Illinois has taken an early swing at one of the biggest frontcourt prizes in the class of 2028.
On Friday, Brad Underwood’s program extended an offer to five-star power forward Benjamin Berrouet, a move that points directly at the future of the Illini’s front line. Illinois already has plenty of size on hand with David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, and Zvonimir Ivisic anchoring the paint, but that group won’t stay intact forever.
The Ivisic brothers are set to graduate, and Mirkovic could be on the way to the NBA Draft, which means Illinois has work to do in replacing that production. Berrouet is the latest name to enter that conversation.
Blessed to receive a Division 1 offer from the University of Illinois. #AGTG pic.twitter.com/H7D3aVhqzL
- Benjamin Berrouet (@benjiberrouet10) July 18, 2026
A Dallas native, Berrouet is ranked No. 14 in the class of 2028 and sits as the top power forward in the country. He’s already drawn attention from a long list of major programs, including Houston, Texas, Arizona State, and Baylor.
The 6-foot-8 standout from Dynamic Prep High School brings the kind of game that jumps off the page. He can take over stretches with his explosiveness, and that was on display at the Peach Jam, where he posted 19 points, 12 rebounds, and seven blocks.
There’s also a clear stylistic fit with what Illinois could lose in Mirkovic. The Big Ten All-Freshman has given Underwood a stretch-four who can bang inside and still stretch the floor, and Berrouet brings a similar profile. At 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, he already has the frame to handle physical play, and he uses that strength and athleticism to score from all three levels.
Illinois will have competition. Berrouet is already a target for the Houston Cougars and Texas Longhorns, among others, so this won’t be an easy pull. Still, the Illini have put themselves in the mix early for a player who looks built to step into that frontcourt role down the line.
In Other News...
Shauna Green May Have Found Illinois Next Frontcourt Cornerstone
Shauna Green has spent the offseason continuing to shape Illinois into a team with real size inside, and the early signs suggest the frontcourt may be the next area to take another step. Berry Wallace and Cearah Parchment already give the Illini a solid interior base, but the program is also looking ahead, and that means identifying the kind of post presence that can fit alongside a perimeter-heavy attack.
One name to watch is Eve Fowler, a highly regarded center from Sage Hill in Newport Beach who has already drawn an Illinois scholarship offer. Fowlers profile points to the kind of player who can anchor the paint with post scoring and defense, traits that would make her a natural complement to what Green is building. With Wallace set to move on eventually, Illinois is clearly thinking beyond the present and trying to line up its next frontcourt cornerstone before the need becomes urgent. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Still Has One Huge Stefan Vaaks Question To Answer
The Big Tens lead-guard picture for 2026-27 is starting to take shape, and Illinois has a name right in the middle of it. Stefan Vaaks is being sized up alongside the conferences best ball-handlers, a sign of how much attention his game is already drawing before he has even settled into his next role in Champaign. For Illinois, the appeal is obvious: a guard with enough skill and versatility to matter in a league that is expected to lean heavily on perimeter creators again.
What still makes Vaaks such a fascinating puzzle is how Illinois will actually deploy him. The conversation around him is not just about whether he belongs near the top of the Big Tens lead-guard group, but whether he becomes the primary organizer or spends time working both on and off the ball. However the Illini choose to use him, that decision could shape the way their offense looks next season, and it is the kind of detail that will tell a lot about how high his ceiling really goes. [Read more 🡒]