Dylan Betts thoughts on future are exactly what Illinois basketball wants to hear

Illinois basketball has seen some great big men come through the program for the better part of the last decade.

Brad Underwood and the Illini coaching staff have done a great job recruiting these big men. It all started with Kofi Cockburn, but he was a back-to-the-basket type of big man.

Illinois continues to try to land big men, and one of the top targets for 2028 is Dylan Betts. He is a big-time recruit who is wanted by everyone in the country.

During Betts’ visit this past weekend, he took in the football game against Southern Illinois. Carson Gourdie of ABC 20 had a chance to chat with Betts and get his thoughts on his future.

One particular quote stuck out to me the most.

“I’ve been more of a post-up player, but I think as I develop and what I have been doing in practice, I think I can play more outside. Starting to come off pick-and-pops and make a move, make a play, make a decision.”

Betts is more of a traditional big man, but he is working on expanding his skill set to add the tools of a shooter to his repertoire. That is a good move considering what the NBA is looking for in a big man. Betts trying to hone his shooting is a good play.

Illinois is the right place for someone like Betts. He doesn't want to be just a back-to-the-basket big man. Betts wants to shoot. Underwood can provide that to the 7-foot-3 monster.

Since Cockburn departed Illinois, we have had a plethora of big men expand to the perimeter.

Coleman Hawkins was the first to dip his toes into the water. At 6-foot-10, he helped stretch the floor for the Illini.

Hawkins then departed, and in stepped Tomislav Ivisic. At 7-foot-1, Ivisic is taking 4.8 three-pointers per game and is shooting 33.4% from three-point range at Illinois.

This past season, on a Final Four team, not only did Ivisic shoot from three-point range, but his brother, Zvonimir, joined him. David Mirkovic was also an active participant in shooting from deep. At 7-foot-2, Zvonimir attempted 2.7 three-pointers per game. Mirkovic, who is 6-foot-9, put up 4.1 three-point attempts per game and hit them at a clip of 37.5%.

If you want to develop an outside game as a big man, there is no better program than Illinois. We win, and we develop. The proof is in the pudding.

Illinois basketball could have an incredible few recruiting classes coming to Champaign

It is amazing who Illinois could have join the program over the next couple of years. I thought the class of 2026 was special with Quentin Coleman coming in. The class of 2027 and 2028 could blow this class out of the water.

Illinois already has two four-stars pledged for 2027. We had two five-star recruits – Darius Wabbington and Moussa Kamissoko – visit this past weekend. Adding both of them would skyrocket the 2027 group.

For the class of 2028, Betts, a five-star, just visited Champaign. Illinois also had Bentley Lusakueno, a five-star forward, visit this past weekend. On top of those big-time recruits, Brady Pettigrew, a five-star guard, is set to visit in early October.

Underwood has the Illinois basketball train rolling along. It is incredible what is happening, and if we can pull in the majority of the talent mentioned above, a national championship is sure to follow.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow