The Illinois basketball program has done numerous things right over the past half-decade or so.
During the Brad Underwood era, the Illini have had one of the most successful runs in program history. We have made it to the Elite 8 and have gone dancing five straight seasons.
A part of this great run has to do with the ability to recruit talented players. The center position always eluded Underwood’s predecessors, but that all changed starting in 2019.
Underwood was able to snag big man Kofi Cockburn, and his presence in Champaign started a trend. Players like Coleman Hawkins, Dain Dainja, and Tomislav Ivisic soon followed.
Illinois is now after another big man. On Tuesday, Joe Tipton of On3.com reported that Marcis Ponder is down to seven teams. The seven programs vying for his commitment include Texas, Cincinnati, Florida State, Providence, Indiana, Miami (FL), and Illinois
NEWS: 4⭐️ Marcis Ponder, a 7-foot center in the 2026 class, is down to seven schools, he tells @Rivals.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 16, 2025
The Top-75 overall recruit discusses his finalists: https://t.co/cxPikxaisN pic.twitter.com/77sa6ZW4sU
This would be a massive get for the Illini, figuratively and literally. Ponder is a 6-foot-11, 328-pound center from Gillilon Basketball Academy in Virginia. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 71 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 9 center in the country and the No. 3 player coming out of Virginia.
Illinois basketball is going to need some serious paint help in 2026 and beyond
Ponder is such a force in the paint. He has size that is hard to handle, and his ability to finish at the rim is phenomenal. Honestly, he reminds me of a little thicker Kofi. The game feels the same.
This top seven is a shocker, too. I didn’t see Ponder on the radar, but it is a welcome sight. Illinois is going to need some big man help in the near future.
Ivisic is likely gone after the 2025-26 season. I think his brother, Zvonimir, is likely going to follow, too. That leaves Illinois with Jason Jakstys, which isn’t a good position to be in.
If Ponder picked the Illini, he would probably start from day one. You can see how dominant he can be on the court right now, but just imagine what he could turn into with Adam Fletcher in the mix. Ponder could be another big man All-American for the Illini.