NIL

Top 10 Illinois basketball transfer portal additions of all time

Illinois basketball has been able to see great success throughout the history of the program. One of the reasons the Illini have won games is due to players transferring in. Some of the best players in program history didn’t start out in Champaign. In recent years, the transfer portal has heated up even more. Despite […]

Published

1 month ago

May 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Top 10 Illinois basketball transfer portal additions of all time

Illinois basketball has been able to see great success throughout the history of the program.

One of the reasons the Illini have won games is due to players transferring in. Some of the best players in program history didn’t start out in Champaign.

In recent years, the transfer portal has heated up even more. Despite it being a trendy thing, transferring has been a thing for decades now.

Here are the top 10 Illinois basketball transfer portal additions of all time

10. Shelly Clark

Not a lot of love is given to those who came before the 2020 burst of the transfer portal. In the early 1990s, Illinois was able to land a solid transfer who helped anchor the paint.

Shelly Clark started his college career at Indian Hills Community College. He was sensational there and then made his move for his final two seasons of college ball to Illinois.

With the Illini, Clark had a two-year average of 10.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. His best season came in 1994-95 when he dropped 11.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per contest.

Illinois made the NCAA tournament both years Clark was with the program, but we never made it out of the first round.

9. Rayvonte Rice

I thought Rayvonte Rice was going to be the shot in the arm John Groce needed at Illinois. That didn’t end up being the case, although Rice was a very good player.

Rice transferred to Illinois after two seasons at Drake. He didn’t miss a beat going up a level, as his numbers were very similar to when he was with the Bulldogs. Rice finished his two-year Illinois career averaging 16.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.6 assists per game.

The biggest reason Rice isn’t higher on the list of top transfer portal players of all-time is the fact that Illinois missed the NCAA tournament in both seasons he was in Champaign. At no fault of his own, Rice’s standing on this list was hampered by the coaching staff.

8. Kylan Boswell

There is a new name on the top transfer portal additions of all-time. Kylan Boswell has entered the chat, as he had a solid first season in Champaign.

I don’t know what it is about spending two seasons at another team before transferring, but Boswell fits the mold as the first two players. He spent two seasons at Arizona before deciding to bolt the program and come back home to Illinois.

In his first season in Champaign, Boswell averaged 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He helped lead Illinois to the second round of the NCAA tournament as well.

The book isn’t fully written for Boswell on this list. With a big senior campaign, he can easily work his way up into the top five, if not higher.

7. Craig Tucker

There are a few players on this list who started in the junior college ranks. That is where Illinois found Craig Tucker.

Tucker started his college career off at Coffeyville Community College. He was a star there, and that helped him get noticed by Lou Henson and the Illini.

After two seasons at Coffeyville, Tucker transferred out and landed at Illinois. He had two great years with the Illini, as his best season came in 1981-82 when he averaged 15.5 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game.

With the help of Tucker, Illinois made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. He would later get drafted into the NBA.

6. Alfonso Plummer

Illinois had a big-time shooter in Alfonso Plummer join the team for one solid season. He was arguably one of the best shooters I have seen in Champaign in my lifetime.

Plummer spent two seasons with the Utah Utes before transferring to the Illinois program. While it was only for one season, Plummer lit up the scoreboard. He averaged 14.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while shooting a blistering 40.8% from three-point range.

There was hope that Illinois would make a run in the 2022 NCAA tournament, but we fell short in the second round to Houston. Plummer was a great scorer for the Illini team, though.

5. Marcus Griffin

There was a legendary trio that came out of Peoria in the 1990s. Marcus Griffin was a part of that Peoria Manual squad.

Griffin had to make a quick pitstop at Lincoln College before traversing to Illinois for his great career. Griffin ended up spending two seasons at Illinois, where he would help the program reach great heights.

Both seasons’ numbers were very similar for the talented big man. His two-year average at Illinois was 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. The fact that Illinois saw success with Griffin as a main piece helped his top-five standing.

Illinois was able to get to the second round in year one with Griffin. In his final season, the Illini made it all the way to the Elite 8 only to lose a close game against Arizona.

4. Ken Norman

Illinois had some special moments in the 1980s. Ken Norman walked so the Flyin’ Illini could run.

Norman started his college career at Wabash Valley Community College. He spent one season there before transferring into the Illinois program.

With the Illini, Norman had some special seasons in the mid-1980s. As a senior, he averaged 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game. He was also an All-American.

That season, Illinois was upset as a No. 3 seed in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The only reason Norman isn’t higher is due to that bad postseason showing.

3. Marcus Domask

Brad Underwood has been able to find some nice diamonds in the rough, and Marcus Domask fits that mold.

