Brad Underwood: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Is Illinois' Freshman Class Poised to Be the Best of the Brad Underwood Era?

Even in the midst of Illinois’ NCAA Tournament run last March, the 2026 recruiting class appeared to be pretty well sorted. At the time, Lucas Morillo, Ethan Brown and Landon Davis headlined a strong group.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

5-Star Illinois Target Darius Wabbington Moves Up Visit to Champaign

We know: It’s all coming at you fast. Illinois basketball recruiting has quickly become synonymous with the five-star label. In the 2027 class alone, the Illini are heavily involved – or have been – with five five-star recruits.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 12

Brad Underwood Explains Why Illinois Added Transfer Quentin McCoy

Illinois basketball has made something of a habit of turning each and every roster addition into big news. Whether it’s a blue-chip recruit, a superstar transfer or a sneaky find with serious upside, the Illini keep making splashes.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / August 31

Brad Underwood Reveals Illinois Basketball's New Hurdle

It has been 22 years since Illinois entered a college basketball season ranked in the top five of the AP poll. Said campaign culminated in a trip to the national championship game – which is the furthest the Illini program has ever trekked in the Big Dance.

Utah Jazz News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The '2nd-overall NBA Draft picks' quiz

How many of the players to be taken second-overall in each NBA Draft since the lottery era began in 1985 can you name in six minutes?

The 'No.1 NBA Draft picks' quiz

The 'No. 3 NBA Draft picks' quiz

The 'No.1 Draft pick & Rookie of the Year' quiz

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / August 31

Brad Underwood Provides Insight Into Key Illinois Returners' 2026-27 Outlook

Last Thursday, in an interview with CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Illinois coach Brad Underwood was asked a straightforward question: Which returner is going to make the biggest jump in 2026-27?

College Basketball News / Yardbarker

Looking back at the guy who followed THE guy in college basketball

North Carolina recently fired head men's basketball coach Hubert Davis, ending a five-year run in which he struggled to keep the program at the heights of its lofty expectations.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / August 29

Brad Underwood Shares His Take on the Chaotic Landscape of College Basketball

Every college basketball follower – ranging from the most avid, hoops-crazed fan to the viewer who only tunes in come March – has an opinion on the state of the sport.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / August 28

Final Four Is a 'Great Drug' – And Why Brad Underwood Thinks Illinois Can Have It Again

There is always the concern of a hangover after an intoxicating end-of-season moment in sports. That’s why repeat championships – whether a national title in college or a professional trophy – are so hard to accomplish.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / August 28

Illinois Basketball Makes Top 10 for 5-Star 2027 Guard King Gibson

Illinois continues to keep its foot on the gas on the recruiting trail. Brad Underwood and his crew, who have been almost exclusively linked to five-star prospects in the past few weeks, are in the mix for yet another standout member of the class of 2027.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / August 27

Brad Underwood Names Illinois Freshman Summer Standouts – Including a 'Big Surprise'

Over the past few years, Illinois coach Brad Underwood and his staff have turned to the international waters and the transfer portal to build their rosters.

College Basketball News / Busting Brackets / August 27

Illinois has one major problem standing between it and a national championship

Illinois should not lack offense during the 2026-27 college basketball season. The Fighting Illini finished last season ranked second nationally in offensive efficiency and return enough experienced talent to produce at a similar level.

College Basketball News / Busting Brackets / August 23

Illinois basketball’s brutal non-conference schedule comes with one major catch

Brad Underwood has assembled a schedule worthy of a national championship contender, but Illinois will have to leave Champaign for every one of its marquee non-conference games.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / August 20

Illinois Basketball Offers Nation's No. 1 2028 Power Forward Bentley Lusakueno

At this point, we know the drill when it comes to Illinois basketball's recruiting : coach Brad Underwood and his staff prize positional size and shooting.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / August 12

Should Illinois Basketball Add a Fifth-Year Player for 2026-27?

As of mid-August, Illinois has a roster count of 14 players. Back in late June, Illini coach Brad Underwood confirmed that the Illini have “a roster [spot] open if we need it." As a projected national title contender, Illinois doesn’t exactly need to add another player.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / August 12

Who Will Earn Illinois Basketball's Final Rotation Spot in 2026-27?

In last season's Sweet 16, Elite Eight and Final Four, only eight players ever saw the floor for Illinois. In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, the number of Illini who saw more than five minutes of action in either contest – Illinois advanced to the Round of 32 – was seven.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The '5+ rushing-TD NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Most yards through two NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Women's U.S. Open champions' quiz

The '4,500-yard, 15-INT NFL seasons' quiz

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 25

Illinois Basketball to Host Five-Star 2028 Recruit Dylan Betts for Unofficial Visit

Recruiting has always been one of Brad Underwood’s strengths. Ever since he came to Illinois, he has been able to build stacked recruiting classes – be it from the high school ranks or, more recently, the transfer portal.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 23

Illinois Sets Visit With Five-Star 2027 Guard NaVorro Bowman Jr.

Brad Underwood and his staff continue to stay busy on the recruiting trail. Over the past few days, Illinois has extended an offer to the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2028 – wing AJ Williams – and is reportedly in the process of cementing a date for a visit from 2027 four-star Isaiah Santos , per Dushawn London of 247Sports.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 16

3 Key Takeaways From Illinois Basketball's Summer Highlights

On Wednesday, Illinois released a two-minute clip of “summer pickup” highlights. There are obvious caveats anytime we try to draw conclusions from footage

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 15

3 Intriguing Illinois Lineups for 2026-27 – and What Makes Each So Dangerous

For a second straight season in 2026-27, Illinois will be overflowing with talent and production. The only question: How will coach Brad Underwood find minutes and touches enough for everyone?

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 12

3 Big Concerns for Illinois Basketball Entering the 2026-27 Season

Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but it certainly feels that way in Champaign – at least when it comes to Illinois hoops. With Illini Nation still riding the euphoric high of a Final Four run, it’s also looking ahead to a 2026-27 campaign for which it can rightfully hope for even more.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 11

Illinois Basketball Extends Offer to Under-the-Radar 2027 Forward Ed Stasys

Time and again, Brad Underwood and the Illini coaching staff have separated themselves as one of the premier talent-evaluation units in the country. The story isn’t a new one: Illinois extends the first high-major offer to a recruit, then the offers come rolling in. Just weeks ago, that was the case for 2027 wing Jayon Connor .

College Basketball News / Field Level Media / May 14

Illinois' Brad Underwood gets contract extension through 2032

Illinois coach Brad Underwood, coming off of a Final Four appearance last month, has received a contract extension through the 2031-32 season, the university announced on Thursday.