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By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

July 16, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Chicago Sun-Times)

Brad Underwood’s success at Illinois goes further than seven straight 20-win seasons.

Entering his 10th season in Champaign, Underwood’s got a trophy cabinet that might be starting to run out of space. Even outside of the rivalry trophies and custom-made plaques (or guitars), Underwood has brought home three Big Ten titles in his time with the Illini, with two coming through the tournament and one in the regular season.

In this installation of “Where Are They Now?”, we’re going to go back to the first of Underwood’s Big Ten titles, and see where members of that 2020-21 season are now.

Before going into the “Who” of the Big Ten title-winning team, we need to look at the “What”. What made winning a Big Ten title so special? It’s a question that’s easier to answer based on how many years you’ve been an Illinois basketball fan. Underwood, by defeating Ohio State 91-88 in overtime of the Big Ten Championship game, ended a run of 15 years without a conference title for the Illini. The last one came in 2005, when Deron Williams and Dee Brown ended the year as national runner-ups.

Undoubtedly, the “one” of the “one-two punch” for the season was Ayo Dosunmu. Entering that season as a junior, he returned to Illinois after flirting with the idea of entering the NBA Draft. He ended the season as the team’s leader in points and assists with 20.1 and 5.2.

Boyd’s verbal pledge to Bret Bielema’s 2027 recruiting haul marks the third Florida native to commit to the Illini in this cycle and 24th in the last four classes.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

July 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema has operated his Illini recruiting philosophy in the state of Florida similar to the motto of the Don Johnson character in ‘Miami Vice’ where it’s an area where you can't even tell the players without a program.

The Illinois head coach, who will begin his 18th season as the leader of a power conference operation in preseason camp next month, has made a reputation for himself by being able to land at least a handful of Florida prospects in every recruiting cycle. And the 2027 recruiting haul for Illinois is no different.

On Wednesday, the verbal pledge of three-star defensive back Trezavant Boyd from Central High School in Miami, Fla., marks the third Florida native to commit to the Illini’s 2027 recruiting class, joining three-star defensive back Tyrone Howard Jr. (St. John Neumann High School in Naples, Fla.) and three-star tailback Steven Alexis of Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Fla.

y Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

July 15, 2026 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —  Illinois continued to build momentum on the recruiting trail on Wednesday, adding another key defensive piece to its 2027 recruiting class with a verbal commitment from cornerback Trezavant Boyd.

The commitment is significant for the Illini, who continue to strengthen both sides of the football. While Illinois has built considerable momentum on offense by adding strength, speed, talent, and quality depth, the coaching staff has also made it a priority to add impact players on the defensive side of the ball.

Boyd, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound cornerback from Miami, Florida, gives Illinois its 16th commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

July 14, 2026

Detroit Martin Luther King High School defensive back Darryl Flemister became the 15th player to commit to the Illini when he chose the Orange and Blue over the Black and Gold of Iowa over the weekend. Flemister is a 6'0, 160 pounder who's played all over the field for a strong King program that has produced players like Sauce Gardner and Donte Moore among many other blue chips over the years. Flemister started at quarterback as a freshman for King, which is saying something for such a strong program. However, he evolved into a wide receiver primarily and then accepted the advice of recruiters who told him that his future was as a defensive back. I have to say: I don't think I've seen a recruit that is such a mixed bag of abilities. I completely understand where Flemister, his coaches, and his recruiters are coming from in moving him all over the field.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

You know how I'm always looking for the chase down tackle that Illini defensive recruiters are looking for in their recruits? Well, Flemister provided that, but one better, in his very first clip.

As the Illini emerging star forward enters her second season of college basketball, her 2026 summer schedule now includes playing for Team Canada in an Olympic Games tryout.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

July 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Cearah Parchment’s summer has become a lot busier than the 19-year-old imagined it would be. And her college head coach is now trying to map out a plan for the rising star forward.

When Parchment was one of 17 players selected by Canada Basketball last month for an initial training camp in Montreal, a large part of her didn’t ultimately assume she’d be asked to return. However, that is exactly what is happening now.

The second-year forward at Illinois is being asked by Canada Basketball executives and coaches to be part of a roster of the country’s elite basketball talent in a second training camp in Victoria, British Columbia. Team Canada, which is currently ranked seventh in the world and has qualified for the last four Olympic Games, is preparing a roster for the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.

As Illinois continues its summer workout sessions inside the Ubben Basketball Complex, Parchment has been active for these practice sessions since returning from the initial training camp in late June.

By IlliniGuys Staff July 13, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Zeno Joy, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

July 12, 2026

It’s time to turn back the clock on the gridiron. In the second installation of an IlliniGuys offseason series, we’re taking a look at head coach Bret Bielema’s first Illinois team back when he was in his first year in Champaign.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

July 11, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For much of the pre-draft process, former Illinois guard Kylan Boswell's name consistently appeared on NBA mock drafts, most often as a second-round selection. Some evaluators believed there was an outside chance he could sneak into the first round, but that opportunity never materialized.

What followed, however, may have been an even better outcome.

