Illinois is getting a real look from one of the biggest names in the 2028 class.
Dylan Betts, the No. 11 overall recruit in that cycle, has lined up a run of unofficial visits that includes Illinois from September 18-20, according to a report Friday from Travis Branham of 247Sports. Betts will also visit Michigan from September 11-13, North Carolina from September 25-27, and Alabama from October 9-12.
Dylan Betts, the No. 11 overall recruit in the 2028 class, has scheduled the following unofficial visits, a source tells @247Sports:
Sept. 11-13: Michigan
Sept. 18-20: Illinois
Sept. 25-27: North Carolina
Oct. 9-12: Alabama https://t.co/OzDaMV7Qyk pic.twitter.com/IOQrSC0T8t
- Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) July 24, 2026
For Illinois, the timing matters. Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic are both listed as seniors heading into the 2026-27 season, and when they move on, the Illini will be losing a combined 14-foot-3 in height from the roster. That leaves Brad Underwood with a major question at the No. 5 spot moving forward.
Betts looks like the kind of prospect who could answer it.
The 7-foot-3, 230-pound center from IMG Academy in Florida is a five-star recruit, ranked No. 11 nationally in 2028. He also checks in as the No. 5 center in the country and the No. 3 player in Florida.
What makes Betts so intriguing is how complete he already looks around the basket. The size jumps off the page, but the polish in the paint is what really separates him. In a game that leans more and more toward stretch bigs and perimeter skills, Betts stands out as a true old-school center.
He brings to mind the Lopez twins at Stanford - Brook and Robin - with the way he scores around the rim and defends with force. There’s also a mid-range touch in his game, and while a three-point shot could come later, that part of his development is expected to take time.
Illinois has not leaned heavily on the traditional back-to-the-basket center under Underwood, which makes Betts an especially interesting fit. The program has gone a long stretch without a player like Kofi Cockburn anchoring the paint, and Betts would give the Illini a different kind of presence inside.
He could rebound, protect the lane, and even kick-start the break with his ability to throw the ball down the floor.
And if Illinois is serious about building a monster 2028 class, Betts would be a huge piece. He would pair with five-star guard Brady Pettigrew, and that combination would give the Illini a foundation worth watching closely.
In Other News...
Illinois Just Got A Brutal Preseason Reality Check In The Big Ten
The Athletics 2026 preseason All-Big Ten teams offered a pretty sharp reminder of where Illinois stands in the league right now. Xavier Scott was the lone Illini to make the cut, landing on the second team after a 2025 season interrupted by an ankle injury that limited him to just three games. For a program trying to build on recent progress, being represented by one defensive back across all three preseason teams is not exactly the kind of league-wide respect it was hoping for.
Illinois also had a couple of names that could have entered the conversation, which only makes the omission feel a little starker. Collin Dixon and CaLil Valentine both had enough production last season to at least merit consideration, but the Illini still wound up in a bottom-tier group with Purdue, UCLA and Washington for the fewest selections. It leaves Illinois with a familiar preseason storyline: some individual talent, some real upside, and still plenty to prove before the Big Ten starts handing out wider recognition. [Read more 🡒]
Gabe Jacas Just Took A Patriots Step Illinois Fans Will Love
Gabe Jacas is officially on the move from Champaign to the NFL, and the former Illinois edge rusher has now signed his rookie deal with New England after being selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. It is a fitting next step for a player who spent four seasons as one of the Illinis most reliable defensive pieces, collecting All-Big Ten recognition three times and building a reputation as a steady presence off the edge.
For Illinois fans, the interesting part is not just that Jacas landed with the Patriots, but how quickly New England moved to make him part of its plans. The Patriots are expected to fold him into their pass-rush group right away, which gives Jacas a chance to carry the same disruptive edge he showed in college into a defense that clearly wanted to add him for a reason. [Read more 🡒]