Writing Illini

Welcome to Writing Illini, your go-to source for news and insights about the Illinois Fighting Illini, powered by the FanSided Network. At Writing Illini, we focus on delivering high-quality news, perspectives, and original articles about the Fighting Illini. This platform also acts as a community hub where fans can connect, stay updated on the latest happenings, and share their enthusiasm for the team.

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Top 5 Illinois football 2026 recruiting targets still left on the board

5 days ago | writingillini.com | Rees Woodcock

The Illinois football team needs to land a few more recruits for 2026, and these are the top options left on the board. Illinois football fans are flying high right now, as the class of 2026 is one of the best in the country. I never thought the Illini could pull in an elite recruiting class. Right now, we have 23 commitments and a national recruiting ranking of No. 11 in the nation. To retain that high of a class ranking, we are going to need to land a few more big-time recruits.
Top 10 highest NBA Draft picks in the history of Illinois basketball

6 days ago | writingillini.com | Rees Woodcock

More will sure be added, but the Illinois basketball team has put quite a few first round picks into the NBA Draft. Illinois basketball has had some great talent come through the program, but where has this talent gone in the NBA? The NBA Draft hasn’t been nice to the Illini in quite some time. We have had good picks but nothing toward the top of the draft. Historically, there have been numerous players selected in the top 10 and in the first half of the first round, though.
Sharpshooting recruit hears from the Illinois basketball program

6 days ago | writingillini.com | Rees Woodcock

Illinois basketball needs more shooting, and this 2027 recruit would be a perfect fit on the Illini roster. I think one of the biggest issues for the Illinois basketball team this past season was the fact that we didn’t have shooters. The Illini squad that went to the Elite 8 had players like Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask, who could both knock down shots.
NBA Mock Drafts only have one dumpster fire team for Will Riley

6 days ago | writingillini.com | Rees Woodcock

Illinois basketball will have two players selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, and hopefully, Will Riley will go to a good team. With the 2025 NBA Draft quickly approaching, Illinois basketball fans are excited to see someone like Will Riley get selected. Riley was a superstar freshman for the Illini, as started slowly but really got the speed of the college game later on in the season.
NBA Mock Drafts have Kasparas Jakucionis with some bleak landing spots

1 week ago | writingillini.com | Rees Woodcock

The 2025 NBA Draft is right around the corner, and Illinois basketball guard Kasparas Jakucionis will be one of the first players taken off the board. It is speculation season, as we all watch to see where Illinois basketball point guard Kasparas Jakucionis will be selected in the 2025 NBA Draft. While the Illini didn’t end the season the way any of the fanbase wanted it to end, there will be multiple Illinois players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft next Wednesday, June 25.
Illinois football gets huge vote of confidence from 4-star linebacker

1 week ago | writingillini.com | Rees Woodcock

Bret Bielema is doing a great job recruiting, and one of the Illinois football team's top recruits gave the program a vote of confidence. Illinois football has plenty going for it right now, as recruiting has been full steam ahead. As of right now, the Illini have 23 commitments with a national recruiting ranking of No. 8 in the country. This number is the highest we have ever seen the program have in the rankings era, so roughly the last quarter-century.
Illinois football receives huge news from massive 4-star recruit

1 week ago | writingillini.com | Rees Woodcock

It was another good night for the Illinois football program, as another four-star recruit has committed to the Orange and Blue. The good recruiting vibes keep coming, as the Illinois football team has landed another massive recruit. Coming into Thursday night, the Illini had a great class of 2026 brewing. We had landed 22 commitments with a national recruiting ranking of No. 10 in the country. That has all changed. On Thursday, Nick Hankins Jr. announced live that he is committing to Illinois.
Massive 5-star center becomes huge target for Illinois basketball

1 week ago | writingillini.com | Rees Woodcock

Brad Underwood is trying to land a massive recruit from the West Coast, as this big man should be a priority for the Illinois basketball program. Recruiting never stops, and the Illinois basketball coaching staff has been able to keep up with the ever-changing landscape. If you give Brad Underwood guff for his coaching, that is one thing. You can’t give him negative feedback for his recruiting.
Illinois football makes top 4 for Texas recruit, commitment date set

1 week ago | writingillini.com | Rees Woodcock

Bret Bielema is looking to land another big-time recruit, and Illinois football has made the top four for this Texas star. It has been a very long time since the Illinois football fanbase has gotten to experience a great recruiting class. The last group of players that came into the program to really knock my socks off was the class of 2007.
Historical precedent shows Illinois football landed a high impact recruit

1 week ago | writingillini.com | Rees Woodcock

Illinois football has gone back to an old name to improve the roster for 2026. It is tough to predict whether a recruit will be good, but Illinois football was able to land a familiar name on Wednesday. The Illini have had some all-timers over the past few decades. These players don’t necessarily have to go to the NFL, but their impact on the program was felt dramatically. Some of these players shared a name. In 2006, Illinois pulled in a four-star quarterback, Isiah Williams.