'Special Athlete, Elite Defender': Kankakee HS Basketball Standout Signs With Fighting Illini

CHAMPAIGN, IL — A Kankakee High School standout guard joins an already impressive recruiting class for next season's preemptively high-ranking Fighting Illini.

University of Illinois head coach Brad Underwood announced Monday the signing of Lincoln Williams.

Williams is a 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard from Kankakee, Illinois. He is the single-game, single-season, and career scoring record holder at Kankakee High School and a three-time first-team All-State selection by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA).

Williams had a dominant senior season, according to FightingIllini.com, averaging 26 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks while leading the Kays, under the direction of head coach Chris Pickett, to a school-record 29 wins, undefeated Southland Conference title, and IHSA Class 3A Sectional Finals appearance. He was named first-team All-State by the Associated Press and IBCA, Class 3A Illinois Media Player of the Year, All-Area by the Chicago Sun-Times, and Player of the Year by South Suburban Hoops and the Daily Journal.

Williams finished his career as Kankakee's all-time leading scorer with 1,853 points, highlighted by a season-record 703 points as a senior. Included in that total was a career-high 44 points vs. Thornridge on Dec. 5, setting the Kays' single-game mark.

"Lincoln is an outstanding in-state player who we have recruited for many years," Underwood said. "He was a tremendous scorer at a great program, Kankakee High School, and he is a special athlete with the ability to play and guard all the perimeter positions. He has the potential to be an elite defender at the collegiate level, as he continues to mature and develop. Lincoln is excited to represent his state by wearing the Orange and Blue, and we are thrilled to add him to this roster."

The addition of an Illinois high school star has Illini fans on social media anticipating another stellar season.

"Kid had some awesome highlights for the Kankakee Kays!! Go Illini," wrote one fan on the team's social media.

"Kankakee is PROUD of YOU !!!" another commenter wrote.

"This is a nice little addition to round out the roster," another said.

Williams is the sixth player in the Class of 2026 to join the Fighting Illini, following November signees Ethan Brown, Landon Davis, and Lucas Morillo and April signees Zavier Zens and Quentin Coleman. The recruiting class is loaded with in-state and Midwest talent.

The recruits join a stacked roster of returning favorites, including Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, brothers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic and Jake Davis.

The 2025-2026 team capped its season with a trip to the Final Four, the program's first appearance in the national semifinal since 2005.

With retention of five key veteran players and key recruits, pundits have optimistic projections for Underwood's squad. ESPN has them ranked number 4 in the Way-Too-Early Top 25, with a strong chance of back-to-back Final Four appearances.

CBS' Jon Rothstein has Illinois ranked no. 2, according to ArmchairIllini.com, and a "legitimate preseason national title contender."