Illinois is set to return five of its top eight scorers and 62.1% of its scoring from a Final Four team while adding Stefan Vaaks (15.7 PPG) from Providence.
The Illini should be on fire entering 2026-27.
“Robert, how’s your Friday?”
“Well, my team is in the Final Four so I’m in Indy where the whole city has been invaded by orange and a top-20 guard committed this morning so we’re a top-10 team again next year and this is all after my football team won 19 games in 2 years.”
@JonathanKoon1 Those were 16 hard earned yards, Jonathon 😂
The culture that Coach B, the team & staff have implemented is absolutely incredible. From day 1 on the job to storming the field after usc. Let’s get it done this week- ILL
#illini Bret Bielema will text Transfer Portal recruits and just send them Wikipedia pages of players he sent to the NFL
"Then I'll copy and (send to) usually their parents or agent."
Bielema says his program uses his NFL track record hard. At Illinois, he's seen Johnny Newton, Kerby Joseph, Tommy DeVito, Pat Bryant, etc. play on Sundays
Players have told the media NFL development was one of the most attractive parts of committing to Illinois
And next season, expect Xavier Scott and Gabe Jacas, among others, be in the NFL. Illinois is coming off a strong 10 win season.