CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois head coach Brad Underwood announced Monday the signing of Lincoln Williams to a Big Ten Athletics Aid Agreement.
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, 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, IBCA, and News-Gazette, 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, 2025, 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."
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. Illinois’ 2026 recruiting class is No. 6 nationally in the 247Sports Composite team rankings.
