Recruiting Roundup: Illinois welcomes hoops visitors this weekend
The Illinois basketball recruiting weekend heats up. Three priority prospects arrive on campus as the Illini football team hosts Western Michigan. The Illini currently hold two commits in the class of 2026, combo guard Ethan Brown and versatile forward Landon Davis.
Illinois will host one of the most coveted wings in the 2026 class this weekend when Cameron Holmes arrives in Champaign for his first official visit.
The 6-foot-6 standout from Millennium High School in Goodyear, Ariz., is a consensus top-50 prospect and regarded as one of the best two-way wings in the junior class. Holmes’ travel schedule is loaded this fall — after Illinois, he’ll head to North Carolina (Sept. 19), Oklahoma (Oct. 3), Texas (Oct. 31), Gonzaga (Nov. 7), andArizona (Dec. 5).
Holmes boosted his profile this summer with Arizona Unity on the Nike EYBL circuit, where he averaged nearly 12 points, five rebounds, and close to three assists while shooting better than 47 percent from the field. He also earned spots at the NBA Top 100 Camp and USA Basketball’s U17 training camp, continuing to prove himself against elite competition.
Scouts see Holmes as a smooth, versatile player with the size and athleticism to score inside or out, as well as the length to guard multiple positions. That mix of skill and adaptability lines up well with Brad Underwood’s system, which leans on wings who can make plays on both ends of the floor.
Illinois will play host this weekend to one of the top international prospects in high school basketball. Seven-footer Sinan Huan is scheduled for an official visit to Champaign this weekend, giving Brad Underwood and his staff a close look at a player who’s quickly built a reputation as an elite rim protector.
Huan, a native of China now playing at Georgetown Prep in Maryland, is ranked No. 59 overall in the 2026 class by the industry average and as high as No. 37 by Rivals. He made his first visit to Purdue last weekend and will head to Northwestern later this month, with other trips still to be scheduled before a decision in November.
Illinois’ interest dates back to Huan’s early years at Windermere Prep (Fla.), where he averaged nearly five blocks a game as a freshman. He carried that shot-blocking presence into international play this summer, leading the FIBA U19 World Cup with 5.0 blocks per game while also scoring 11.3 points on 55 percent shooting.
The Illini’s pitch is simple: there’s a clear path to minutes in the frontcourt. Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois’ current 7-footer, is projected as a possible NBA Draft candidate after this season. If he moves on, the staff will be looking for another long, defensive-minded big to anchor the paint. Huan’s ability to alter shots and finish efficiently around the rim fits that role almost perfectly.
For Huan and his family, the focus has been on development, academics, and community. Illinois will get its chance this weekend to show how Champaign can check those boxes — and why the Illini might be the right place for his next step.
Jaxson Davis, one of the premier guards in the 2027 class, makes the trip to campus. Davis has long been a priority target for the Illini staff and landing an impression this weekend could be a major step in his recruitment.
At 6-foot-3, Davis is a dynamic backcourt piece who can score at all three levels, push the tempo, and create for teammates. His blend of athleticism and skill allows him to slide between either guard spot, giving him the versatility coaches covet in modern lineups. He’s also shown he can guard on the perimeter and compete with high-level opponents, traits that make him a natural fit for Brad Underwood’s system.
This summer, Davis raised his stock with Meanstreets on the Nike EYBL circuit, where he consistently produced against elite competition. His ability to get downhill, finish through contact, and knock down shots from the outside helped him stand out on one of the top grassroots programs in the country.
Recruitment-wise, Davis is drawing heavy interest from a number of high-major schools. Illinois has made him a top priority early, but programs such as Arizona State, Indiana, DePaul, Iowa, Marquette, Northwestern, Purdue, and others have also been linked to his recruitment.
