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IlliniGuys Staff

May 9, 2022

After Skyy Clark and then ZZ Clark and then Terrence Shannon Jr. in the span of a couple of weeks, it has been super quiet on the Illini men's basketball recruiting front.

But that's about to change.

The recruiting dead period has ended and, with the NBA and G-League trials about to start, we will start to hear more buzz on future Illini.

This afternoon, IlliniGuys' Brad Sturdy gave us an update on the top targets and where the Illini stand with each.  You're probably out of popcorn by now, so go get a refill and then check out the latest.

Combined, Sturdy and IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince have been doing this stuff for more than a quarter of a century and it shows.  Coaches here and over there, recruits and their families...it seems everyone knows and TRUSTS Brad and/or Ked.  And that makes IlliniGuys.com one cool place to be!

Illinois sits 11th in its 12-team NCAA Regional in […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 9, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy USA Today)

There's definitely some talent in this year's NCAA basketball transfer portal. Last week, I said Northwestern's Pete Nance would be a big asset to Illinois if they could land him.

For players who are still available in the portal, Nance would be the #1 priority and Baylor's Matthew Mayer would be #1A.

IlliniGuys insider Brad Sturdy said Mayer is the most talented big man left in the portal because of the several positions he can play on the court.

For me, Nance edges out Mayer for one reason; I rank him as a better defender.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

May 6, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Minnesota State Athletics)

Illinois added some quality depth to their secondary with the transfer of Terrell "Rello" Jennings.  Jennings is just about the most unlikely story for a transfer Illinois has ever had, so regardless of what you might think of him as a player, he's a heck of an interesting story:

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

May 7, 2022 Coach Slone appeared on this week's […]

Multiple Illinois coaches have reached out to interest in Rutgers edge rusher Ryan Keeler.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 6, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- During his introductory media conference in Dec. 2020, Bret Bielema made a public plea to all college football players from Illinois not happy with their current situation.

“If you’re a player from the state of Illinois and you’re somewhere else and there’s a desire and an ability to be somewhere else, I’m listening,” Bielema said. “I think if we are built with a DNA of what we are as a university in the structure of our football program, we have a great chance to have success.”

This statement connected with not Illinois high school coaches but a highly regarded player who officially put his name in the transfer portal last weekend.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 5, 2022

One of the worst-kept secrets in the NCAA transfer portal is Northwestern's Pete Nance and his collegiate future should he elect to withdraw from NBA Draft consideration and return to play one final season.

Since the departure of two-time All-American Kofi Cockburn, Illinois has been hunting for a big man, but one who is a different type of player.

While Cockburn was arguably the most dominant player in college basketball the last three years - and two decades ago would have been a top five NBA pick, today's game is different.  Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said, "The NBA has already changed, and the college game is starting to look a lot like it. Two years ago, all the post-season NBA awards went to foreign players."

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 3, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Bloomington Pantagraph)

Defensive back coach Aaron Henry is the Tim Anderson of the basketball staff. When Henry was hired, not a lot of people knew what he would bring to the coaching staff at Illinois.

My first encounter with Henry was last June during a media event held by head coach Bret Bielema.

Photo courtesy Illinois Athletics

Henry, along with executive director of personnel and recruiting Pat Embleton, did most of the touring. But Henry caught the eye of a lot of reporters that day. His charisma and easy flow to anyone who would talk to him kept our attention.

I was so impressed with Henry that I wanted to be the first media guy to interview him. I must admit, I did not go through the proper channels to talk to him, but I just wanted to pick his brain.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 3, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Miles McVay)

Four-star offensive tackle Miles McVay from East St. Louis, Illinois, attended the Illinois spring football game last week as a man who is in high demand.  The class of 2023 standout is wanted by 35 different colleges.

IlliniGuys.com caught up with the future high school All-American to get his thoughts on the current Illinois team as well as other recruits.

McVay said, "It was cool.  I got a chance to see and hang with all my St. Louis Metro guys and hang with and talk to Coach (Cory) Patterson and (Bret) Bielema."

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 3, 2022

Illinois women's basketball coach Shauna Green is taking a page out of men's head coach Brad Underwood's playbook: Go big or stay home.

Recently Green offered one of the nation's top prospects Laci Steele, a 6-foot wing from Edmond High School in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Considered one of the nation's best wings in the class of 2023, IlliniGuys.com caught up with Steele to get her thoughts on the Illini.

The University of Illinois has ended the exploration of […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

May 2, 2022

There are some recruits that you just know will be difference makers in college. 

One Illinois prep who fits that bill is Lyons Township's Eddie Tuerk.  He's a stands 6-foot-4, 255 pound sophomore defensive lineman who many publications project as a legitimate four or five-star recruit.

We caught up with a brief question and answer segment from Tuerk.

Kedric: What were your thoughts on your visit recently, and how many offers do you have right now?

Eddie: The visit went great, I really liked it. Right now I have 16 offers. Let me think, I don't want to leave anyone off: Cincinnati, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Tennessee, and Wisconsin to name a few.

Illinois completed its 10-shot comeback win Sunday at the […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

April 28, 2022

It is springtime, more than the start of a new Major League Baseball season, the NFL Draft, and final exams. It also means spring football games for all of the colleges.

The Fighting Illini are coming off yet another losing season (5-7) but made great strides through the season and were so close to making a bowl game in year one under head coach Bret Bielema.

As talented and passionate as Bielema's assistants are in game-planning, they are equally impressive in the way they attack recruiting. Not only are they getting the top players in the state to visit, but also selling the dream and the vision that now exists at Illinois.

Last week, three-star offensive tackle prospect Brandon Henderson updated his recruiting with IlliniGuys.com after his first time on campus. Henderson is a 6-foot-6, 300-pound OT from East St. Louis, Illinois, in the class of 2023.

Illinois has added to its offensive line room with the addition of Furman offensive lineman Dylan Davis. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 1, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- For the third straight season, Illinois has gone to the Football Championship Subdivision level for offensive line help.