Love Will Riley
Illini in the Pros (Basketball)
- Status
A late growth spurt is definitely possible. I’ve experienced it lately. Mine is more horizontal though. Love seeing Will, Ayo, TSJ and KJ representing the Illini in the league.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Between the time I turned 18 and when I turned 24 I grew 4” and gained 75#, putting me at 6’4”, 225#. Yes, I was a skinny dude.
The most incredible growth spurt I can recall was David Robinson shooting up from 5'9" as a HS junior to 7'1" by his junior year of college at Navy
him and Anthony Davis really changed
Two former Ilini playing each other tonight. Podz and TSJ. Both with 10-11 minutes in the first half. Both former uniform number 0.
Riley's pre-draft measurements showed a shorter wingspan than Emoni "dinosaur arms" Bates so Will can use some extra growth there.
TSJ is the better of the zeroes in this game... https://www.nba.com/game/min-vs-gsw-0022501215/box-score
But Loyalty told me he wasn't ready to be drafted last year?
blackdog
- Champaign
Offense was never really an issue for him it was always questions about his defense. Fortunately the Wizards are bad enough and in growth mode to let him play through a lot of that.
Armchair Illinois on Instagram: "Kasparas Jakucionis had the best game of his NBA career in a tough loss vs the Boston Celtics. Jakucionis started his first game in the NBA and had 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 made three's. Finally healthy
72 likes, 1 comments - armchairillini on December 19, 2025: "Kasparas Jakucionis had the best game of his NBA career in a tough loss vs the Boston Celtics. Jakucionis started his first game in the NBA and had 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 made three's. Finally healthy, look for...
www.instagram.com
always felt his game was so much more pro ready than college, he looks so natural on an nba court
Gravy Train
- Austin - Sturgeon Bay
My wife and I have been in Japan for the last 11 days visiting a close friend, and when planning our trip I thought it would be fun to see if Kofi would be playing a game somewhere near Tokyo while here. As it turned out, the Hiroshima Dragonflies (his team), was playing the Gunma Crane Thunders in Ota Sat & Sun this week. Ota is only about 2.5 hrs by train from where we were staying, so we got tickets & went to the Sat game. It was an experience!! Having never been to a Japanese B-league, we had no idea what to expect...it was wild. They play music & fans clap along throughout the entire game, with the exception of free throws. Laser light show before the game, and at halftime, plus a live DJ spinning tunes. Kofi played 22 mins & had 12 pts, 8 rebounds. We've traveled to see IL play in Maui, Vegas, St Louis & Champaign, but this game will always be a unique memory.
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lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
What an experience! I’ve never been to Japan, but my wife has, and it’s her favorite place she’s ever been. Also, Kofi looks like a giant there.
Gravy Train
- Austin - Sturgeon Bay
Almost forgot...we shared an elevator ride down this AM to the lobby with several Japanese people wearing Hiroshima Dragonflies gear, and I mentioned Kofi Cockburn. Their faces all lit up with smiles & I told them we went to the game yesterday, and that we saw him play in college. One of the guys stopped me after we got off the elevator & gave me this little bag he had attached to his backpack. Amazing!
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Username checks out
Kofi looked like a giant here.
Gravy Train
- Austin - Sturgeon Bay
This was our first trip, but I'm confident we'll be back. And Kofi is huge in any country, but especially so in Japan.
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