Illinois Basketball: Top 20 recruit set to take Illini visit

Illinois basketball head coach Brad Underwood and his coaching staff will be hosting one of the most talented young prospects in the nation on Monday.

2025 four-star combo guard Bryce Heard announced to Twitter on Saturday that he will be taking an unofficial visit to the Illini on August 1.

An in-state prospect, Heard attended Kenwood Academy High School in Chicago, Illinois last season where he helped guide the Broncos to a 25-9 record.  Heard averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game as a freshman.  He also shot 49% from the floor on the year, placing third on the team.

The Chicago native recently announced that he will be transferring to high school basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida.

Heard also plays for the Mac Irvin Fire in the Nike EYBL league, where many Illini legends have played.  Heard recently put up notable back-to-back-to-back performances of:

• July 20: 26 points, 6 assists

• July 21: 29 points, 3 rebounds

• July 22: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists

Bryce Heard would be a great first addition for the Illinois basketball class of 2025.

The freshman superstar is ranked No. 20 on ESPN’s top 25 prospects for the 2025 class.  The site ranks Heard as the top 2025 prospect in Illinois, No. 4 in the region, and the No. 7 guard in the country.

Along with the Illini, Heard has also received offers from LSU, Oklahoma, DePaul, Arizona State, Georgetown, and others.

At just 15 years old, Heard makes getting to the basket and dunking the ball look easy.  The combo-guard is a human highlight reel with his acrobatic finishes under the basket.

Given Illinois’ home-court advantage, along with being among the first programs in on his recruitment, Underwood and staff have a legitimate shot at landing this gem.

With a commitment, Heard would become the first player to commit to the Illini’s class of 2025.