Illini Guard Brandin Podziemski Enters Transfer Portal

After one season at Illinois, Brandin Podziemski has reportedly entered the transfer portal as the former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball selection is the third Illini to do so.

By Matt Stevens - Illini Guys Staff Writer

April 12, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- Brandin Podziemski has entered the transfer portal.
The former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball selection out of St. John’s Military Academy in Delafield has placed his name in the transfer portal. 247Sports.com basketball analyst Travis Branham was the first to report this news on social media citing anonymous sources. Multiple sources close to Podziemski have confirmed the news to IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince.
Podziemski, a 6-foot-5 guard, played in 16 games on the season, averaging 1.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in just 66 total minutes of action during the 2021-22 season. Andre Curbelo. Podziemski’s reported move makes him the third player on the 2021-22 Illini roster to enter the transfer portal after Andre Curbelo and Omar Payne previously announced their intention to leave the program as well.
Illinois’ 2022 recruiting class includes the verbal commitment of five-star guard Skyy Clark (who will reportedly sign Wednesday morning in Orlando) along with signed National Letter-of-Intent paperwork from four-star guard Jayden Epps and four-star guard Sencire Harris.
In his first season of college basketball, Podziemski played sparingly in just half of the Illini’s 20 conference games and failed to record a single minute of game action in the Big Ten Tournament or NCAA Tournament. Podziemski, who chose Illinois over scholarship offers from Kansas, Kentucky, Miami (Fla.), Arizona State and DePaul, had five points and an assist in six minutes off the bench to help Illinois achieve a comeback win at Northwestern on Jan. 29. Podziemski was slated to be the only returnee from last season’s Illini backcourt after Trent Frazier, Da’Monte Williams, Alfonso Plummer and Austin Hutcherson officially exhausted all of their college eligibility.
Podziemski won 2021 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball and 2021 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 35.1 points, 5.6 assists and four steals as a senior at St. John's Military Academy.
Without knowing the official status of Kofi Cockburn as of today, Podziemski’s move creates a situation where Illinois has two open scholarships for the upcoming 2022-23 season. In order to follow all the offseason news involving Illinois basketball, IlliniGuys.com highly suggests you subscribe to get the updates from veteran reporter Brad Sturdy and Prince.

Podcasts

Illinois Athletics State of the Union Discussion - #487

Listen

Whitman's Illini State of the Nation & the NBA Draft - 6.27.25 - S4Ep46

Listen

Zach Hamer Illini Asst BB Coach Talks KJ, Will & the NBA Draft - #486

Listen

Illini FB Recruiting Update, If Illini FB was a Movie & NIL & NBA Draft "What If" #485

Listen

Illini BB International Players & Cearah Parchment the newest IlliniGal - 6.20.25 - S4Ep45

Listen

Illini FB Recruiting Blitz & House Settlement Implications - 6.13.25 - S4Ep44

Listen

Illini Update Featuring 3-Star Illini WR Commit Kenyon Alston - #484

Listen

Illini Hoops & Football Schedules, Illini HOF Voting & More - 6.6.25 - S4Ep43

Listen

FB Portal Thoughts, Expectations, BB Update & for the 1st Time in My Life...#483

Listen

May 30 - Hr2 - S4Ep42 - Illini Recruiting, NBA Draft, Caitlin Clark & More

Listen

May 30 - Hr1 - S4Ep42 - FB & BB Contracts, FB & Golf Update & Brian Barnhart

Listen

May 23 - Hr2 - S4Ep41 - French Open, Indiana Pro Hoops & Softball

Listen

May 23 - Hr1 - S4Ep41 - Illini FB Recruiting, Golf and Track

Listen

High School Recruiting Takes the Spotlight - #482

Listen

May 16 - Hr2 - S4Ep40 - Chicago Sky, ACC Issues & Northwestern Stadium

Listen

Subscriber Testimonials:

"I am a member of three different paid sites, [but] I wanted to tell you that the collective insight from the leadership of this place is second to none.  
 
It is remarkable how often I feel like I know what is going to happen before it happens. I am so appreciative of the obvious hard work that you guys are giving ....
 
You guys, in a short time, have shown me that you are the best at what you do."
Join the conversation here!

Not a member? Join our mailing list:

© 2025 LMBC Sports, LLC. All rights reserved. 

Use of any part of this site constitutes express acceptance of the Site Terms. LMBC Sports, LLC, including its Illini Guys website, is an independent media organization, and is not affiliated with the University of Illinois.