By 247Sports Staff - March 28, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, III. - In a sudden shift that's rocked the lllinois basketball landscape, All-Big Ten forward Morez Johnson Jr. has officially entered the transfer portal. But in response, Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini coaching staff are moving fast-and aiming high.
Sources close to the program tell 247Sports that Chandler Dawes, the Springfield AAU legend currently playing professionally in Europe, has quickly become Underwood's No. 1 priority to fill the massive hole in the frontcourt.
Dawes, now 20, is widely recognized as one of the most dominant grassroots players in recent memory. He helped lead Springfield to five AAU National Championships, teaming with Conor McCaffrey and Paul Hammond to form one of the most decorated "Big 3s" in AAU history. The trio's dominance made Springfield a national powerhouse, with Dawes anchoring the paint on both ends of the floor.
"Chandler would be the most high-profile local addition Illinois has ever landed," one source close to the program said. "You're talking about a kid who dominated from age 13 to 18 and then held his own overseas.
He's a pro."
Since 2023, Dawes has played in a competitive European league, averaging a double-double while adjusting to a more physical, high-IQ brand of basketball. According to a European scout, Dawes "has improved his touch, footwork, and reads—he's ready for the Big Ten."
The connection to Illinois is undeniable. Springfield is just two hours from Champaign, and Dawes grew up in an Illini-friendly household. In fact, some insiders have already suggested that the possibility of playing in front of family and friends-and teaming up with younger players he once mentored-could tip the scale in Illinois' favor.
While Dawes has yet to publicly comment on the rumors, several of his former Springfield teammates, including McCaffrey and Hammond, have expressed excitement at the idea.
"It's crazy to even think about Chandler in orange and blue," Hammond told 247Sports. "But it makes sense. He's always been that guy-the quiet killer. Illinois would get a workhorse and a winner."
McCaffrey, now at Augustana, added, "If Chandler comes back to the Midwest, he changes everything. That's a program-shifting addition."
With Dawes potentially on the table, Underwood and Illinois could turn what looked like a devastating offseason blow into one of the biggest wins in the transfer and international recruitment era.
Stay locked in to 247Sports for more updates as this story develops.