Illinois Basketball Pursuing Versatile Iowa Forward
Illinois has extended an offer to Colin Rice, a versatile 6-foot-7 forward known for his shooting ability, strong downhill play, and excellent size on the wing.
Brad Underwood’s philosophy for building the roster centers around two key principles: positional size and shooting. This approach has been evident in Illinois’ recent transfer portal acquisitions, such as 7-foot-2 Zvonimir Ivisic (who shot 37.6% from three) and 6-foot-7 guard Andrej Stojakovic (who averaged 1.4 threes per game at Cal).
Taking this same strategy into the high school recruiting ranks, Illinois has already offered 6-foot-10 sharpshooter Quinn Costello and now, unsurprisingly, extended an offer to another top shooter from the 2026 class.
Colin Rice, a three-star recruit and the third-ranked player in Iowa for his class (according to 247 Sports), announced the Illinois offer via his X account on Sunday.
Rice is more than just a smooth shooting wing. His ball-handling and solid athleticism allow him to drive past larger defenders and finish at the basket. He also has a reliable post-up game, featuring a one-legged fadeaway he executes with ease. Additionally, Rice is a smart cutter and a capable playmaker.
Though he may need to add some weight to his 180-pound frame, Rice possesses a well-rounded offensive game and the intangibles that could make him an impact player early in his college career.
Rice has already visited Iowa and has a trip planned to Nebraska, but Illinois is one of just two high-major programs, along with Northwestern, to offer him a scholarship.
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