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By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

July 21, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Chicago Sun-Times)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Few players in Illinois' loaded 2028 recruiting class have seen their stock rise as quickly as Neuqua Valley four-star wing Cole Kelly. If not for Bolingbrook guard Brady Pettigrew holding the consensus spot as the state's No. 1 prospect according to PrepHoops, Kelly would have a strong case to claim that spot.

The Naperville native has emerged as one of the Midwest's most sought-after prospects, attracting attention from several Big Ten powers. Purdue, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Illinois have all made Kelly a priority. According to those close to his recruitment, however, the race currently appears to be down to four schools: Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin and Iowa. Kelly's most recent campus visit came at Purdue in early June.

"I’ve been hearing from a number of high-major programs, and things have really picked up this summer. I’m grateful for all the interest, but right now I’m focused on building relationships, learning about each program, and taking my time through the recruiting process," Kelly said.

The 6-foot-7 small forward has backed up the recruiting interest with an outstanding summer on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, where he plays for Breakaway Basketball. Kelly averaged 17.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.9 from the field, 36.4 from 3-point range and 60.7 from the free-throw line on the Adidas 3SSB circuit this summer.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

July 20, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — One of the nation's fastest-rising prospects added another major offer to his growing list Friday after a dominant stretch at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam.

Illinois men's basketball coaches Brad Underwood and Orlando Antigua extended an offer to 2028 five-star center Benjamin Berrouet of Dynamic Prep in McKinney, Texas, after watching him continue to establish himself as one of the premier players in the country. ESPN ranks Berrouet as the No. 6 player nationally in the 2028 class, and his performance at Peach Jam only strengthened that reputation.

The 6-foot-8, 240-pound center has been one of the event's most productive players while competing for AB Elite at Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, South Carolina. Through the event, Berrouet is averaging 18.4 points and 14 rebounds per game, displaying the complete skill set that has made him one of the most coveted prospects in the country.

IlliniGuys caught up with Berrouet to discuss his new Illinois offer and why the Illini joined a lengthy list of national programs pursuing him.

"I had some contact with Illinois in the past, but if I am being honest, I haven't really heard from them since June 15, so the offer from coach (Brad) Underwood and coach (Orlando) Antigua did surprise me a little bit," Berrouet said.

Ked Prince, IlliniGuys Senior Recruiting Analyst

July 19, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has made developing NFL-caliber defensive backs a priority under Bret Bielema, and that reputation continues to resonate with recruits across the country.

Both sides of the marriage between the University of Illinois and its athletics director Josh Whitman recognize it is one that needs to be extended and should be cherished. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

July 18, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — One of the more honest, frustrating and, more often than not, legitimate complaints given by Illini sports fans is the university they love doesn’t always make easy decisions look easy. 

Administration at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a had an historic knack for, apologies for the sports cliche here, being approached with a three-foot putt, a layup, a tush push situation or an underhanded toss and making it much more complicated, convoluted, tangled, tortuous and ultimately, bungled.

On Thursday, Illinois made the easy look easy. Josh Whitman was given a multi-year contract that nearly doubles the athletic director’s annual salary less than a calendar year after receiving a similar deal. Call it a reward,

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

July 17, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has become more than a Big Ten contender under Brad Underwood. The Fighting Illini have evolved into one of college basketball's emerging pipelines to the NBA, a trend that continues to gain momentum with every recruiting class and every draft cycle.

Underwood understood from the beginning that elevating Illinois into the nation's elite required more than winning games. It meant developing players into NBA talent and hearing their names called on draft night. 

That vision is becoming a reality, and NBA executives have taken notice.

The University of Illinois board of trustees approved a new contract for athletics director Josh Whitman that guarantees him as much as $31.1 million over the next 10 years. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

July 16, 2026

URBANA — Josh Whitman has been rewarded with a multi-year contract that nearly doubles his annual salary less than a calendar year after receiving a similar deal. 

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.