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Illinois basketball keeps the in-state pipeline flowing with newest commitment

Brad Underwood continued the Illinois basketball team's stellar offseason of recruiting on Monday with the signing of a quality in-state wing.
ByKellen Sherman|
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Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood speaks in a press conference after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood speaks in a press conference after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

The Illinois basketball program has had a bountiful recruitment process for 2026, signing five of the top high school players from across the Midwest and overseas.

Brad Underwood hit big with a few of his recruits for the upcoming season, with the likes of five-star guard Quentin Coleman and four-star wing Lucas Morillo headlining the Illini class of 2026.

This will be a very interesting year for Illinois, as they look to make another run back to the Final Four next March. But to help them reach that goal, they have signed a sixth player for the upcoming season in small forward Lincoln Williams.

Williams, a product of Kankakee, Illinois, is a three-star athlete and the No. 2-ranked prospect in the state of Illinois. He is a dynamic scorer who dominated his senior year of high school, averaging 26 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks at Kankakee.

The lanky wing is also a proven lock-down defender, using his immense length and athletic ability to guard opponents from the perimeter to the paint, leading to the aforementioned three steals and two blocks per game.

Lincoln Williams will add another large, athletic wing to an already well-rounded Illinois basketball roster

For the past number of years, the Illinois basketball program has been known for their vast size at every level on the floor. They had one of the tallest teams in the country last season, with an average height of 6-foot-7 across 15 players.

Now, with the addition of Williams to the program, they will continue the trend of versatile big men who can change the game in a multitude of ways. He will bring a high-flying arsenal of moves to an already lethal Illinois offense that will make opponents step up or step out of the way.

In his first year in Champaign, Williams will more than likely see a lesser amount of minutes as he tries to prove himself to the team. But once Andrej Stojakovic and the rest of the starting five disappear, don't be surprised if he becomes a major fixture in Underwood's system.

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