Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Iamgroot]

College basketball transfer portal rankings: Top 25 available players

See USA TODAY's top available players in college basketball transfer portal for 2026. We'll provide updates as more players enter, others pick schools

www.usatoday.com

 

[TheGreatDebate]

I don't think we get Blackwell. Does no one remember last year? We were in on the ground floor for sarr too until the price got too high.

 

[Whitmans Sampler]

So what’s new with Ethan Brown? I recall several months back some insiders were saying don’t overlook him as a potential rotation guard next year. Given the additions of QC and portal guard(s) tbd, is he willing to spend year 1 towards the end of the bench learning from vets, and try cracking the rotation in year 2? Any chance he’s looking elsewhere?

 

[Trueblue777]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2041192348990788035

 

[Rich]

Wasn't Groce the one that counted? ha ha that came out funny LOL

No but he did have really great practices and off season drills

 

[zentrails]

No but he did have really great practices and off season drills

plus I vaguely remember something involving a step ladder

 

[BatteredWifeSchwartz]

One thing I am worried about is who next year is going to fill in for the Bam leadership role. That run doesn’t happen without #TheMeeting. Who is gonna be that guy next year? I hope Drej takes on that challenge, but none of these roster acquisitions matter if there is no leader.

 

[derrick6]

Dj Wagner in the portal. Any connection with OA? Would he come off the bench?

Maybe Luther Head will pay his NIL?

 

[derrick6]

Illinois was in on the ground floor for John Blackwell. It was nowhere near a surprised that he hopped in the portal.

Now that he actually entered, the money is growing exponentially with some heavy hitters getting in.

Still think Illinois will be right there.

Only 4 teams meet his criteria

 

[sulli]

Blackwell isn't worth $5MM. That's crazy talk. I think he is similar to Stojakovic. A better shooter, similar defender (shorter), similar passer, worse off the dribble. If we can have one or the other i'd probably opt for Andrej simply out of consistency and loyalty. I'm assuming the tweet that said $5MM was not even close to the actual market?

 

[IlliniwekKDR]

I think you’re right…but Mingo? I mean come on, that’s awesome.

Think of the nicknames and bad puns we can come up with.

The Mingo ate your baby

You can not have-a the Mingo

Mingo Dynasty

M-I-N-G-O and Mingo was his name-o!

 

[SeattleSlim]

Po'Boigh?

He’s after the Jimmy John’s NIL$

 

[Crazy Gringo]

My only concern with Blackwelll is if he’ll play defense. Didn’t seem too interested in the games I watched, but I think we would be playing for a championship if we had his shooting in our back court.

 

[ChiTown]

Dusty being Dusty….

https://twitter.com/x/status/2041272539838566492

 

[TampaToo]

Illinois was in on the ground floor for John Blackwell. It was nowhere near a surprised that he hopped in the portal.

Now that he actually entered, the money is growing exponentially with some heavy hitters getting in.

Still think Illinois will be right there.

He gawn! /s

 

[illini510]

Ouch Wiscy. Having a star player leave and saying on their way out that they'd rather be on a team hunting a Natty.
Glad Illinois is one of those teams

We need Blackwell badly. Good culture fit and would thrive here

 

[joeybcrazy13]

Make sure I don't ever have to see this again!!!

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

We need Blackwell badly. Good culture fit and would thrive here

There are about 300 other programs that feel the same way about how he'd fit with their programs. Who can pony up the most, while keeping their total roster in tact?

 

[DeonThomas]

Blackwell is a carbon copy of his dad!

The two of them (at their college playing ages) are indeed twins!! Shots are even comparable.

 

[DeonThomas]

My only concern with Blackwelll is if he’ll play defense. Didn’t seem too interested in the games I watched, but I think we would be playing for a championship if we had his shooting in our back court.

Not sure you can get by NOT playing defense under Gard at Wisconsin.

 

[CrazedUIFan]

My only concern with Blackwelll is if he’ll play defense. Didn’t seem too interested in the games I watched, but I think we would be playing for a championship if we had his shooting in our back court.

If he’s serious about playing for a championship, he will play good defense.

 

[JSpence]

Preseason #1. No I ain’t hyperbolizing.

Even if our dreams come true with a group like that, doesn't it feel like we're going to see even more consolidation with some schools like BYU buying an NBA roster?

Also.. expectations. I would much rather have another season like we just had vs. the one Purdue had.

 

[Kendall Gill’s Uncle]

Cole Certa in the portal with a do not contact tag?

I would take him, it just feels like he’s an Iowa, Wiscy, or Indiana guy in my gut though.

 

[Kendall Gill’s Uncle]

5 Million? No!

https://twitter.com/x/status/2041174506866143633

Well, I guess I was completely wrong

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

Even if our dreams come true with a group like that, doesn't it feel like we're going to see even more consolidation with some schools like BYU buying an NBA roster?

Also.. expectations. I would much rather have another season like we just had vs. the one Purdue had.

Purdue won the Big Ten Tournament, played in the Elite 8 and lost to one of the two true powerhouses of this years season(Arizona). Their season was very much like ours was 2 years ago where we ran into UCONN in the Elite 8. It was just a bad draw.

I'll take a #2 seed in next year's tournament with a BTT championship in our back pockets. At that point, let the chips fall where they may.