Good Morning, Illini Nation: Freshmen haven't fallen out of favor

May 5—The final ranking for the Class of 2026 was published Monday. While Kansas-bound wing Tyran Stokes held on to his spot atop the class, there was some movement in the rankings.

Like future Illinois guard Quentin Coleman vaulting up the rankings to No. 15 — the first player outside the five-star recruits. Coleman became the Illini's highest-profile prospect when he committed on the eve of the Final Four, but Brad Underwood and Co. are adding another high-level recruit in Lucas Morillo, who was ranked No. 34 in Rivals' latest effort.

Coleman and Morillo headline a five-man class that also includes three-star wing and No. 135 overall prospect Zavier Zens and unranked three-stars Ethan Brown and Landon Davis. That group ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 15th nationally, per Rivals, and marks the biggest class of high school recruits for Illinois since 2018.

"I'm really excited about this group," Underwood said. "We've got every position covered in terms of the way we're trying to recruit. I like this group. As usual, we're going to rely on some of these freshmen to be instrumental pieces for us. I always hold it close to the chest a little bit until you coach them and get them on campus, but it's a very talented group and one we like a lot."

"You've got to make sure that we keep freshmen in the mix. I think we've got to make sure we keep guys who are developing, carrying over culture, and guys that keep growing in our program. Not everybody is going to come in here and be a one-and-done or, for that matter, a pro. You've got to find that right balance."