Brad Underwood has a huge challenge of getting the Illinois basketball roster back to Final Four caliber.
The Illini are coming off our first Final Four in over two decades. We don’t want to take a step backward despite having multiple parts depart the team in the coming weeks.
Underwood has done a great job in the past of filling holes on the roster with the transfer portal. I fully trust him to continue keeping us in the national spotlight.
There are quite a few players already in the transfer portal. So far, I have narrowed my focus to five players I would want the most.
Here are early transfer portal wish list for the Illinois basketball program
1. John Blackwell – Wisconsin Badgers
With Illinois losing some serious experience and talent in the backcourt, we need to replenish both of those areas. There isn’t a better option than John Blackwell.
Blackwell, the son of former Illinois player Glynn Blackwell, played three seasons at Wisconsin. His best year came during the 2025-26 campaign when he averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Without a doubt, Blackwell would start for the Illini from day one. He could be a great one-two punch with Mihailo Petrovic in the backcourt. I think all resources need to be put into landing Blackwell this offseason.
2. Jasper Johnson – Kentucky Wildcats
There are always players who are looking to live up to their originally recruiting billing, and that is what is coming with Jasper Johnson.
As a five-star coming out of high school, Johnson saw limited time with Kentucky last season. He played in 35 games and saw just 12 minutes in each contest. That resulted in him only averaging 4.9 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 rebounds per game.
Johnson is now on the move. He is looking for a landing spot where he can start right away and potentially get to the NBA. Illinois would be a great place to develop.
When Johnson was being recruited out of high school, Illinois caught his attention. He took an official visit to Champaign, so there is interest between the two parties. Johnson would be a great addition to the Illinois roster.
3. Dai Dai Ames – Cal Golden Bears
What is fun about the transfer portal is that there are names that pop up every year. Dai Dai Ames is one of those names.
I feel like Ames has always been in the Illinois sphere. He is from Chicago, but he has gone other routes in his first three seasons in the college game.
Ames started out at Kansas State. He then bolted for Virginia. This past season, Ames played for Cal. Each year, he has improved his game. In 2025-26, Ames averaged 16.9 points, 2.2 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game.
Illinois has experience with players team-hopping every season. We landed Andrej Stojakovic from the transfer portal this past season. He was with multiple teams, and we snagged him from Cal. So, there is that Cal connection, too.
Ames would be a nice guard for the Illini. He would see quite a few minutes, and his ability to put points on the board is something that intrigues me.
4. Jaden Schutt – Virginia Tech Hokies
Back in 2022, I was hoping Illinois would land Jaden Schutt out of Yorkville. He was a local kid, and he would have been a great addition to the program.
Duke ended up landing Schutt. After one season with the Blue Devils, he bolted for Virginia Tech. Schutt has had about the same numbers the last two seasons with the Hokies, putting up 7.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per game as a junior.
I like Schutt because of his three-point skills. He averaged shooting 5.3 three-pointers per game and hit them at a clip of 38.5%.
Illinois always needs a nice big wing who can shoot lights out. That is what is missing from Stojakovic’s game. Schutt could bring that big-time shooting ability and help Illinois from three-point range.
5. Terrence Hill Jr. – VCU Rams
I would argue Terrence Hill Jr. is one of the most intriguing players in the transfer portal. No one is really talking about him, but I think he could be a game-changer for a team.
Hill wasn’t on my radar until Illinois played his VCU team in the NCAA tournament. This kid is the real deal, and I would love him in Champaign.
As a freshman, Hill didn’t do much with the Rams. He really broke out this past season, though. Hill averaged 15.0 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game. He also attempted 6.1 three-pointers per game and hit them at a clip of 37.0%.
I could see Hill coming into the Illinois program and starting at the No. 1 guard spot. He could bring the ball up the court and get the offense started.
Hill is great at moving without the ball. He can be a headache for opposing defenses. I also think he would fit in so well with the Underwood style on both ends of the court.