Brad Underwood has spent years trying to restore something Illinois basketball has long wanted back: the pull of the home state.
That effort got a major boost in January when Mason Martin, a 2027 guard from Neuqua Valley High School, committed to Illinois. The 6-foot-5 prospect is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 1 player in the state and carries a four-star rating.
Martin’s pledge points to something bigger than one addition. For much of this century, and really most of this decade, Illinois has watched top in-state talent go elsewhere. Over the last five years alone, the program has lost two state No. 1 prospects to Big Ten rival Michigan State, including All-American Jeremiah Fears Jr.
Jalen Brunson is another name in that line of misses. Illinois made a major push for the 2026 NBA Finals MVP when he was at Stevenson in 2015, but Villanova won that battle.
Now the picture looks different. Martin is already joined in the class by Quentin Kitt, a recent Monarch Academy transfer who originally comes from East Peoria and averaged 23 points per game.
Illinois also has its eyes on the class of 2028, where Bolingbrook combo guard Brady Pettigrew has become a priority. Pettigrew has taken off in the Nike EYBL, putting up around 23 points per game and earning a five-star ranking.
Put those names together, and the appeal is obvious. A run of elite in-state talent would not just matter inside the arena - it would change the mood around the program, too. The hometown-kid storyline has real power with fans, and Underwood’s NCAA tournament success appears to be helping Illinois get back in the mix for the best players in its own backyard.
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Aidan Laughery Just Gave Illinois Fans A Story Worth Rooting For
Aidan Laugherys fifth and final season at Illinois already has the kind of personal milestone that tends to resonate in a locker room. The running back was voted one of six team captains by his teammates, a strong signal of the respect he has earned after navigating injuries and coaching changes during his career. For a player with small-town roots, it is the sort of moment that says as much about persistence as it does about production.
Laugherys first call after hearing the news was supposed to go to his parents, though reaching them took a little work because they were out on a golf cart ride. It is a small detail, but a fitting one for a player whose story has always been about staying patient and finding his way through the rough patches. Now he goes into his last season with a captaincy in hand and a team clearly willing to put its trust in him. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Momentum Is Building In One Place Fans Will Notice
Illinois basketball keeps adding to the kind of offseason buzz that tends to matter when the recruiting calendar starts turning. The Illini have landed an official visit from five-star 2027 small forward Moussa Kamissoko, giving them a third confirmed five-star visitor in the class and another sign that the staff is staying active with elite talent while the future roster picture comes into focus.
There is plenty else for Illinois fans to track, too. The 2026-27 non-conference schedule is now finalized and brings a slate of high-major opponents and NCAA Tournament teams, while senior defensive back Matthew Bailey has earned a spot on the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, a national nod for one of the defense's top players. The combination of recruiting momentum, a demanding schedule and individual recognition gives the program a busy look across multiple fronts. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Recruiting Momentum Just Put Brad Underwood On The Spot
Illinois basketball has kept its foot on the gas in recruiting, and the latest wave of official visits shows just how much momentum Brad Underwoods program is carrying into the next few cycles. A group of five-star prospects from the classes of 2027 and 2028 has scheduled time in Champaign, including Moussa Kamissoko, NaVorro Bowman Jr., Dylan Betts, Brady Pettigrew and Darius Wabbington, giving Illinois a chance to stay in the conversation with some of the countrys most sought-after young talent.
Kamissoko is the most intriguing name in the group, a 6-foot-7 wing whose defensive presence and scoring pop have made him a major target, and Illinois is one of nine official visits on his calendar. The timing matters too, because the Illinis recent Final Four run appears to have helped not just with future recruiting, but with player retention as well, raising the standard for what Underwood is expected to turn this surge into next. [Read more 🡒]