Basketball
Illinois basketball misses on superstar transfer portal target
Blackwell was one of the best players in the 2026 transfer portal.
Per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, former Wisconsin basketball guard John Blackwell has committed to the Duke Blue Devils. Blackwell was once a major target for Illinois basketball; however, after retaining five of its core pieces and adding Quentin Coleman, Zavier Zens, and Stefan Vaaks.
Blackwell is rated as a five-star transfer prospect and the No. 2 overall player in the portal, according to 247Sports. He was one of the most sought-after names available and likely commanded significant NIL interest. The former Wisconsin guard was one of the top players in the Big Ten last season, averaging 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He earned All-Big Ten Third Team honors from both the coaches and media. With a more ball-dominant role, Blackwell has the potential to become one of the best players in the country next season.
At 6-foot-4, Blackwell is a dynamic two-way guard who brings athleticism and versatility to the Duke backcourt. He is one of the best shooters in the portal and a high-level rebounder for his position. According to CBB Analytics, Blackwell ranked in the 95th percentile in second-chance points per game and free throws attempted, the 89th percentile in offensive rebounds, and the 84th percentile in both paint points and three-point percentage last season.
What this means
Illinois basketball has developed a reputation as an NBA pipeline for guards in recent years, but ultimately was unable to capitalize on that in Blackwell’s recruitment. Names like Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, Will Riley, and soon-to-be Keaton Wagler highlight the program’s success at the position. However, it also must be noted that Illinois spent quite a lot of resources to retain stars Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, Tomislav, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. At the end of the day, there is only one ball, and the Illini seem comfortable relying on its talented class of 2026.
The Illini staff likely leaned on family ties during this recruitment. However, Blackwell had other plans for his senior season. His father, Glynn Blackwell, played at Illinois from 1984 to 1988 and served as team captain in 1988, leading the program to 23 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance.