Friday (6.15) was the first day coaches could directly contact 2026 prospects.

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Post your questions on Illini hoops, football, recruiting, or anything else that’s on your mind.

Illinois held its Rising Illini camp on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Four new offers went out following the camp.

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Rutgers

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics named eight, star members to the UI Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024. This is the eighth Hall of Fame class and includes one coach and representatives from basketball, football, volleyball, soccer, and fencing.




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Sources indicate Coleman Hawkins is headed to Kansas State for close to 2 million.

Good for him!

Mississippi State transfer wide receiver Zakhari Franklin remains a top target for Illinois. He took official visits to Illinois and Washington. Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. coached Franklin at UTSA in 2020-21.

Franklin re-entered the transfer portal after being limited to four games and just four catches at Ole Miss last season after an injury in training camp set him back.

He's been one of the most productive wide receivers in college football during his career, however. Franklin left UTSA as its all-time leader in catches, receiving yards and receiving TDs.

In five seasons, he has totaled 3,386 yards and 38 TDs and was a two-time All-Conference player at UTSA.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – From August 2-12, the Illinois women's basketball team will travel to Europe for a foreign tour of Italy and Greece. The Fighting Illini will look to grow on and off the court with multiple exhibition games, educational tours, excursions, local cuisine, and authentic experiences on the schedule.

"I am very excited about this amazing opportunity that we have as a team to go on this trip," shared head coach Shauna Green. "This allows us to have more practice time this summer and, obviously, gives us the early opportunity to compete together in a real game setting. The best thing about these trips is the amount of time our student-athletes get together to grow our relationships and become more connected. They will also get to experience different cultures, which helps in our overall development as people. We are very grateful for this opportunity and can't wait for August!"

NCAA programs are allowed to take foreign trips once every four years, with the 2024 tour marking the first under Green at Illinois. Entering her third season at the helm of the Fighting Illini program, the tour will mark the second of Green's head coaching career after a 2018 trip to Italy while at Dayton.

Illinois has five newcomers on its 13-player roster for the 2024-25 campaign and is coming off a WBIT championship run that afforded the eight Illini returners great experience and growth. The championship run into April, 10 additional summer practices, and international exhibition games add extra opportunities for the team to continue to grow and gel.

While the Orange and Blue's itinerary is still being finalized, the squad will be visiting Rome, Florence, and Naples in Italy as well as Athens and Glyfada in Greece.

The previous foreign trip for the Illinois women's basketball program was a 2019 trek to Australia.

ILLINOIS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FOREIGN TRIPS

2024 – Italy and Greece – August 2-12
2019 – Australia – August 6-17
2015 – France – August 10-20
2006 – Italy – May 22 - June 1
2001 – Russia, Latvia, and Lithuania – August 7-19

It seems like the Lakers are courting Dan Hurley to be their next head coach. Sortof a bold move and one you usually don’t get turned down (although Coach K notoriously said no back in 2004). Does Dan Hurley leave?

Obviously this has pretty big ramifications for college basketball if he does. Frankly, it gives everyone a chance now that we didn’t before.

I sortof find it funny that the Lakers have found a way to have everyone talking about them on the first day of the NBA finals. If you can’t make it, I guess you can find other ways to make it about you.

Expecting multiple commitments from this weekend's visits, per a source.

Looks like a potential 4-star kid on film. Fast, quick.

So DIA just sent an email about something called ERA. The parking for football is changing next year. Us lowly $500 donors best parking parking lot option was in Lot 42. We'll, no more. You need to give $1000 for that lot.

Putting a really crappy football team on the field year in and year out and fleecing your donors is not a good way to keep rear ends in the seats.

I am beyond pissed and might just give it all up. Over 15 years I have had season tickets and parked in Lot 42 for most of that time.

The latest recruiting buzz on four-star forward Will Riley, the No. 15 prospect in the class of 2025.

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