The great retention has been a joyous occasion so far this offseason as four of the Illinois basketball team's top players from last season announced that they would be returning to Champaign in the fall.
It has been a special time to be an Illini, as David Mirkovic, Jake Davis, and both Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic made their announcements within hours of each other this past Wednesday.
But sadly, that news came with some heartache, as fans had to say goodbye to long-time Illini Ty Rodgers after he announced his entry into the transfer portal on Thursday.
Illinois redshirt junior Ty Rodgers has entered the transfer portal, source told ESPN. Redshirted the 2024-25 season and then missed the 2025-26 season after suffering a knee injury last summer.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 16, 2026
Rodgers, who has been a member of the Illini since the 2022-23 season, has become a key veteran presence for Illinois basketball over the years. He has been a part of multiple NCAA tournament runs, averaging 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in his first two seasons at the school.
His sophomore year would end up being Rodgers' final run on the court for the Orange and Blue, as a redshirt junior year and a season-ending injury kept him out of action for two straight seasons. He will now be on the lookout for a new squad where he can play a bigger role in the rotation.
A clean break and a fresh start are just what the doctor ordered for Ty Rodgers and the Illinois basketball team
It's hard to say that someone should leave, or that the team would be better off without them. If anything, I would much rather have Rodgers come off the bench in the fall so that he could continue to be a veteran voice for the younger generation after everything he's given to the program.
But we can't always get what we want. This team already has a plethora of wings at their disposal with Quentin Coleman, Davis, and the newly acquired Stefan Vaaks. Not only that, the Illini are still in the running for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell and will most likely be adding a few more pieces this summer.
It would be an absolute gauntlet for Rodgers to get any minutes next season if he were to stay, especially after being out for two seasons. If anything, he's better off trying to find a new program so that he's not stuck in a rut for his final year of eligibility.
Here's hoping for the best for Rodgers as he makes this transition in his life. Thank you for all the memories!
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