en-us SportSpyder - The Latest Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball News https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/news Watch the latest Illini Inquirer Podcast: https://youtu.be/blY-XkCqa7Q Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:08:51 GMT Illini Inquirer: Illinois on 247Sports https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56897082 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56897082 false false CHAMPAIGN — The sheer volume of changes in the college basketball world was not the only reason Lincoln Williams was unsigned and available in June. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:06:59 GMT SCOTT RICHEY srichey@news-gazette.com https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56891170 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56891170 false false Two Illinois targets among the top 60 players in the country Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:06:56 GMT SCOTT RICHEY srichey@news-gazette.com https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56891169 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56891169 false false The Illini made a late addition to their 2026-27 roster in Lincoln Williams, a long and bouncy guard from Kankakee Tue, 09 Jun 2026 05:33:40 GMT Jackson Langendorf https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56889757 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56889757 false false Brad Underwood made a last-minute addition to his 2026 class. Illinois announced Monday that it signed Lincoln Williams, a 6-foot-5 guard from Kankakee. Williams averaged 26 points and six rebounds as a senior last year at Kankakee High School. He finished his high school career with 1,853 points. Williams is the sixth member of Illinois’ […] Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:47:34 GMT Stephen Cohn https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56889594 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56889594 false false The Illinois basketball program has had an offseason for the ages with their massive retention numbers and the commitment of five-star guard Quentin Coleman. C Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:18:31 GMT Kellen Sherman https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56888877 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56888877 false false Paulsen is the first prep defensive line commitment for the Illini's new defensive staff Tue, 09 Jun 2026 01:32:29 GMT Jeremy Werner https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56888601 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56888601 false false Three-star 2026 Kankakee wing Lincoln Williams sign with Illinois basketball on June 8, 2026, at Kankakee High School. Mon, 08 Jun 2026 23:42:53 GMT Illini Inquirer: Illinois on 247Sports https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56887810 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56887810 false false 2-time News-Gazette All-Stater joins top 10 recruiting class Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:11:06 GMT SCOTT RICHEY srichey@news-gazette.com https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56884916 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56884916 false false Williams finished third in 2026 Illinois Mr. Basketball voting and is Kankakee's all-time leading scorer Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:00:08 GMT Jeremy Werner https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56884778 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56884778 true false The Class 3A Illinois Media Player of the Year becomes the sixth incoming freshman for the Fighting Illini basketball team. Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:21:58 GMT Adam Duvall https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56884348 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56884348 false false Illnois basketball added Kankakee star Lincoln Williams on Monday. The three-star wing finished as the school's all-time leading scorer and now joins the Illini Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:00:57 GMT Rodney Knuppel https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56884104 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56884104 false false By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst June 8, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys) CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – For Lincoln Williams, the dream has finally become reality. The Kankakee High School standout announced his commitment to Illinois this morning, giving the Fighting Illini another talented wing to their future roster. Williams, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound wing, is rated as a three-star recruit by On3 and Rivals. According to Illinois Prep Bulls-Eye, he is ranked as the No. 1 senior in the state of Illinois' Class of 2026. Illinois assistant coach Zach Hamer served as the lead recruiter and played a significant role in securing Williams’ commitment. The Illini beat out Virginia Tech, DePaul, Arizona and Arizona State for his services. For Williams, the decision was about more than basketball. Illinois had long been his dream school. Throughout his recruitment, Williams made it clear that playing for the Fighting Illini was his ultimate goal. Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:53:11 GMT larryilliniguys-com https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56884021 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56884021 false false Coleman averaged 11.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists for Team USA across his five games at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup. Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:36:10 GMT Kyle Tausk https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56883812 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/56883812 true false