Southern Illinois got the first four years of Domask’s career, and then he transferred up to the big leagues for one final season.

The lone season at Illinois was pretty special, though. The Illini needed some help, and Domask came to the rescue. While most players’ numbers would drop going from a mid-major to a Big Ten program, Domask’s numbers held strong. He averaged 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game in his lone season at Illinois.

Illinois also saw great success with Domask as a key cog. The program made a run to the Elite 8, and he was a huge part of it.

2. Terrence Shannon Jr.

The No. 1 and No. 2 spots were tough. I think they are interchangeable. I have Terrence Shannon Jr. taking the No. 2 spot, though.

Shannon could have picked Illinois out of high school but didn’t. He played three seasons at Texas Tech before coming to Champaign. The wait was well worth it, though.

As soon as Shannon got to Illinois, he hit the ground running. His first year was solid, although Illinois didn’t fare well in the postseason. Year two is what put Shannon on the map.

In his final season at Illinois, Shannon averaged 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He was an All-American, and Illinois saw great success with Shannon leading the way. He was the rock on the Illinois team that made it to the Elite 8.

Kenny Battle

And with the top spot on the top transfer portal additions of all-time, Kenny Battle takes the cake.

Battle started his college career off in the state of Illinois. It just happened to be Northern Illinois instead of the Illini. Battle spent two great seasons with the Huskies before transferring out and committing to Illinois.

Lou Henson saw instant success with Battle leading the way. He spent two seasons in Champaign, and both years were great. For his two-year stint, Battle averaged 16.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.7 assists per game.

Illinois made it to the second round in year one with Battle. The following season, the program had an incredible run to the Final 4, only to fall just short to Michigan.

Battle would go on to be a first-round NBA Draft pick. He had big numbers at Illinois and led the program to a Final 4. That is why he is the top transfer of all time.

NIL

Navigating NIL

The Bottom Line The House settlement promises a new era of compensation for student-athletes – if it survives ongoing challenges. The new structure offers opportunities for marketers to combine school sponsorships with student-athlete NIL deals in seamless transactions. The College Sports Commission is expected to target disguised boosterism in reviewing the fair market value of […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Bottom Line

The House settlement promises a new era of
compensation for student-athletes – if it survives
ongoing challenges.
The new structure offers opportunities for marketers to combine
school sponsorships with student-athlete NIL deals in seamless
transactions.
The College Sports Commission is expected to target disguised
boosterism in reviewing the fair market value of NIL deals, so most
marketing deals should not be impacted.
However, the addition of a new layer of centralized review of
NIL deals will require more advanced planning and preparation for
potential delays when planning campaigns.

After five years of twists and turns, the settlement of the
House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA, and Carter v.
NCAA consolidated class action suits has finally been
approved, effectively ending the amateurism model that has
underpinned the NCAA since its founding in the early 1900s. While
the settlement promises significant changes to the college sports
landscape — most notably a $2.8 billion payout to current and
former student-athletes and the introduction of a revenue-sharing
model — key challenges remain, particularly regarding name,
image, and likeness (NIL) rules.

Understanding the New Structure

At its core, the settlement marks a historic break from the
NCAA’s traditional amateurism principles by permitting
student-athletes to receive direct payments from schools. Schools
will be allowed (but not required) to allocate up to 22% of the
average annual revenues — derived from media rights,
sponsorships and ticket sales — to student-athletes. The
initial cap is set at roughly $20.5 million per school, with
gradual increases anticipated over time, similar to the salary caps
common in professional sports.

The structure also imposes a shift in roster management,
replacing scholarship limits with roster caps. Many institutions
are expected to prioritize their highest-revenue sports, such as
football and men’s basketball. As a result, smaller programs
could face cuts and heightened competition for limited funding, and
the livelihood of smaller Olympic and non-revenue sports are
especially at risk. Already, several schools have cut programs and
preemptively cut rosters in multiple non-revenue sports. In a
last-minute response to objections to the settlement, the NCAA will
allow (but importantly will not require) schools to voluntarily
grandfather in current student-athletes and protect them from
roster limit cuts.

In addition to direct revenue sharing, the settlement permits
athletic departments to absorb NIL collectives and operate them as
internal marketing agencies. Schools will not only distribute funds
within the cap but also facilitate third-party NIL deals outside of
it. The “Power 5” conferences have formed a new entity,
the College Sports Commission (CSC), to oversee compliance and
enforcement by both schools and student-athletes.

