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By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 23rd, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Nike EYBL basketball event took place in Memphis, Tenn., this past weekend, and Illinois assistant coach Geoff Alexander was in attendance. Among his priorities: checking in on one of the premier AAU teams in the state, MeanStreets.

Peoria basketball has historically been good to the Illini, producing talent that helped elevate the program. But in recent years, the talent level hasn’t matched that tradition. Iowa commit Cooper Koch is one of the most recent standouts, but now another name is emerging: Quinton Kitt of East Peoria.

Illinois head coach Mike Small has elected to go with a pair of freshmen, Jake Birdwell and Trey Marrion, in his opening round lineup for the NCAA Championships starting Friday.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

URBANA, Ill. — Regardless of the particular order, Illinois head coach Mike Small knew the first three names he’d be writing down on his lineup card when first round tee times were created for the 2025 NCAA Championships.

It’s the final two names, and what the Illini can count on for production out of those spots, that Small still has questions about heading into the sport’s national championship tournament that starts Friday morning.

As new long-term contracts for the football and men’s basketball head coaches were approved today, Illinois athletics director has completed his gamble on betting the coaches he trusts the most.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Mike Cagley/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In some way, shape or form, every athletics director at a power conference program is a gambler.

Like it or not, a big part of Josh Whitman’s job description is consistently making decisions with multi-million dollars of consequences for the current and future revenue of his department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. When he commits that kind of guaranteed money to a head coach, it’s part of what he calls “the formula of success”.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

May 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The idea of ‘speed dating’ has been used by several power conference coaching staffs to describe the current process of transfer portal recruiting and the term might not be more applicable than to Donovan Turner’s verbal pledge.

Turner, a 6-foot-1 and 192-pound defensive back, gave his verbal pledge to commit to Illinois on Wednesday evening after crossing the country with his high school and early college football journey. Turner was most recently a 2024 first-team selection in the Southern California Football Association National Division All-Central League while playing at the junior college level at Long Beach (Calif.) City College. Turner had 30 total tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions in nine games last season after transferring back near his hometown after playing the 2022 and 2023 seasons at the University of Massachusetts.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 21, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There's an old saying: "Strike while the iron is hot." The Illinois football program, in just four years under head coach Bret Bielema, has rapidly transformed into a contender.

With several quality wins on the field, success in recruiting high school players, and savvy use of the transfer portal, Illinois is making its mark. It’s no surprise that one of the state’s top prospect in the Class of 2026, wide receiver Nasir Rankin, committed to the Illini today.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 21, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The state of Illinois continues to be a fertile recruiting ground for Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini.

King Liggins, a three-star defensive lineman from Brother Rice High School in Chicago, announced his commitment to Illinois, becoming the fifth in-state recruit to pledge to the Illini in the 2026 class.

Illinois sophomore Max Herendeen knows his golf swing is in good form but his mental game needs a reboot before the Illini head to the NCAA Championships in California.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 21, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

URBANA, Ill. — It’s a good news, bad news week for Max Herendeen.

With a week to prepare for the upcoming NCAA Championships, the Illinois sophomore All-Big Ten selection currently believes the technical components of his golf swing are more than solid.

Following his three days of play last week at the 2025 NCAA Urbana Regional, Herendeen made it very clear that his issues were a golf mental and golf maturity issue.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 20, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – One of the top football recruits in the state of Illinois from the class of 2026 is set to make his college decision known on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. CT.

Nasir Rankin, a four-star wide receiver from Morgan Park High School, will choose between North Carolina, USC, Illinois, Nebraska, and Duke - schools he listed on his social media accounts.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 20, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Franklin Pierce University)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women’s basketball team has added another veteran presence to its backcourt with the commitment of Long Island transfer Gisela Segura. The news was announced by the University of Illinois Sports Information Department.

Segura, who will join the Fighting Illini for the 2025–26 season, arrives with one year of eligibility remaining. Her addition provides needed depth and flexibility at the guard position, a spot where Illinois had to adjust on the fly last season following the departure of senior guard Makira Cook.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular May 20, 2025 […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Last Tuesday, Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman announced a major contract extension for current head football coach Bret Bielema.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular May 19, 2025 […]

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

May 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy 3SSB)

There was some great talent and some great matchups on Saturday at the Adidas 3SSB in Council Bluffs, Iowa. there were Guards and wings, but a big man showed off as much as anyone in front of a multitude of coaches. Here’s a look at how some Illini targets fared on Saturday:

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: