Good Morning, Illini Nation: Illinois all in on Ignas Stombergas
· Yahoo Sports
Nov. 8—Geoff Alexander spent several weeks in Europe this summer evaluating prospects at various FIBA events. An extended trip in early September allowed the Illinois assistant coach to get face time with some of the program's top targets.
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Ignas Stombergas was a headliner on that list. For good reason. The 6-foot-9 forward was one of the stars in Trento, Italy, at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket.
It wasn't the best tournament for Lithuania with an 11th-place finish, but Stombergas flashed as one of the top two-way bigs among the 16 teams competing. He ranked eighth in scoring, fourth in rebounding and second in blocked shots after putting up 16.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
Alexander's visits abroad were a good first step for Illinois in recruiting Stombergas. Getting the 18-year-old Lithuanian to Champaign was key, and the Illini staff and players teamed up to sell Stombergas on the program this week. David Mirkovic was the go-to option from a player recruitment standpoint.
"I love it," Stombergas said about his visit. He watched Illinois beat Penn on Thursday night and then took in the Illini football game Friday at Gies Memorial Stadium. "I saw the facilities and everything, and they looked amazing."
Stombergas said he first started considering a move to the U.S. to play college basketball a few years ago. The way he's played in the past three years has made it a more realistic goal. He played a key role for Lithuania at the 2024 FIBA U16 EuroBasket in Greece and has continued to develop in the Zalgiris Kaunas system.
While he's on the primary Zalgiris roster this season, he played on the second team last year and has two appearances for that squad this season. In those two games he averaged 18 points, 12.5 rebounds and five blocks. His age and background should make him a standard Class of 2027 prospect from an eligibility standpoint.
Alexander has been Stombergas' lead recruiter through the entire process.
"That means a lot," Stombergas said about Alexander's multiple recruiting trips to Europe to see him in person. "It shows a lot. I'm happy that he came there and showed that he's interested. I like him a lot.
"I showed that I can play at this level (at this year's U18 EuroBasket) — that I could play in college. I believe he saw that."
Illinois' recruiting pitch for young European standouts is strong. Particularly in Lithuania.
"I talked (Thursday) with Kasparas," Stombergas said about a conversation with former Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis. His fellow Lithuanian went from All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors with the Illini to a one-and-done first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and now plays for the Milwaukee Bucks after being part of the trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat.
"(Jakucionis) told me about Illinois," Stombergas continued. "A lot of great things. He liked it here, and he believed I would like it, too."
Stombergas' recruitment has narrowed to Illinois and Arizona. Tommy Lloyd and the Wildcats have a similarly strong international recruiting background and currently boast a pair of Lithuanians in All-Big 12 center Motiejus Krivas and backup big man Ugnius Jarusevicius.
"I believe I'll make my decision in the coming month or two," Stombergas said. "I'm down to Illinois and Arizona."