The Illinois basketball team is about to enter the transfer portal fray after falling short in the Final Four.
There are two big questions for the Illini right now. The first question is, who will we lose in the transfer portal? The next question is who will Illinois land from the transfer portal?
While we wait to see who departs the Orange and Blue, numerous names are already popping up on the transfer portal market. One of the most intriguing options that just appeared in the last day is John Blackwell.
On Monday, Jeff Borzello of ESPN reported that Blackwell is entering the transfer portal. While he is in the transfer portal, the star guard will still go through the NBA Draft process.
BREAKING: Wisconsin guard John Blackwell plans to enter the transfer portal while going through the NBA draft process, he told ESPN. Blackwell, who averaged 19.1 points and earned All-Big Ten honors this past season, becomes the best guard in the portal. pic.twitter.com/zVaqncygPi
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 6, 2026
There is no doubt that every program in the country is going to want Blackwell’s services. He has grown exponentially as a player over the last three seasons. As a junior in 2025-26, he averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest.
The number that piques my interest the most is the fact that Blackwell averaged 7.3 three-point attempts per game and hit them at a clip of 38.9%.
Blackwell didn’t have a ton of high-level recruiting attention coming out of high school. Wisconsin was his lone non-mid-major offer, but they saw the talent in this kid. Illinois now has a chance to get in the mix, and we have a little weight behind our offer.
Illinois basketball has strong connections to the John Blackwell name
While Illinois wasn’t in on Blackwell’s original recruitment, we do have a connection to the transfer. Blackwell’s dad, Glynn, was a big-time player for the Orange and Blue.
The elder Blackwell played four seasons in Champaign, where he averaged 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game as a senior. Illinois also made the NCAA tournament all four years he was there, and we notched a spot in the Sweet 16 in one of those seasons.
Illinois is going to need more guard help entering 2026-27. I think we are about to see some serious roster turnover. Blackwell would come in and start in one of the two backcourt spots. This would help Illinois not only transition well out of the Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell era, but Blackwell has the ability to get Illinois over the hump and, potentially, into the national championship.