Illinois’s pursuit of Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell doesn’t feel quite as dire as it was just last week after Brad Underwood landed a commitment from Stefan Vaaks. Still, even with the Providence transfer locked in, the Illini are still viewed as one of the top players in Blackwell’s recruitment, along with Jon Scheyer’s Duke Blue Devils.
Well, now, Duke isn’t the only program to worry about in Underwood’s race for one of the portal’s top talents, and the new addition comes from inside the Big Ten. UCLA is hosting Blackwell on Tuesday, with Arizona, Alabama, and Louisville also looming as possible options.
UCLA hosting John Blackwell for a visit on Tuesday
Mick Cronin hasn’t done much big-time winning at UCLA since taking the Bruins to the Final Four early in his tenure, but the veteran coach has consistently won major battles in the portal. Last year, one of the biggest was over New Mexico transfer Donovan Dent, who ultimately opted to spend his final season of eligibility as a Bruin.
With Dent heading to a professional career after averaging 13.3 points and 7.6 assists for UCLA last season, Cronin needs a new lead guard and Blackwell has emerged as the perfect solution. More troubling is the fact that UCLA has a close connection to Blackwell.
While presumably not as significant as his father, who went to Illinois, Blackwell’s agent Todd Ramasar, is LA based and went to UCLA. With those prominent ties, it’s no wonder that UCLA has weaseled its way into the mix for Blackwell after his recruitment was previously viewed as a two-horse race between Illinois and Duke.
While his recruitment seems to be heating up, there’s no reason to expect a decision soon. According to a Jonathan Givony report from last Friday, Blackwell isn’t expected to commit until May 4.
NEWS: Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell has narrowed his list to six schools: Alabama, Arizona, Duke, Illinois, Louisville and UCLA, per Todd Ramasar and Alexis Liatsos of Life Sports.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 11, 2026
Will visit two schools before committing by May 4, a week before the NBA Draft Combine. pic.twitter.com/WS85QzITSH
Illinois already has plenty of talent, maybe enough to make it back to the Final Four. But, with Mihailo Petrovic in the portal, the Illini could use another backcourt addition, especially one like Blackwell who averaged nearly 20 points a game in the Big Ten last year.
The Vaaks addition doesn’t take Illinois out of the race, but the Illini may not be as motivated to get a deal done with Blackwell, and with so many schools in the mix, it’ll take a big money deal to get him on campus.
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