The University of Illinois Fighting Illini are a few days removed from losing to the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and fans of the orange and blue are still reeling from the dismal defeat. It was a rough game for anyone to watch (let alone play in), as we saw Brad Underwood’s bunch lose their most important game of the year because of mental errors and sloppy play.

It was a rough end to the 2024-2025 campaign, but now with the off-season upon us, the question is……who is coming back? What members of this squad will be returning next season, to try and take care of their unfinished business? It’s an important question to think about, but it looks like one member of the squad has made up his mind about returning to Champaign.

Who is it, you may ask?

Kylan Boswell (@BamBam_Boz ) discusses his future last night:

“I know for a fact I’m not transferring for sure…I’m staying here If I do come back to college for sure.” pic.twitter.com/iAdG268AnD

— Courtney Layne Brewer (@courtneylaynebr) March 24, 2025

Kylan Boswell, the three-year guard who transferred home from the University of Arizona, was a key part of the Fighting Illini’s success through the 2024 season. In the 35 games that he played this season, the hometown kid put up a stat-line consisting of;

12.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 42.7 FG%

He was the veteran straw that stirred the drink at the State Farm Center. His ability to lead the team, and take control of games when he needed to, were on full display this past Sunday in Milwaukee. When the rest of the squad faltered, he stepped up. He was the personification of “you go, we go,” but without the “we go” part.

And now, it looks like the senior guard will be considering a return to Brad Underwood’s merry band of ballplayers, if he decides to return to college for another year. It looks like Mr. Boswell has Champaign at the top of his list of landing spots, as long as he doesn’t go to the pros, or in another direction with his life.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is BIG NEWS for the program. With Brad Underwood’s ability to bring in younger talent, and people from all walks of life, we need someone like Boswell in the program to help bring the squad together. We need a veteran leader like Kylan to help rally the troops, for when they need it the most. This program hasn’t really had a player like that since Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn left. So to have someone like that already signed to your program…..that is special, to say the least.

Not only that……the Kentucky game really showed me something, when it comes to his style of play. When the going gets tough, Boz has the ability to step up and perform. Sure, he had some turnovers/bad spots of his own. But to say that he wasn’t the most impressive part of the roster that night…..that’s just CRAZY TOWN, to say the least.

Now, does this mean that next year will be Boswell and a whole new crop of talent? No! He still needs to make his decision to OFFICIALLY stay put, and we need to see how the rest of the roster shapes up. But to have #4 come out and say he is not transferring……that is the most assuring sound bite that I have heard in some time now.

It’s going to be an interesting off-season. But in the end, as always…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.