Illinois basketball just added another key piece to its future - and this one can shoot the lights out.
Mason Martin, a 6-foot-5 guard from Naperville Neuqua Valley, announced his commitment to the Fighting Illini on Friday night. He becomes the second member of Illinois’ 2027 recruiting class, joining East Peoria’s Quinton Kitt. Martin made his decision roughly a month after receiving an offer from the program, choosing Illinois over other reported offers from Holy Cross and Saint Louis.
Let’s talk about what the Illini are getting here. Martin is a high-volume shooter with real touch from beyond the arc.
Through the current season, he’s averaging around 19 points per game and has knocked down 62 of his 146 three-point attempts - good for 42 percent. That’s not just efficient; that’s a weapon.
But it’s not just the numbers that jump off the page - it’s how he gets them. Martin’s release is quick and smooth, the kind of mechanics that translate well to the next level. He doesn’t need much space to get his shot off, which makes him a tough cover, especially in today’s game where spacing and perimeter shooting are more valuable than ever.
Neuqua Valley is 16-1 on the season and currently tied for No. 8 in Illinois Class 4A, according to the latest Associated Press rankings. Martin’s sharpshooting has been a major catalyst in that success, and his ability to stretch the floor has created matchup problems all year long.
For Illinois, this commitment continues a trend of locking in early on in-state talent. Martin fits the mold of a modern guard - long, skilled, and confident from deep. As the Illini look ahead to the future, they’re building a class that already has a strong foundation, with Martin and Kitt offering two very different but complementary skill sets.
It’s still early in the 2027 recruiting cycle, but Illinois is clearly being intentional about its targets. And with Martin now on board, they’ve secured a shooter who can change the geometry of the floor - and that’s the kind of player who can make a real impact in Champaign down the line.