Illini Lose Bowman, Now Target Gibson | College Basketball News

Illinois’ 2027 recruiting drive took a major hit when five-star guard NaVorro Bowman Jr. flipped to UConn after just one visit — a stinging blow after he was even rumored to tour Champaign. With UConn’s recent NCAA tournament wins over Illinois and the Illini’s looming showdown against Duke, the pressure mounts to land elite guards. Rumors swirl that freshman Quentin Coleman may enter the NBA draft, making this need even more urgent. The Illini also lost out on other top targets like Cayden Daughtry, who never included them in his list. Now, King Gibson — ranked among their top ten — is the main hope, though he hasn’t scheduled a visit yet. With time running short, Illinois may turn to the transfer portal or focus on developing younger players as they wait for Gibson’s decision. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/21daae37222eb389