Neuqua Valley junior Mason Martin has long been a fan of Illinois men’s basketball.
The 6-foot-5 guard visited the campus in the fall and attended the Illini’s game against Alabama at the United Center on Nov. 19.
“It’s a dream school,” Martin said. “I had my eyes set on them for a long time.”
But the Illini didn’t have eyes on Martin until his breakout performance during the most recent AAU season, after which Martin picked up a few offers.
Illinois became the first big-name program to extend an offer to Martin in mid-December. Many recruits choose to wait and see what other offers come and don’t commit until after their junior year.
Not Martin. It took him barely a month to commit to Illinois.
“I gave it a little bit of thought,” he said. “They have some of the best facilities and the best coaching staff, and I think it was just everything I wanted as a program, like the culture on and off the court.
“It was just my favorite spot. I know it’s where I want to go.”
Following East Peoria’s Quinton Kitt, Martin became the Illini’s second commitment in the class of 2027 when he made his decision public last week, continuing a remarkable rise from a first-year varsity player last season to a Big Ten recruit.
“It was a super surreal moment when I called coach Brad Underwood and he said he was super excited,” Martin said. “It was after the Iowa win. He said it made his day a lot better.”
Martin, who is averaging 18.5 points this season, is the first player in the 28-year history of Neuqua Valley’s program to commit to a team in a Power Four conference.
“It’s a super big accomplishment,” he said. “Obviously, we’re going to have another one pretty soon, but it’s a super surreal moment.”
Indeed, Martin’s teammate Cole Kelly, a sophomore forward, received an offer from Illinois in July 2024. The pair have transformed the Wildcats (18-1, 4-0), who lead the DuPage Valley Conference, into one of the top teams in the state this season. They were ranked No. 8 in Class 4A in the most recent poll by The Associated Press.
Will they both end up in Champaign?
“Even before they offered him, I was like, ‘Illinois commit, here we come,’” Kelly said. “I was just joking with him.
“Obviously, he’s worked super hard for it, and I’m so proud of him for it. That’s a school he’s dreamed of going to.”
Kelly said Illinois coaches, primarily assistant Zach Hamer, have attended five of the Wildcats games this season and several open gyms before that. So he and Martin have developed a bond with the coaching staff.
Neuqua Valley’s coaching staff is happy too.
“We’re thrilled,” Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton said. “You’re proud of anyone who gets to go play in college, so we’re not any more proud of any one guy.
“We follow them. We go to games. We watch them. It’s so fun to follow these guys wherever they go. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”
Like everyone else, Sutton had no idea a year ago that Martin would one day have the chance to play at Illinois.
“It’s great that he’s there and it’s our home state, of course,” Sutton said. “More than anything, you’re proud of how much he’s improved because he wasn’t very good last year. He couldn’t dribble last year, and now if he’s open, he’s unbelievable.
“So his improvement, how can you not credit that? That’s what we’re all about is work, and he has put in the work.”
The Wildcats’ work has resulted in 16 consecutive wins through Monday.
“We’re playing really well as a team,” Martin said. “We’re holding it down really good defensively too.
“Offensively, no matter what defense they throw at us, we’re just playing well. Everybody is contributing, so we’re making a really good run at it.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
