 |  |  |
Yesterday provided some clarity as to the whereabouts about former Illini Ty Rodgers and Brandon Lee, both of whom announced their intentions to transfer from Illinois last month.
Rodgers has signed with the Boise State Broncos while Lee has decided to play with the James Madison Dukes.
After missing the last two seasons due to a redshirt and knee injury, respectively, Rodgers should have plenty of opportunities to play at Boise State, which is joining the reimagined Pac-12 Conference. Beginning on July 1, 2026, the new Pac-12 will also include:
While I was hoping that Rodgers would end up at a Big East school, this move makes total sense. Rodgers likely wants to get as much playing time as possible after not stepping on the court for two seasons. At Illinois, Rodgers would have been the fourth big man, with his minutes not guaranteed. Ty should be able to get a fresh start at Boise State, where he should have two years of eligibility, unless the Five for Five gets adopted and changes that. Rodgers will be playing for Broncos' Head Coach Leon Rice, who has been at the school since 2010.
Lee will be playing in a lesser conference, the Atlantic Sun, for a James Madison program that had been pretty successful under former Head Coach Mark Byington before missing the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons under new Head Coach Preston Spradlin. Like Rodgers, Lee should have more opportunities with the Dukes than he would have had with the Illini, where he would have been fighting for limited minutes like last season.
Amazingly, Lee was considered a better prospect than his fellow freshman Keaton Wagler, who went on to be an All-American and one-and-done with the Illini.
Don't be surprised if Lee plays one or two seasons with the Dukes and then transfers back up to a power conference program.
With Rodgers and Lee having signed with new programs, former Illini Mihailo Petrovic and Toni Bilic still haven't announced where/if they will be playing in college basketball next season.
I wouldn't be surprised if Petrovic goes back overseas. As for Bilic, your guess is as good as mine.
Best of luck to Rodgers and Lee, and Petrovic and Bilic, during the next steps of their basketball playing journeys.
Rodgers has signed with the Boise State Broncos while Lee has decided to play with the James Madison Dukes.
After missing the last two seasons due to a redshirt and knee injury, respectively, Rodgers should have plenty of opportunities to play at Boise State, which is joining the reimagined Pac-12 Conference. Beginning on July 1, 2026, the new Pac-12 will also include:
- Gonzaga.
- San Diego State.
- Oregon State.
- Washington State.
- Colorado State.
- Fresno State.
- Utah State.
- Texas State.
While I was hoping that Rodgers would end up at a Big East school, this move makes total sense. Rodgers likely wants to get as much playing time as possible after not stepping on the court for two seasons. At Illinois, Rodgers would have been the fourth big man, with his minutes not guaranteed. Ty should be able to get a fresh start at Boise State, where he should have two years of eligibility, unless the Five for Five gets adopted and changes that. Rodgers will be playing for Broncos' Head Coach Leon Rice, who has been at the school since 2010.
Lee will be playing in a lesser conference, the Atlantic Sun, for a James Madison program that had been pretty successful under former Head Coach Mark Byington before missing the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons under new Head Coach Preston Spradlin. Like Rodgers, Lee should have more opportunities with the Dukes than he would have had with the Illini, where he would have been fighting for limited minutes like last season.
Amazingly, Lee was considered a better prospect than his fellow freshman Keaton Wagler, who went on to be an All-American and one-and-done with the Illini.
Don't be surprised if Lee plays one or two seasons with the Dukes and then transfers back up to a power conference program.
With Rodgers and Lee having signed with new programs, former Illini Mihailo Petrovic and Toni Bilic still haven't announced where/if they will be playing in college basketball next season.
I wouldn't be surprised if Petrovic goes back overseas. As for Bilic, your guess is as good as mine.
Best of luck to Rodgers and Lee, and Petrovic and Bilic, during the next steps of their basketball playing journeys.
RSS Feed