Does Illinois have the best guard sell in college basketball?
Illinois has mastered the art of building elite guards, and they are capitalizing on it.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 15: Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images If someone asked you which college has produced the best NBA guards, which school would you choose?
Most would choose Kentucky, some would choose Duke, or maybe even UCLA. While these schools have produced a plethora of elite NBA talent at the guard position, hardly any school has done it better as of late than Illinois. Since 2024, Illinois has had three guards drafted in the first round, a stat that hardly any other school in the country can proudly boast.
This raises the question: Does Illinois have the best guard sell in the country? One of the best recruiting pitches for transfers and high school recruits is proven success in the pros. This is something that Illinois severely lacked in years past.
For a decade and a half, Illinois had only produced one first-round draft pick, when Meyers Leonard was taken 11th by the Trail Blazers. Being practically invisible on NBA draft boards is a recipe for continual, unsuccessful recruiting cycles. However, the tides have rapidly turned, and Illinois is in a position to pitch proven success to any guard that will listen.
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