Brad Underwood didn’t hold back when talking about Lincoln Williams on Tuesday.
Illinois’ coach called the freshman from Kankakee a “Special, special talent athletically,” and even raised the ceiling a little higher by saying, “Could be as athletic as any kid that we’ve had here - or is.”
That kind of praise lands differently when it comes from Underwood, who has coached players like Terrence Shannon Jr. and Andrej Stojakovic in recent years. In Williams, he sees a freshman whose tools jump off the page before the rest of his game even comes into focus.
Williams’ path to Illinois was anything but ordinary. The Illini offered him in February 2024, more than two years before he finally committed.
By early June 2026, most of the class of 2026 picture had already settled across the country, but Williams was still on the board despite holding at least 14 offers and sitting as the top-rated player in Illinois. Then, on June 8, he signed with the Illini shortly after their Final Four run.
Underwood said the fit took time to come together.
“It was just about making it right, and he’s a guy that we’ve liked for a long time,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said on Tuesday. “Special, special talent athletically. Could be as athletic as any kid that we’ve had here - or is.
“And there were some questions that needed to be answered. He’s talked about some of those publicly, and then it just became right.
The timing just became right. But he’s a guy we’ve had a tremendous amount of confidence in.
His ability speaks for itself. He’s got an opportunity to be a great Illini for a long time.
Been very pleased with what he’s done to this point and we’ll look forward to the rest of the summer. And I think he’s got a lot of gifts.”
The film backs up the hype. Williams can finish off one foot or two, and he’s comfortable going right-to-left or left-to-right.
His bounce shows up in more than just a max vertical, too. He gets off the floor quickly, and he can do it in all kinds of game situations - chasing a second jump on the offensive glass or sliding into help defense and taking off from there.
He brings more than vertical pop, too. His speed in the open floor stands out, and at 6-foot-5, his lateral movement is impressive as well.
That’s the kind of profile Illinois likes to work with. Athletic upside is one thing; development is another. Underwood and his staff have built a reputation for helping players grow, and strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher will have a hand in adding bulk to Williams’ frame while the coaching staff continues to shape the rest of his game.
Williams already shows a smooth jumper and soft touch around the basket. Put that together with his athletic gifts, and Illinois sees a freshman with a very high ceiling.
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July 4 is shaping up to be a busy day on the recruiting calendar, with three prospects set to make commitments and plenty of programs waiting to see how the board shakes out. Kyren Caldwell, a three-star wide receiver, is choosing among Alabama, Maryland and Mississippi State after taking official visits, while three-star offensive lineman Mason Joshua is down to Arizona and Oklahoma State after his own rounds of visits.
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Illinois Freshmen Are Already Giving Fans Reason To Believe
Illinois latest recruiting haul is already drawing attention before a single official game has been played. The program signed six high school prospects in the Class of 2026, a group that ties for the most freshmen in the Big Ten and gives Brad Underwood one of the deeper incoming classes in the country. Quentin Coleman, the five-star headliner, and four-star Lucas Morillo sit at the top of a group that also includes Zavier Zens, Lincoln Williams, Ethan Brown and Landon Davis, giving the Illini a mix of size, skill and long-term upside.
What makes the early buzz matter is that Underwood and his staff have liked what they have seen in the first few weeks of the freshmens integration into the program. Summer workouts can be a revealing first test for young players, and Illinois appears to have brought in a class that is not just large, but already making a favorable first impression. For a team trying to build toward its next wave, that kind of early confidence can go a long way. [Read more 🡒]