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

April 16, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Per ESPN Basketball reporter Jeff Borzello, Illinois forward Ty Rodgers has entered the transfer portal. Rodgers was a 4-star recruit in the class of 2022 who spent 4 years at Illinois.

Rodgers, who started on the Elite 8 team in 2024 and then redshirted during the 2024-25 season, tore his patellar tendon and was forced to redshirt again in 2025-26. He went from an off the bench, energy player as a freshman to a starter as a sophomore before not seeing a clear path to playing time and choosing to redshirt.

Rodgers is a tremendous teammate, rebounder and defender, but didn’t fit the positional size and skill mold that Illinois has relied on the past two seasons as they have vaulted into one of the top ten programs in the country and made a Final Four run in 2026.

Rodgers should have ample suitors in the portal and could be a valuable player at numerous programs around the country.

Illinois now has an open roster spot that they can use for either a developmental piece or a role player on a team that has Final Four aspirations once again.