Featured

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

June 19, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Summer workouts often provide a glimpse into the future of a college basketball program, but this week they also offered a glimpse into a potential future recruit. The Illinois men's basketball team hosted a workout session; among those in attendance was one of the nation's emerging young prospects, 2028 guard Carter Smith of Philadelphia.

Smith, a 6-foot-3, 160-pound guard, visited Illinois earlier this week as a guest of assistant coach Camryn Crocker. While on campus, he had the opportunity to meet the rest of the coaching staff, tour the facilities, and get a firsthand look at the direction of the Illini program.

The standout guard left Champaign with a positive impression of both the university and the basketball program.

The Athletic's CJ Moore makes the case for the Illini as college basketball's top team heading into next season, citing rare roster continuity and a Final Four foundation.​

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular Co-Host

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For the first time in decades, Illinois basketball enters a season with genuine national championship expectations. And according to The Athletic's CJ Moore, who covers college hoops for the Athletic, that hype is earned.

In a May 30 rankings column, Moore placed Illinois atop his post-NBA draft top 25, edging out Florida in what he called "kind of a coin flip." His reasoning? Retention, talent, and momentum — three things that rarely align in the modern transfer portal era.

"Illinois and Florida are the best two from a retention standpoint," Moore said on the I on the Illini podcast. "They were neck and neck on KenPom. Illinois ended up just slightly ahead. You're looking at teams that basically returned four starters."

But Moore didn't stop there. He pointed to Illinois' late-season surge — a Final Four run that built chemistry and confidence — as the tiebreaker.

"That run they had... the confidence and the chemistry that created will really go a long way this next season," Moore said.

Why Illinois Over Florida?​

Both programs return elite rosters. Both had excellent seasons in 2025-26. So, what separates them?

How a 22-second highlight video of quarterback drills inside the barn of his family’s 4,500-acre farm defines the world of teenage quarterback Teddy Kress.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 18, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN — What has become commonplace with high school athletes is the use of social media to spotlight a specific moment in time during a practice, a camp, or even private instruction when very few people are around.

Peoria Notre Dame High School quarterback Teddy Kress decided to inject a little of his family’s daily life in his football highlight reel.

These short videos on X or TikTok are typically done with spacious green grass in the background or an empty high school or small college stadium, showing the player’s willingness to do the work when nobody is watching. It’s high school football recruiting world’s version of being a social media influencer. On one March night, Kress decided to be a little different. The teenage quarterback attempted to show the world how he could make any environment the scene of his next throwing session - including one of the barns located inside his family’s farm.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

June 17, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Shaw Local)

The second of Illinois' weekend Iowa State thievery trio flipped his commitment from Iowa State to Illinois on June 7. Gavin Ericson-Staton from Lombard Montini, an offensive lineman who played every position but primarily settled in at right tackle for the state champions, committed to the Illini the day after he returned home from his weekend visit to the Illini. Ericson-Staton had committed to the Cyclones on his visit the week before, yet still took a visit to Illinois the next weekend to check out the Orange and Blue and flipped his commitment when the ink was still wet (so to speak). In Ericson-Staton, the Illini got a lineman whose movement skills are excellent and who already shows a high skill level in several ways.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

As I mentioned above, Ericson-Staton is an athlete. He changes direction and pulls and traps at an elite level. His hands and feet are excellent as well and serve him very well as a pass blocker.

New Illinois running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley wins the recruiting battle for Alexis, a 6-foot and 200-pound tailback from Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Fla.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 16, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Max Preps)

In a stealth move for its 2027 signing class, Illinois new running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley made his first recruiting move in the form of a commitment flip for the tailback prospect he wanted the most. 

Three-star 200-pound tailback Steven Alexis, from Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Fla., announced his intention to change his verbal pledge from Colorado to Illinois after Wheatley and the Illini player personnel staff were able to get Alexis to Champaign-Urbana for a campus visit this past weekend. 

Alexis, who finished his junior season with a less-talented Class 3A Florida high school program in 2025 with 1,113 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns with nine yards per attempt, made a verbal commitment days after returning from his official visit to Colorado in the first weekend of this month. However,

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

June 16, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Prep Redzone)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois continues to build momentum on the recruiting trail, and the Fighting Illini added another key piece with the commitment of Bennett Konkey, one of the state’s top prospects.

Konkey, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver from Geneva, is listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports. His commitment gives Illinois coach Bret Bielema and wide receivers coach Justin Stepp another major recruiting win, especially considering the programs the Illini beat out to land him.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

June 16, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – When the University of Illinois lands a football recruit from the state of Iowa, it draws attention throughout the recruiting world, particularly among Illini fans.

For decades, Iowa has been considered prime recruiting territory for both the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones. However, Illinois has increasingly found success across the Mississippi River, securing commitments from some of the state’s top prospects.

