Illinois didn’t bring in Quentin McCoy to make headlines. Brad Underwood made that clear Tuesday in Champaign.
The transfer from Arizona State may not have arrived with the kind of buzz Illinois usually generates around roster moves, but Underwood said the fit mattered far more than the splash. At the Kiwanis Club event, he pointed to McCoy’s experience, character and comfort level within the program as the reasons the Illini decided to add him.
“Just a terrific young man,” Underwood said at the Kiwanis Club event on Tuesday in Champaign. “He fit everything that we’re looking for.
He has been at the Division I level. He’s experienced.
He knows what it takes to be a great, great teammate. He’s a guy that can help us in practice.
He’s been at the high-major level.
“And he’s a guy that we know - tied to Ayo [Dosunmu]. So we were very comfortable in who he was as a young man.
He’s an outstanding student. All of those things play into the character piece we were looking for.
And we’re excited to have him.”
McCoy’s on-court résumé is modest. In two seasons at Arizona State, he played in nine games and logged only seven minutes, taking just one shot in his college career. That’s not the profile of a player expected to walk in and change the rotation.
And that, in a roundabout way, is part of the point.
Illinois already has a roster with plenty of ball-dominant pieces, so adding another high-usage veteran would have created its own problems. Minutes would have been tight, expectations would have been high and keeping that kind of player engaged could have become a challenge. McCoy doesn’t bring that baggage.
Underwood said McCoy is the kind of player who can support the team in practice, and that his background checks the boxes Illinois values most. He also noted that McCoy was a standout high school player, even if he’s not a high-major star.
“I’m tired of all the nonsense, really,” Underwood said, alluding to the current chaos surrounding fifth-year players. “I don’t know where it’s going to go.
We were going to leave [the final roster spot] open, and really not fill it. There was no real desire to look and go to the courts and do all of that.
“And this was the perfect fit,” he said of McCoy. “Again, we’re going to take character.
We’re going to take guys that fit us. … It always pays to have your roster filled - and I really believe that.”
For Illinois, McCoy is less about immediate production and more about filling a need the right way. Underwood clearly sees value in that.
In Other News...
Illinois Just Lost A Major Guard Target Now What For The Backcourt
Illinois had been working to get into the mix for NaVorro Bowman Jr. as part of its 2027 recruiting class, but that pursuit ended with the five-star guard picking UConn. For a program trying to keep its future backcourt stocked, losing a target of that caliber is the sort of miss that forces a quick reset, especially with the market for elite guards always moving early and fast.
There are still paths for the Illini to keep building around the perimeter. King Gibson remains on the board after including Illinois in his top 10, even if he has not lined up a visit to Champaign, and the staff can keep looking at both the transfer portal and internal development. Ethan Brown is one of the in-house names to watch as Illinois sorts out how it wants to shape its guard room for the years ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Had A New WR Scare Fans Couldn't Ignore Against Duke
Brayden Trimble gave Illinois an uneasy moment in the first half against Duke when the wide receiver came up injured and limped toward the injury tent. With no official update before halftime, there was plenty of reason for concern as the Illini tried to sort out whether one of their passing-game options had been lost for the rest of the afternoon.
Trimble did ease those fears after the break, returning to the field in the second half and rejoining the offense. He went on to catch several passes, a reassuring sign that the issue was minor and that Illinois did not have to spend the rest of the game adjusting without him. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois May Be Getting A Needed Receiver Back At The Right Time
Illinois could be inching toward a boost at a position group that could use one. Wide receiver Jayshon Platt is reportedly making progress after a soft-tissue injury suffered in the preseason, and Bret Bielema said the transfer addition is improving even if the timetable for his return remains unclear.
Platt arrived from Florida Atlantic with a track record that made him an intriguing piece for the offense, and his absence has left Illinois waiting to see how he fits in a live game setting. With the season moving along, any receiver who can help stretch the field and add another reliable target becomes even more valuable, which is why his recovery bears watching closely. [Read more 🡒]