It’s official — Edwardsville star Mark Smith will suit up for Illinois basketball starting later this year. Fighting Illini coach Brad Underwood held off the likes of Tom Izzo and Jon Calipari over the past month, and fans are predictably excited about what this means for the future of the program.
Here are some of the social media highlights following the announcement!
BREAKING: Four-star guard Mark Smith has picked #Illini Basketball over Michigan State and Kentucky. #WeWillWin https://t.co/TRsDNBqdMy
— The Champaign Room (@Champaign_Room) April 26, 2017
Welcome home, @Mark_Smith_13. #Illini #WeWillWin pic.twitter.com/DtPjtG6XCD
— Illini Basketball (@IlliniMBB) April 26, 2017
Officially Signed ✍️: Mr. Basketball @Mark_Smith_13
— Illini Basketball (@IlliniMBB) April 26, 2017
https://t.co/TzInAnOyCD#Illini #WeWillWin pic.twitter.com/N2gBfKn5t4
Excited to welcome Illinois Mr. Basketball @Mark_Smith_13 to the #Illini family. I-L-L ...
— Brad Underwood (@CoachUnderwood) April 26, 2017
BOOM!!! NLI arrived this morning. Mark's text to me: "Excited to join the family!" Mark, welcome to the #ILLINI family. #WeWillWin pic.twitter.com/L3k16SXvwD
— Josh Whitman (@IlliniAD) April 26, 2017
Congrats to the best player in Illinois Mr. Basketball @Mark_Smith_13 on making the decision to stay home @IlliniMBB that's big time.
— Coach Dee Brown (@deebrown11) April 26, 2017
Congrats to Coach Underwood and his staff Way to Go!!!! @IlliniMBB @Champaign_Room @RyanBakerMedia @illinination14 @KendallG13
— Kenny Battle (@KennyBattle33) April 26, 2017
Welcome @Mark_Smith_13 & his family , We are going to do big things together bro!!! I'm Excited pic.twitter.com/0rSwlSudi3
— Trent (@_Trentfrazier1) April 26, 2017
Smith also said that he's established a great relationship with Williams and Frazier. He's embracing challenge of putting Illini back on map
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) April 26, 2017
Illinois Mr. Basketball.
— Robert (@ALionEye) April 26, 2017
In Champaign.
Again.
Finally.
Mark Smith: "I've been talking to my good friend Jeremiah. He's been talking to me about maybe coming back to the program." #illini
— Dave Wischnowsky (@wischlist) April 26, 2017
Mark Smith: "First time I went to Illinois, I knew this was the spot to me."
— Dave Wischnowsky (@wischlist) April 26, 2017
Mark Smith on the task of bringing #Illini basketball back to prominence: "It's a challenge that I want."
— Derek Piper (@DPiperScout) April 26, 2017
Congrats to U Of I on signing Mark Smith. Great start for the staff at Illinois. #BigTen #Illini
— Mac Irvin Fire (@TheMacIrvinFire) April 26, 2017
Congrats to Illini basketball for not blowing it for the first time in 10 years. Mark Smith is good. https://t.co/O2em1AmMbH
— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) April 26, 2017
@Mark_Smith_13 Congrats bro! Let's put our sports back on TOP! #ILLINI
— Mike Epstein (@Dat26Kid) April 26, 2017
There is real momentum at Illinois. Fan base is ready to explode. The on field/Court success we all want is next.
— Martin O'Donnell (@MartinOD64) April 26, 2017
This is fun.
Mark Smith is headed to Illinois. Five reasons why commitment of Edwardsville star is so important to #Illini... https://t.co/ViDoj4QBeF
— Joe Henricksen (@joehoopsreport) April 26, 2017
The scene right now #Illini pic.twitter.com/1e9f1hhAkz
— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) April 26, 2017
Happy for my #Illini landing Mark Smith today! Huge get for Coach Underwood and the program. Excited for the @IlliniMBB season!
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) April 26, 2017
Illinois Mr. Basketball Mark Smith committing to @IlliniMBB is a huge flag-planting statement for Brad Underwood. He held off MSU, UK, Duke: pic.twitter.com/3RKpRIByOr
— Alex Roux (@arouxBTN) April 26, 2017
For the second straight day, MSU misses out on its man. Mark Smith commits to Illinois https://t.co/ZO7v4wJzfm pic.twitter.com/xPuc1FRMWf
— The Only Colors (@TheOnlyColors) April 26, 2017