The Illinois basketball team is in the hunt for numerous players this offseason, but the biggest transfer portal target seems to be down to just two schools.
Brad Underwood put together a great team this past season. The Illini made the Final Four, and it was with a team that was relatively new to each other. Underwood has mastered the transfer portal and roster turnover.
Throughout the Underwood era, Illinois has landed some solid transfer portal talent. This offseason cycle could be on a different level, though.
According to Travis Branham of 247Sports, elite transfer portal guard John Blackwell has two teams on his mind. The two programs that seem to be in the lead for Blackwell’s commitment is Duke and Illinois.
More than 1,900 players have entered the transfer portal.@TravisBranham_ provides an update on some of the hottest names and top prospects — including Flory Bidunga, Aiden Sherrell, John Blackwell and others ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/SMDxnmbaMi
— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 10, 2026
Blackwell is coming off a junior year with Wisconsin, where he put up 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 38.9% from three-point range. He is a 6-foot-4 menace who is wanted by every program in the nation.
On top of the great numbers from last season, 247Sports also has Blackwell as the No. 2 overall transfer portal recruit and the best shooting guard talent in the country.
Illinois basketball needs a microwave talent to help replace the entire starting backcourt
The Illini are losing some serious talent this offseason. Keaton Wagler is for sure going to be gone to the NBA, and Kylan Boswell ran out of eligibility. That means Illinois is looking for two starting guards.
Blackwell would fit in seamlessly with what Illinois does. He is someone who can play great defense on one end, and then he can shoot from three-point range with the best of the best. His 38.9% from deep last season was on 7.3 attempts, which is crazy.
I am hoping that since Glynn Blackwell, John’s dad, played for Illinois, there might be some connection. But on the same note, Duke has a ton of power and money. That is a monster blue blood to go up against.
If Illinois can win this transfer portal recruitment, then the sky is the limit. This is the type of recruitment that we always lose out on. If the tides have turned, the college basketball world better watch out.