Point guard Mark Smith chooses Illinois over Kentucky, Michigan State, others
Posted Apr 27, 2017
Mark Smith concluded his unprecedented rise from fire-balling pitching prospect to high-major basketball recruit when he pulled on a hat with an orange block I Wednesday. The Illinois Mr. Basketball and Illinois Gatorade player of the year, Smith chose to play for Illinois despite receiving more than 20 offers — including Kentucky, Michigan State, Missouri, Ohio State and Texas.
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Related: College Basketball Recruiting
Darius Wabbington, Jalen Davis, Antonio Pemberton among top 2027 3SSB standoutsThe highest-ranked recruit on the circuit, 4-star Darius Wabbington, is widely regarded as one of high school basketball's premier frontcourt prospects. While he's currently ranked...
Wed Jul 15, 2026When Recruiting International Basketball Players Goes Wrong
Changes in college athletics have drastically reshaped how coaches build rosters. The transfer portal, Name, Image, and Likeness, and now revenue-sharing have injected money into...
Wed Jul 15, 2026
Top 50 prospect Caleb Ourigou commits to Arkansas basketball
Caleb Ourigou, a four-star center in the 2027 class, has committed to Arkansas. The 6-foot-10 prospect out of Overtime Elite (GA) chose the Razorbacks after...
Tue Jul 14, 2026
Michigan guard LJ Cason entering transfer portal after Dusty May departure
Michigan Wolverines basketball guard L.J. Cason will depart the program following the departure of head coach Dusty May to the Dallas Mavericks. While Cason is...
Tue Jul 14, 2026