Illinois basketball is already making noise on the recruiting trail - and they’re not just thinking about the present. After securing a commitment from 2027 sharpshooter Mason Martin in January, the Illini are now turning their attention to the other half of Neuqua Valley’s dynamic duo: 2028 wing Cole Kelly.
And while Kelly’s recruitment is still in its early stages, Illinois is doing all the right things to stay front and center. The 6-foot-6 sophomore was courtside at State Farm Center on Sunday, sitting alongside Martin during the Illini’s convincing 71-51 win over Indiana. For a program looking to build long-term chemistry, that kind of visual matters.
“Mason was coming here today, and they were just like, ‘You want to come with?’ I said, ‘Of course I’ll come with!’”
Kelly said after the game. “Obviously, it’s another basketball game, and I love watching the boys play.
… I just think I like being here. Obviously, they’re a great team to watch and play.
They play super fast. It’s a great environment every time.”
That environment is clearly making an impression. Sunday marked Kelly’s second visit to an Illinois home game - he was in the building for the Ohio State matchup last season - and he also made the trip to Chicago to watch the Illini battle Alabama at the United Center in November.
Kelly isn’t just a promising name for the future - he’s already one of the top players in the state, regardless of class. A four-star prospect ranked No. 38 nationally by 247Sports and the No. 2 player in Illinois behind five-star Bolingbrook guard Brady Pettigrew, Kelly has the game to back up the hype. He’s been playing two age levels up on the 3SSB circuit with Breakaway Basketball and is putting together a monster sophomore season for a Neuqua Valley team that’s currently 27-1.
Kelly’s stat line is the kind that jumps off the page: 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game while shooting better than 52% from the field. He’s already posted multiple 30-point performances this season and has been a driving force behind Neuqua Valley’s 26-game win streak.
But what really sets him apart is his versatility. The lefty wing can score at all three levels, but he’s far from a one-dimensional bucket-getter.
His feel for the game, passing instincts, and defensive awareness make him a nightly difference-maker - even when he’s not filling up the scoring column.
Illinois assistant coach Zach Hamer, who played a key role in landing Martin, is once again leading the charge with Kelly. He’s been a regular presence at Neuqua Valley games and has made it clear that Kelly is a top priority for the Illini staff. And based on how comfortable Kelly looked on Sunday - both courtside and around the program - that message seems to be resonating.
There’s still a long way to go in Kelly’s recruitment, but Illinois is laying the groundwork early. Pairing Martin and Kelly at the college level would be a major win - not just in terms of talent, but chemistry, too. The Illini are clearly playing the long game here, and so far, they’re playing it well.