Legal and Regulatory Hurdles

Although the settlement attempts to create a sense of certainty
in college sports, that certainty remains elusive. Almost
immediately after approval of the settlement was announced,
objectors to the settlement filed appeals on Title IX grounds. As a
result of these appeals, the $2.8 billion in payments are currently
on hold.

At the same time, Congress has engaged in its annual tradition
of introducing federal legislation to address NIL and college
sports regulation – this time, the Student Compensation and
Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act. Like the
dozens of Congressional bills before it, prospects for the SCORE
Act are not good. Meanwhile, several states, including California,
Michigan, and Ohio, enacted NIL laws that conflict with the
settlement’s terms, particularly around restrictions that could
limit student-athletes’ earnings. To date, at least 17 states
have laws at odds with the settlement framework, setting the stage
for further legal challenges.

The Role of the College Sports Commission

The CSC will act as the compliance arm of the new college sports
structure. For the schools that opt in to this system (notably, the
Ivy League will not participate), CSC will review roster caps to
ensure school compliance and NIL contracts to ensure they reflect
fair market value and are not used to circumvent the distribution
cap. Student-athletes will be required to report NIL deals valued
at $600 or more to NIL Go, the centralized platform developed by
Deloitte for the CSC. Noncompliant agreements may be rejected and
will be subject to penalties.

At this point, it is unclear how the CSC will manage the review
of NIL deals for the thousands of student-athletes across the
country or how long this review will take. Moreover, uncertainties
remain regarding how violations will be penalized and how
“fair market value” will be determined, particularly
given disparities between athletes at powerhouse programs and those
at smaller schools. The intent of this review is to root out
pay-for-play deals disguised as NIL deals. However, the arguments
by objectors to the House settlement hearings suggest that
the NCAA’s ability to assess the fair market value of the
social following of a student-athlete, particularly in non-revenue
sports, is suspect.

Preparing for What Lies Ahead

As the NCAA transitions into a revenue-sharing era with enhanced
scrutiny over NIL agreements, brands, universities, and
student-athletes must remain vigilant. Adapting quickly to these
regulatory shifts, staying ahead of ongoing conflicts between the
NCAA, athletes, and state regulators, and planning for changes in
campaign timelines will be critical to success in this new
collegiate sports economy.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.

NIL

ESPN analyst drops painfully hard truth on how Virginia Tech football gets over the hump in 2025

Going into the 2024 season, expectations were high for the Virginia Tech football team, but it ended up being another 6-6 regular season with a win needed over Virginia Thanksgiving Weekend just to become bowl-eligible. Since that Saturday night in late November in Lane Stadium, there have been some massive changes. The transfer portal saw […]

Published

4 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The transfer portal saw nearly 30 players hit it for a new home for the 2025 season, while head coach Brent Pry added some pieces through the portal himself. Pry fired three coaches, and a fourth, offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen, left for the offensive line coaching position at Ohio State. Two new coordinators and a new offensive line coach highlight the changes, leaving the Hokies with more questions than answers.

You get the feeling that 2025 is a big one for Pry after last season and his 16-22 through his first three seasons at Virginia Tech. Maybe, just maybe, the Hokies will surprise this fall, and if they do, one college football analyst reveals how they can.

Greg McElroy explains how Virginia Tech can get over the hump in 2025

Greg McElroy on his Allways College Football with Greg McElroy podcast said there are two ways the Hokies can be a player in the ACC this season. One, Kyron Drones returns to the Kyron Drones from 2023, and that is something that Hokies fans hope does happen. The second? Well, that’s easier said than done.

The second is that Virginia Tech finds a way to win one-score games, something they are 1-11 under Pry, according to McElroy. He compared it to the Scott Frost days at Nebraska, where the Cornhuskers were 5-22 in one-score games under the former quarterback. We know how that tenure ended.

“I am super optimistic about Virginia Tech and will always be optimistic about Virginia Tech,” McElroy said. “But quarterback play and winning close games gets them over the hump.”

Look, Pry’s struggles in one-score games are what it is and have been talked about enough, but hopefully with a new offensive coordinator, Philip Montgomery on staff and a former head coach, he can help with that and also help with getting Drones back to his 2023 form as long as he’s healthy. If that happens, then this could be an under-the-radar team in the ACC.

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Big 12 Must Make Key Change to Keep Up With Rest of College Football

The college football landscape is evolving, and the Big 12 can’t waste time if it wants to keep up. Over the past few years, college football has begun to look more like the NFL. With players essentially having a free agency period with the transfer portal, and NIL delivering massive deals to players, the past […]

Published

5 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The college football landscape is evolving, and the Big 12 can’t waste time if it wants to keep up.

