Illinois forward Ty Rodgers is coming into the transfer portal, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reviews. Rodgers spent 4 seasons at Illinois and didn’t play a recreation within the final two seasons.
- Rodgers missed the 2025-26 season after sustaining {a partially} torn patellar tendon throughout an offseason pickup recreation in Michigan, his residence state. He opted to redshirt the 2024-25 season.
- Rodgers final performed as a starter on the 2023-24 Elite Eight staff that misplaced to UConn. He began all 38 video games that season and averaged 6.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds and a couple of.0 assists in 17.4 minutes throughout that season.
- Rodgers was a four-star recruit out of highschool and the No. 55 participant within the Class of 2022, in response to 247Sports.
What it means: Illinois should change Ben Humrichous off the bench, and Rodgers figures to issue into that as a backup 4 to David Mirkovic, who can add rebounding and protection. He expressed curiosity in returning to the Illini, although cautioned there have been nonetheless conferences available on the finish of the season. Though Rodgers is not a plus shooter, he discovered a manner as a sophomore within the dunker spot and with vitality performs. Given how a lot Illinois is retaining — Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, Jake Davis — and including both by way of the highschool ranks (notably Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo) it is arduous to totally gauge how a lot enjoying time can be out there for Rodgers this season.
Why it issues: Rodgers was a wonderful program man who, when wholesome, might make an influence within the Big Ten. Though his profession did not fairly play out in the way in which it appeared it will throughout his sophomore 12 months, Rodgers was a invaluable locker room presence the final two years and certain would have had some type of function for Illinois this season. Now the Illini should change Humrichous with a special mixture, whether or not that is by enjoying the Ivisic twins collectively extra with Mirkovic on the bench or letting Morillo take up these minutes together with Jake Davis.
Rodgers mentioned after the Final Four loss to UConn: “For me, the little wins are huge because I can just use it as positivity. When things aren’t going right, I can always fall on that. Just being able to do this little stuff is huge for me. Really, all I can do is smile when I do it, honestly. Just even every day being able to be out there and practice with them, even though I’m not 100%, just being able to be out there is a blessing after all the time I was out.”
Head coach Brad Underwood mentioned of Rodgers’ and AJ Redd’s influence in this system: “They’re our culture guys. Those guys impart our culture every single day. …They impart their knowledge in different ways and utilize it, but they’ve also seen a lot of success and a lot of winning. Very grateful to have those two.”
