Key area incomplete in Illinois basketball 2026 offseason grades

The transfer portal entry window is closed, and the Illinois basketball team is left looking strong as the dust settles.

Coming off a Final Four run just weeks ago, the Illini had to immediately go into offseason mode following the great run in the NCAA tournament. Brad Underwood has done a great job of holding the team together and picking up the pieces that fell off this train that is full steam ahead.

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For the most part, Illinois has had a great offseason. There is one area that is incomplete, though.

Here are the Illinois basketball 2026 offseason grades so far

Freshman Additions: A+

I don’t think you can give Underwood and the Illinois coaching staff anything less than an A+ for the freshman additions this offseason.

It has been an impressive haul thus far, as 247Sports ranks Illinois’ class of 2026 No. 8 in the country when it comes to freshman talent.

The highlights of the recruiting class are Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, both of whom will likely make a big impact on the team in 2026-27.

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Coleman is a top 35 recruit in the country, and I have him pegged as a starter at the No. 2 spot for Illinois this upcoming season. He is someone who can light up the scoreboard.

Morillo is a guard who can play the No. 2 or No. 3 spots on the floor. He is a versatile player who has great size at 6-foot-7. Illinois is going to love this kid.

Overall, Illinois has signed five freshmen coming into the program. This is a nice young core who can all see minutes.

Retention: A-

Illinois could have easily been an A+ if it weren’t for our latest transfer portal departure. I was really hoping to see Brandon Lee play for Underwood, but he clearly didn’t fit the system.

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No one in the world would have been able to keep Keaton Wagler in the college ranks. That is the only player who could have come back who will hurt the Illini.

So, for the offseason, Illinois lost Mihailo Petrovic, Toni Bilic, Ty Rodgers, Wagler, and Lee. The only one that is disappointing is Lee,…

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Publish date : 2026-04-24 10:10:00

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