Illinois basketball keeps stacking up recruiting buzz, and the latest name on the list is a big one. Five-star 2027 small forward Moussa Kamissoko has set an official visit to Champaign, giving Brad Underwood and the Illini a third confirmed five-star visitor in the class. Kamissoko is ranked as a top-20 national prospect and the No. 5 small forward in the class.
The recruiting momentum comes as Illinois’ 2026-27 non-conference schedule is now complete, and it is no soft landing. The Illini are set to play five high-major opponents and six teams that made last season’s NCAA Tournament. That group includes Duke, UConn, North Carolina, Texas Tech, Baylor and Missouri.
On the football side, senior defensive back and team captain Matthew Bailey landed on the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list. Bailey is one of 91 players nationally and 19 Big Ten players on the list for the award that goes to the nation’s top defensive player. He has led Illinois in tackles in each of the past two seasons.
Illinois soccer also got a boost Thursday, earning its first win of the season with a 2-1 rally over Cincinnati. The Illini are back on the field Sunday at 5 p.m. CT against UIC at Demirjian Park.
No Illinois games were played Saturday. The upcoming schedule includes soccer against UIC on Sunday at 5 p.m., soccer against Saint Louis on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 6 p.m., and football against UAB on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m.
In Other News...
Illinois Just Sent A Message In A Battle Fans Know Too Well
Illinois landed another important piece of its in-state recruiting push when Mason Martin, the top-ranked prospect in Illinois for the 2027 class, committed to the program out of Neuqua Valley High School. The four-star guard joins a growing list of promising names tied to the Fighting Illini, and his decision matters in a state where Illinois has too often watched elite local talent leave for other schools.
The broader message is bigger than one commitment. With Martin in the fold, along with Quentin Kitt already in the mix and future target Brady Pettigrew on the radar, Illinois is starting to build the kind of momentum that can reshape how fans view the programs recruiting base. For a team that has spent years trying to close the gap in battles for homegrown stars, this kind of run can change the tone around the roster, the culture and the way supporters see the programs future. [Read more 🡒]
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 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 🡒]