Brad Underwood has been putting in the work on the recruiting trail, and Illinois has started to see that effort turn into real momentum. But one of the biggest names on the board this weekend may be trending elsewhere.
Moussa Kamissoko, the five-star small forward ranked No. 14 in the country and No. 1 at his position, took his official visit to Champaign this weekend. He was there with fellow five-star Darius Wabbington, but just two days later, Rivals basketball recruiting expert Joe Tipton made an expert prediction that Kamissoko will end up at Syracuse rather than Illinois.
That prediction is not a commitment, of course. Still, the Rivals Prediction Machine gives Syracuse a 79.3% chance to land Kamissoko, while Illinois sits at just 2.2%. Providence, Louisville, Baylor, Florida State, UConn, Virginia, Oklahoma State, and BYU are also in the mix, with all of those schools either already visited or set to host him officially.
Even if Kamissoko doesn’t end up in orange and blue, Illinois is not exactly short on recruiting activity right now. Underwood has already hosted Wabbington, Bentley Lusakueno, a 2028 prospect, and Dylan Betts, another 2028 recruit. The board also still includes Quinton Kitt, an Illinois commit in the Class of 2027, plus Brady Pettigrew, a Class of 2028 recruit who is an Illinois native.
The bigger picture for Illinois is hard to ignore. Recruiting has picked up after a season that ended with the Illini in the Final Four for the first time in more than 20 years and a top-5 pick in the recent NBA Draft. That kind of run gives Underwood room to keep swinging, even if he loses a few battles along the way.
Illinois already has four-star Kitt and Mason Martin in the Class of 2027, and that group could keep growing as the buzz around the program continues. Looking ahead, the Illini are expected to be a major contender in the 2026-2027 season with Andrej Stojakovic and David Mirkovic back, along with the anticipation surrounding five-star freshman Quentin Coleman.
In Other News...
Ohio State Enters Illinois Matchup With One Surprising Red Flag
Illinois took a noticeable jump in Bill Connellys SP+ after its Week 3 win over Southern Illinois, climbing 14 spots to No. 47 nationally and giving the Illini a profile that looks sturdier in a few key areas. The offense sits at No. 23 and special teams at No. 21, while the defense is at No. 52, a split that helps explain why this team can feel more competitive on paper than the overall ranking suggests.
Ohio State, though, is still the kind of opponent that changes the conversation quickly. The Buckeyes are No. 1 overall in SP+ and have the top defense in the country, and the model favors them by a wide margin in Week 4. Even so, Illinois does bring one edge into the matchup that stands out against a roster this complete, and it is the sort of hidden factor that could matter if the game gets uncomfortable for the favorite. [Read more 🡒]
Former Illini Gabe Jacas Just Earned Early Respect From Aaron Rodgers
Gabe Jacas is wasting no time making his presence felt in the NFL, and that matters to Illinois fans who watched him develop into a force before he moved on to the next level. The former Illini rookie has already been starting games early in his pro career, a sign that his transition has been smoother than most and that he is earning trust quickly in a league that rarely hands it out.
During a recent Patriots-Steelers matchup, Jacas came up with a moment that drew attention well beyond the box score when he intercepted a pass from Aaron Rodgers. After the game, Rodgers publicly praised the play as great, which is the kind of quick respect that can matter just as much as the turnover itself. For Illinois, it is another reminder that one of its former players is already carving out a real role against the biggest names in football. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois May Be Emerging As A Serious Threat For Dylan Betts
Illinois basketball has been making a clear push to stockpile elite size, and one of the names worth watching is class of 2028 five-star big man Dylan Betts. Betts recently visited the program, giving Illinois a chance to make an early impression on a prospect whose game is still developing but already fits the mold of what modern frontcourts are asking for.
Betts is working to add outside shooting to a traditional post-up package, which only increases the appeal for a staff that has shown it can help big men expand their skill sets. With the program also bringing in other highly rated recruits for upcoming classes, Illinois is positioning itself as a serious player in a crowded race for frontcourt talent, and Betts looks like one of the bigger names to keep on the radar. [Read more 🡒]