Over the past few years, college football has begun to look more like the NFL. With players essentially having a free agency period with the transfer portal, and NIL delivering massive deals to players, the past couple of years have already seen significant changes.

Now, with revenue sharing coming into college sports, the similarities to professional sports are only growing. While those changes have impacted everyone in college sports, there is still one key part of college football that has only been adopted by the top leagues.

Over the past couple of seasons, player availability reports have become more prevalent in college football. With the Big Ten and SEC already requiring these injury reports, the College Football Playoff is the next to follow suit, as reported by CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello.

These reports have been key in giving teams an idea of what their opponent might look like on the field in a given week and has given fans more transparency on injuries. While college football injuries had been covered up and effectively left up to coaches to report on in press conferences for years, these reports have been a significant move in the right direction.

Of course, that move in the right direction has only been relevant for the two conferences that have implemented that change. For example, any Oklahoma State injury information about a player who could be held out of a game will still likely be covered up throughout the week before fans find out during the game or mere minutes before kickoff.

With the increase in gambling popularity obviously being another factor in these reports being required, it’s apparent which conferences are ready for this era of college sports and which conferences will be left behind due to complacency. Brett Yormark has tried to make his conference one of the best in the country and talked about being at the forefront of change, but the Big 12’s lack of action on this issue shows that the conference might never be capable of being on the same level as the SEC or Big Ten.

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Who is Texas Tech softball facing in Women’s College World Series? Bracket, times set

The field for the 2025 Women’s College World Series is set and the Texas Tech softball team knows its path toward the national championship. Texas Tech was the first team to punch its ticket to Oklahoma City, sweeping Florida State in the Super Regionals with the series concluding Friday afternoon. The Red Raiders had to […]

Published

6 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The field for the 2025 Women’s College World Series is set and the Texas Tech softball team knows its path toward the national championship.

Texas Tech was the first team to punch its ticket to Oklahoma City, sweeping Florida State in the Super Regionals with the series concluding Friday afternoon. The Red Raiders had to wait for the final possible game of the weekend to find out their opponent.

More: Turns out NiJaree Canady’s NIL deal with Texas Tech softball is a bargain | Giese

More: NiJaree Canady finishes Super Regional sweep to send Texas Tech softball to Women’s College World Series

Ole Miss will be first up for Texas Tech with the game set for 6 p.m. Thursday in a game that will air on ESPN2. The Rebels pulled off another upset by taking out 4th-seeded Arkansas 7-4 in the third game of their Super Regional series.

Like Texas Tech, Ole Miss will be making its first appearance in the WCWS in program history. Those two are joined by Big Ten teams Oregon and UCLA on their side of the bracket. The Ducks and Bruins will square off in the final game of opening day.

Other teams to make the WCWS field include Oklahoma, Texas, Florida and Tennessee.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech softball to face Ole Miss in Women’s College World Series first

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Coastal Carolina coach says CWS ejection was unwarranted and he was wrongly accused of bumping ump – 960 The Ref

OMAHA, Neb. — (AP) — Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall, tossed from the game along with first base coach Matt Schilling in the first inning of the College World Series finals Sunday, said his ejection wasn’t justified and he was wrongly accused of bumping an umpire. Walker Mitchell was at bat with two outs and […]

Published

6 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Walker Mitchell was at bat with two outs and Sebastian Alexander had just stolen second base when Schnall went to the top steps of the dugout, gestured at plate umpire Angel Campos with three fingers and began shouting at him.

The NCAA said Schnall was arguing balls and strikes, was given a warning and thrown out when he did not leave immediately. Instead, Schnall went onto the field to continue arguing.

The Tigers won 5-3 for their second national championship in three years.

When Schnall was arguing with Campos, one of the base umpires ran toward the confrontation and fell on his back.

“If you guys watch the video, there was a guy who came in extremely aggressively, tripped over Campos’ foot, embarrassed in front of 25,000, and goes ‘two-game suspension’ and says ‘bumping the umpire,’ Schnall said. ”There was no bump. I shouldn’t be held accountable for a grown man’s athleticism. Now it’s excessive because I was trying to say I didn’t bump him.

“It is what it is. If that warranted an ejection, there would be a lot of ejections. As umpires, it’s your job to manage the game with some poise and calmness and a little bit of tolerance.”

A spokesman said the NCAA stands by its original statement on the incident when asked for comment on Schnall’s remarks about bumping an umpire.

The NCAA in its initial statement on the incident said Schnall and Schilling engaged in “prolonged arguing,” which is to result in a two-game suspension. Schnall would miss the first two games of the 2026 season.