Several months ago, Illinois women’s basketball coach Shauna Green landed five-star transfer recruit Divine Bourrage from Davenport North High School. On the football side, coach Bret Bielema and his staff have also made significant inroads into Iowa recruiting circles.

The Illini’s 2027 football class also includes tight end Cade Newman from Ankeny Centennial High School.

Now Illinois has added another Iowa prospect to the fold with the commitment of Ryan Paulsen, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound prospect from DeWitt, Iowa, in the Class of 2027.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

June 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy MaxPreps)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois assistant coach Camryn Crocker has quickly established himself as a valuable member of the Fighting Illini staff. After helping elevate Illinois' defensive play during the latter stages of last season, Crocker has also become increasingly active on the recruiting trail.

One player who caught Crocker's attention on the Nike EYBL circuit is 2028 combo guard Carter Smith, who will be on campus Tuesday for an unofficial visit.

Smith, a 6-foot-3, 160-pound guard from Philadelphia, is making Illinois one of the first programs to receive an in-depth look at his recruitment.

Late Monday evening, shortly before boarding his flight to Illinois, Smith spoke with IlliniGuys

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Zeno Jo/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – It’s going to take a bit of time for Illini fans to get used to the name and face Casey Thomann, but if family ties and head coach Bret Bielema’s recruiting tendencies are anything to go by, it might be worthwhile to keep an eye on 2028 center Jack Thomann.

Jack is the younger brother of Casey, an incoming Illinois freshman offensive lineman. He was in Champaign last week for Illinois’ Big Man Camp, which hosted a large group of high school linemen looking to be coached by members of the Illinois staff. Casey is one of those larger-than-life players at 6-foot-7 and 302 pounds, while Jack is a bit shorter, standing 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds.

“We’re similar,” the younger Thomann said, “We’re both very aggressive on the football field, but we’re also very different. He’s long, he’s tall, I’m shorter, I’m more compact. I’ve gotta do different stuff to get my way.”

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has stated his recruiting plan for the 2027 class still hasn’t changed in two decades - offer them in person, get them on campus, get the verbal pledge.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

The summer plan of action for Bret Bielema and the Illinois football player personnel staff remains very similar for the 2027 recruiting class as compared throughout the Illini head coach’s previous five full seasons in control of the program.

Get inside the prospect’s school and, if possible, his home.
Get the the prospect on your campus.
Get the verbal pledge less than 48 hours after he arrives back home from the official campus visit.

This plan was the timeline of the last four verbal commits

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

June 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Two of Illinois' top basketball prospects in the Class of 2027 are taking a similar path in pursuit of their long-term development.

Kansas City Monarch Academy (Mo.) has landed commitments from two of the state's top players. Illinois commit Quinton Kitt, a four-star prospect in the 2027 class, made his announcement official late Friday.

Shortly afterward, four-star Illinois target Jaxson Davis announced he would also attend Kansas City Monarch Academy, joining Kitt at the prep school program.

The move marks a significant step for both prospects as they seek higher levels of competition and additional preparation for college basketball.

Kitt recently told IlliniGuys he was leaving East Peoria to further develop his game and prepare for the next level. Now, Davis has reached a similar conclusion.

IlliniGuys caught up with Brian Davis, Jaxson's father, to learn more about the decision

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

June 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois continues to build for the future, and one of the rising quarterbacks in the Class of 2028 is taking notice.

Carmel (Ind.) quarterback Oscar Sloan, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound prospect, has become a familiar face in Champaign. The three-star recruit recently returned to Illinois for his third campus visit.

During the trip, Sloan spent time with Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and quarterbacks coach Artur Sitkowski. The visit further strengthened his relationship with the Illini coaching staff and reinforced the impression made by the scholarship offer he received last month.

IlliniGuys caught up with Sloan on Wednesday evening to discuss his latest visit and his growing connection with the Illinois football program.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst June 13, 2025 Linebacker […]

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

June 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

After seemingly announcing the addition several weeks ago, Illinois finally signed Deon "Don't Call me Deron" Williams to continue to fill out the defensive line on June 1. Williams joins the Illini after a year at City College of San Francisco, which was his only offer coming out of high school. Its hard to believe that Williams wasn't on any Division I radars a year ago, yet after he posted the HUDL film below on April 7 he received the following offers in quick succession: Kansas State on April 9, Illinois on April 10, Kansas on April 10, Louisville on April 11, Colorado on April 15. With only 1 year in junior college, Williams will have 4 years to play 3, though Illini fans are keenly aware that there is a lack of size and quality on the defensive line, and Williams' 6'1 290 pound frame might be put right into action.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

June 12, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Kankakee Basketball)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men’s basketball program received a commitment Monday from Lincoln Williams, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound wing from Kankakee High School.

Since his commitment, there has been considerable discussion among fans, observers, and even some national analysts suggesting Williams is simply a late addition to fill a roster spot. The facts tell a different story.

Williams arrives in Champaign as one of the most highly regarded prospects in Illinois.