Illinois' Kylan Boswell Recognized as a Top Combo Guard by CBS Sports

Illinois coach Brad Underwood has again assembled a roster brimming with talent, but while much of the attention has gone to newcomers such as Andrej Stojakovic, it’s the returning core that shouldn’t be overlooked.CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter recently made sure of that, highlighting the Illini's Kylan Boswell in his ranking of the nation’s top five combo guards. Trotter noted that Boswell has a strong case to be included on the list, a reminder of just how valuable the senior will be for Illinois in the upcoming season.

Kylan Boswell's path

After reclassifying to enroll in college early, Boswell spent his first two seasons in Tucson playing for Arizona under head coach Tommy Lloyd. As a sophomore, he started 35 games for a Wildcats squad that secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, gaining valuable experience on one of college basketball’s biggest stages. After the season, Boswell entered the transfer portal and ultimately chose Illinois, arriving in his hometown of Champaign ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Boswell had an excellent junior season, starting every game and coming on as a scorer late in the season. An excellent defender, Boswell can give an opposing team's top guards fits while also providing a scoring punch on the other end. Boswell has a knack for hitting timely three-pointers and uses his strength to bully smaller defenders down low.