Bentley Lusakueno’s recruiting calendar is filling up fast.
The No. 6 overall prospect in the 2028 class has lined up four official visits for the fall, sources told 247Sports, giving the 6-foot-10, 205-pound power forward a closer look at a group of schools chasing one of the top frontcourt talents in his class.
Lusakueno, who recently transferred to Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, is scheduled to visit Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Illinois and Iowa, sources told 247Sports.
Tennessee will be first on the itinerary, with the official visit set for Sept. 5.
Vanderbilt follows a week later, then Illinois will host him on Sept. 19.
Iowa is the final stop currently on the schedule, with that visit set for Sept. 25.
Lusakueno brings a lot to the table for a young big. He has size, length and skill, along with a fluid game that lets him work away from the basket.
His face-up ability is still developing, but it already adds another layer to his offense. He can also stretch the floor and make shots from three, which only boosts his versatility.
That same combination of length and mobility shows up on the defensive end, too, where he has the tools to affect the game in a variety of ways as both his body and overall skill set continue to grow.
Now at IMG Academy, Lusakueno is moving into the next phase of his high school career while also taking a deeper look at the programs in the mix.
In Other News...
Illinois Fans Are Already Split Over This New Stadium Upgrade
Illinois opened the season with a noticeable new addition at Gies Memorial Stadium, unveiling a south end-zone videoboard that instantly became one of the biggest talking points around the program. The board is now the largest in college football, stretching about 69 feet high and 250 feet wide, and it anchors a broader technology overhaul that also brought in additional LED displays, better lighting, upgraded audio, stronger Wi-Fi and improved production equipment.
The project cost $20.94 million, and the reaction around the stadium reflected the split you might expect when a splashy amenity arrives before the on-field results do. Plenty of fans loved the scale of it and the way it delivers information, but others were quick to wonder whether that kind of money should have gone toward the football team instead. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Found Hope At Quarterback But One Concern Still Lingers
Illinois had enough on offense to put away UAB in a 42-23 win, and the most encouraging sign came from Katin Houser settling in at quarterback. He looked comfortable steering the attack and avoided the kind of shaky throws that can stall a new starter before he ever gets rolling. Collin Dixon also gave the passing game a clear focal point, turning into Housers most reliable target as the Illini found a rhythm through the air.
The bigger picture, though, is that the defense still left a door open even in a comfortable victory. Illinois 3-3-5 front showed it can generate pressure, but UAB found room in the middle of the field and kept the game from feeling fully controlled. For a team trying to build momentum around a promising quarterback performance, that kind of vulnerability is the detail that lingers after the final score fades. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Depth Chart Still Leaves One Big Week 1 Question
Illinois weekly depth chart updates are already starting to matter, and the early-season picture is fairly stable as Bret Bielema begins sorting through the 2026 roster. Illinois on SI is tracking the lineup throughout the season, adjusting for injuries and the announced position moves that tend to shape how the Illini look from one game to the next.
At the Sept. 3 press conference, Bielema said wide receiver Jayshon Platt and linebacker Daniel Brown are the only regulars expected to miss the UAB game, with both still projected back later in the season. Even with most of the two-deep intact, that leaves one obvious Week 1 question hanging over Illinois as it tries to settle into its first real game-week rhythm. [Read more 🡒]