After going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, Boswell quickly found a home with the Charlotte Hornets, signing a two-way contract that gives the 21-year-old guard an opportunity to develop while proving he belongs at the next level. For the Boswell family, the destination and the organization's commitment ultimately mattered more than hearing his name called on draft night.

Boswell worked out for several NBA franchises during the pre-draft process: the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, and Golden State Warriors. Sources believed Golden State would select him with its second-round pick at No. 54, but the Warriors instead drafted 6-foot-7 Florida State guard Lajae Jones.

Boswell's father, Brandon Boswell, spoke with IlliniGuys on Friday evening about the journey that led his son to Charlotte.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

July 10, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Expectations have rarely been higher for the Illinois men's basketball program, and early reports from summer workouts suggest there may be good reason for the optimism. National analysts have already placed the Fighting Illini among the country's elite, and those around the program believe this roster has the size, depth, and talent to compete with anyone in college basketball.

The Athletic tabbed Illinois as its preseason No. 1 team in the country, while ESPN ranked the Illini No. 3, behind No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Duke.

Much of the excitement centers around Illinois' talented group of newcomers, along with the development of several returning players. One addition generating plenty of buzz is Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks.

The 6-foot-7 guard has spent the summer playing for Estonia in FIBA competition and has looked every bit as good as advertised. Known for his scoring ability, Vaaks is expected to add another dynamic offensive weapon to an already talented Illinois roster.

According to a source, the early returns have been impressive.

Before arriving at Illinois, three-star 2027 OL commit Gavin Ericson-Staton will have high school experience at center, guard and tackle.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

CHAMPAIGN — Gavin Ericson-Staton’s memories of college football in his younger days of development inside his suburban home was turning on NBC’s coverage of Notre Dame home games.

The 2027 offensive line verbal pledge to Illinois wasn’t an Illini fan as a youth grade school student, never had attended an Illini football game until being encouraged to do so in his high school recruiting process and never considered Illini football relevant at all - even after the program hired Bret Bielema in Dec. 2020.

Just a little over six years after Bielema arrived for the rebuilding project of turning around the historical malaise of the football operation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ericson-Staton has figured out his view of the sport and the position he plays was born and developed to play for that head coach and that offensive line coach at Illinois.

“The pitch was easy. It was easy for me to say ‘yeah, I’m interested’

Illinois power forward David Mirkovic had a season like no other freshman in the nation. And he did it playing next to an All-American.

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Co-Founder

July 8, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN - As the parade of one year college players made their way one by one to the NBA Draft stage to open the first round of selections in Brooklyn, New York last month, there was one freshman watching from home who had done something that none of them had accomplished.

During the 2025-26 season, there were two college basketball freshmen who...

Averaged 13 points per game,

8 rebounds per game,

2 assists per game,

All while shooting 38 percent from three-point range.

One of them was national player of the year Cameron Boozer of Duke. But unlike Boozer - the center of attention all season long for the Blue Devils, Illinois forward David Mirkovic did it playing next to an All-American.

Make no mistake, "Mirk" is special.

"The old cliche, I've used it a million times", says Illinois head coach Brad Underwood.

July 7, 2026

There is an Illini flavor on the NBA Summer League courts this month. 

No fewer than 11 players who once wore Illinois uniforms are on NBA summer rosters. Here are their teams and their game schedules this month in Las Vegas:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

July 7, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The foundation of Illinois' 2027 recruiting class is beginning to take shape, but there is still plenty of work to be done. The Illini have landed several key high school prospects while addressing needs on both sides of the ball, particularly adding more speed, which has been a major point of emphasis for the coaching staff.

The class has shown promise early in the recruiting cycle, but Illinois will need to continue adding talent if it hopes to climb the conference rankings. According to one national recruiting service, the Illini's 2027 class is currently ranked No. 17 in the Big Ten.

One prospect to watch closely is Trezavant Boyd, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound cornerback from Miami, Florida. According to a national recruiting service, Boyd is ranked as the No. 734 overall prospect in the nation and the No. 72 cornerback in the 2027 class.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

July 6, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois football has been on a recruiting tear over the past several weeks, stacking big wins. On Saturday, the Illini coaching staff added another talented defensive back when Darryl Flemister of Detroit announced his commitment.

Yet despite another recruiting win, much of the conversation surrounding Illinois football continues to center on one player from the Class of 2027: wide receiver Brody Knowles.

At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, Knowles gives Illinois exactly what every offense needs, a long, sure-handed target capable of stretching the field and making contested catches. His production during his junior season showed why Illinois wide receivers coach Justin Stepp made him such a priority.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

July 5, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

Illinois kept the recruiting irons hot when defensive back Tyrone Howard, Jr. from St. John Neuman High School of Naples, Florida committed to the Illini. Howard had 29 tackles, 3 interceptions and one forced fumble for the Celtics last year and added another 22 catches for 278 and 4 touchdowns on offense. Howard is a 6'1, 175 pound player who some project as a safety, but I have to caution everyone that Howard is squarely in the group of corner/ safety hybrid types from Florida that Illinois has been taking during the Bielema era. He's a little raw, so its going to be a while before we see Howard on the field to know for sure, but I think the future might just be at corner for the sneaky athletic Howard.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

I have to start off by saying that Howard is in one of the more unique high school football situations in the United States.