Troy advances to program’s first-ever team NCAA Championship as […]

For the 17th time in 18 appearances, Illinois will […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 14, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The recruiting front had been relatively quiet for Illinois athletics in recent days, until early this morning. Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema, fresh off his new contract extension, gave Illini fans something to smile about with his trademark social media tease: “Just feels like a good day for some good news for the #famILly.”

That good news came in the form of a commitment from Parker Crim, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound edge rusher from Lima, Ohio.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 14, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Cal Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Earning a spot in the McDonald's All-American Game puts any recruit squarely on the radar of NBA scouts. It signals you're among the top 25 players in the country.

Illinois transfer Andrej Stojakovic participated in the 2023 game in Houston and thus has been a player to watch in his collegiate career.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

May 14, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has made a new contractual commitment to Bret Bielema for at least the next six years and what could be the next decade.

University officials announced the new signed deal with its fifth-year head coach on Tuesday afternoon that would keep Bielema in charge of the Illini football operation through at least the 2030 season. This six-year contract would be the third brand new agreement that University of Illinois officials have signed with Bielema since he agreed to become the Illini new head coach in Dec. 2020.

Bielema’s new contract will need to be voted on for approval by the Board of Trustees at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 22 in Urbana.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) (Cover photo courtesy Joe […]

Top-seeded Oklahoma State used four under-par qualifying scores to fly up the team leaderboard while North Carolina remains in trouble of not advancing to the NCAA Championships.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 13, 2025

URBANA, Ill. — When asked if Ryan Voois is one of the more unique personalities he’s ever recruited and coached in his 25 years as the Illinois head coach, Mike Small couldn’t stop himself from laughing.

“What do you think?” Small said with that child-like grin.

Voois, a member of the Dean's list every year of his high school career before enrolling at Illinois and currently a member of the James Scholar Program and the Gies Scholar Program in Business at the University of Illinois, is “off the charts smart” but the 21-year-old manages to carry himself as an unassuming member of this NCAA Urbana Regional field.

After being forced to watch the opening round of the 2025 NCAA Urbana Regional, Illinois freshman Trey Marrion fires a 1-under 70 after being subbed in.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 13, 2025

URBANA, Ill. — One of the main reasons Illinois men’s basketball head coach Brad Underwood and Illinois men’s golf head coach Mike Small have been good friends is the mentality, energy and discipline they both run their programs.

The major, obvious difference about the two men is how the sport Underwood leads forces him to use his bench while Small very much does not. So, Tuesday may have just been a perfect day where Underwood arrived at Atkins Golf Club as a spectator to watch his buddy go to his bench to maintain lead in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Urbana Regional.

Illinois sophomore Max Herendeen angered over double-bogey finish; Several […]

Both Illinois senior Jackson Buchanan and Illini squad hold […]

Don’t be surprised if halfway into this NCAA Urbana Regional, Illinois junior Ryan Voois sneaks his way near the top of the leaderboard with a solid, yet unassuming style of play.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 12, 2025

URBANA, Ill. — It should come as no surprise that Ryan Voois is a finance major while also being a relied upon veteran golfer at the University of Illinois.

Because if there’s a single player who has studied and ironed out his game according to critical statistics to his success, it is the 21-year-old Californian analytical darling of Mike Small’s 2024-25 Illini roster.

21 players in the 75-player NCAA Urbana Regional are ranked inside the Top 200 amateur players in the world as Illinois hosts its first NCAA postseason event. 
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.  — If you’re looking for star power in collegiate men’s golf this week, the NCAA Urbana Regional should be your focal point. 

Among the 75-player field that will tee off Monday morning, 21 players are ranked within the top 180 amateur golfers in the world and 10 players are within the top 65 in the world. 

All five of the top teams (top-seeded Oklahoma State, No. 2 seed North Carolina, No. 3 and host Illinois, No. 4 seed Texas Tech and No. 5 seed Long Beach State0 have multiple players ranked inside the top 180. 

“It’s a [NCAA] Regional. This field is good,” Illinois head coach Mike Small said. “What people may not realize is there are some teams in this field with high quality players who have beaten us up recently. Long Beach State beat us in Hawaii this year and they’re the 5-seed. UNLV has beat us twice this year and they’re the six seed. Marquette beat us and they’re the eight seed. There are some really good mid-major programs that are in Urbana this week that are extremely good teams.”