Schilling was thrown out for the comments he made while arguing, the NCAA said. If an assistant is ejected, he automatically also is suspended for one game. Schilling also got an additional two-game suspension under the “prolonged arguing” rule, the NCAA said. That means he will miss the first three games next year.

Associate head coach Chad Oxendine took over Schnall’s duties.

Schnall said he couldn’t hear Campos’ initial warning when he was arguing balls and strikes from the dugout.

“As a head coach, it’s your right to get an explanation for why we got warned,” Schnall said. “I’m 48 years old and I shouldn’t get shooed by another grown man. When I came out, I got told it was a warning issued for arguing balls and strikes, and I said it was because you missed three. At that point, ejected. If that warrants an ejection, I’m the first one to stand here like a man and apologize.”

That wasn’t going to happen.

“I’m not sorry for what happened,” he said. “I’m sorry for this being over. I’m sorry for how it ended.”

___

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

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NIL

Ranking the top eight Big Ten football NIL valuations for 2025

Being able to compensate college athletes over the last few years has changed the landscape of college sports, most notably the revenue behemoth that is college football. Name, Image and Likeness has helped usher in a new era of bidding wars and recruiting efforts that didn’t exist just less than a decade ago. And now, […]

Published

7 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Especially at a place like Ohio State that has a huge athletic department and a massive budget.

But NIL is still in practice, and there are still athletes getting paid for the usage of their name, so it’s a big deal. We always hear about the astronomical figures the top-end stars are pulling in, but there are smaller ones as well. However, the multi-million dollar contracts aren’t as prevalent as one would think. In fact, we’re ranking the top Big Ten NIL valuations, and there are fewer than ten that make the list worth mentioning.

Here’s a list of the top eight NIL valuations according to On3 in the Big Ten, ranked from least to most expensive. You may be surprised by what and who is on this list., and of course, the bigger programs with the most money like Ohio State appear on this list more than some that do not at all.

No. 8 – Evan Stewart, Wide Receiver | Oregon Ducks

NIL Valuation – $1.7 Million

National Rank – No. 25

Stewart had a great year last season, but played second fiddle to Tez Johnson in star power. This year, it should be him as the No. 1 threat and player personality many will follow.

NIL Valuation | $1.8 Million

National Rank – No. 21

Singleton is entering his senior year and is part of a running back tandem that should be very dangerous this season. He’s a star running back for Penn State, and that alone garners attention and a pretty significant NIL package.

No. 6 – Nico Iamaleava, Quarterback | UCLA Bruins

NIL Valuation | $2 Million

National Rank – No. 19

Nico is well-known after having a fantastic season last year with Tennessee. He is one of the most recognizable quarterbacks with all the potential he possesses with his dual-threat ability, and now he’ll be doing his work out in Westwood for UCLA.

NIL Valuation | $2.3 Million

National Rank – No. 17

Raiola’s commitment was highly publicized. He first committed to Ohio State, then Georgia, before finally landing at Nebraska, where he had family ties. He had a very impressive, though a bit inconsistent freshman campaign and should be poised for a continuation and further breakout in 2025.

No. 4 – Caleb Downs, Safety | Ohio State Buckeyes

NIL Valuation | $2.4 Million

National Rank – No. 15

Downs came to Ohio State via the transfer portal after becoming a freshman All-American at Alabama. He had a stellar sophomore campaign in Columbus and is a fan favorite. He might be the best defender in all of college football, playing for arguably the most-followed college football program. That all translates to a massive NIL package.

No. 3 – Bryce Underwood, Quarterback | Michigan Wolverines

NIL Valuation | $3 Million

National Rank – No. 10

There is a ton of hype for the No. 1 quarterback coming out of high school, and Michigan is hoping he makes good on all of it. There was a lot of buzz surrounding his recruitment, and he has many folks following what he might do at the college level, even though he has yet to do anything in Ann Arbor.

No. 2 – Drew Allar, Quarterback | Penn State Nittany Lions

NIL Valuation | $3.1 Million

National Rank – No. 8

Allar was a five-star quarterback coming out of Ohio before committing to play for Penn State. Though he has yet to win the biggest of games, he has a big arm and is the face of the Nittany Lions’ chances at not only making the College Football Playoff, but going on a run to a national championship.

No. 1 – Jeremiah Smith, Wide Receiver | Ohio State Buckeyes

NIL Valuation | $4.2 Million

National Rank – No. 3

Everyone knows Smith. He was an absolute star who flashed on the scene for Ohio State as a freshman after being ranked as the top overall recruit in the 2024 class. He more than made good on all that buzz and is arguably the best player in college football returning for two more seasons, still in Columbus. He is adored in Central Ohio and feared across the rest of the country.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

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