Illinois is out of the John Blackwell sweepstakes, and the transfer race for one of the portal’s most prized scorers is narrowing to three schools. On Sunday, On3 reported that the Illini were no longer in the running for the Badgers guard, leaving UCLA, Duke and Louisville as the finalists.
Blackwell is regarded as one of the gems of the transfer portal, a high-level scorer whose market had drawn attention across the country. For Illinois, the decision lands after five key contributors already announced they will return for the 2026-27 year, a development that changes how the roster picture looks heading into the next cycle.
The timing matters because the portal is moving and Blackwell’s list is now down to three schools. Duke Basketball remains in the conversation, but Illinois’ exit removes one option from a chase that had been watched closely by programs looking for proven scoring help.
What comes next is the choice Blackwell makes among UCLA, Duke and Louisville, with each school now waiting on one of the transfer market’s top names to decide where he plays next.
