The University of Illinois basketball program is gearing up for a significant transition as the Ivisic brothers, Tomislav and Zvonimir, prepare to leave the team after the 2026-27 season.
A New Chapter for the Fighting Illini
At the center of the Illini’s planning is Dylan Betts, a 7-foot-3, 230-pound center from IMG Academy in Florida who has earned five-star status and sits as the No. 11 prospect in the 2028 recruiting class.
Betts is celebrated for his size and polished post play, traits that echo the Lopez brothers’ reputation at Stanford, and he could revitalize the traditional back-to-the-basket role that Illinois has not seen since Kofi Cockburn.
Size and Skill Set
Coach Brad Underwood and his staff have mapped out a series of unofficial visits for Betts in September and October 2026, targeting Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina and Alabama, signaling an aggressive pursuit of the recruit.
Beyond his physical attributes, Betts is expected to pair with fellow five-star guard Brady Pettigrew, creating a frontcourt-backcourt combination that could restore the inside-out dynamic the program has missed.
Recruiting Timeline
The Illini’s broader ambition is to assemble the nation’s top recruiting class for 2028, a goal that underscores the strategic importance of landing a player of Betts’s caliber.