The recruitment process is gaining momentum for Benet Academy’s star player Edvardas Stasys. Standing at 6-foot-8, the senior forward recently received his first offer from a Big Ten school, Illinois. Stasys expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m super grateful for it, for sure. I’m definitely grateful for the Illini staff. It’s definitely an opportunity of a lifetime.” Despite this offer, Stasys plans to take his time before making any decisions. He plans to visit several schools in the upcoming months before finalizing his choice.
Stasys is contemplating a major in finance or business, and he aims to carefully evaluate his options. Besides Illinois, other schools such as Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Belmont, Central Michigan, Harvard, Holy Cross, Robert Morris, Western Michigan, and Yale have extended offers. The offer from Illinois has added significant interest, especially since the team reached the Final Four under coach Brad Underwood earlier this year. The Illini roster features Blake Fagbemi, a sophomore point guard and former teammate of Stasys, who led the Redwings to their first Class 4A state title in 2025.
Fagbemi is seen practicing at the Toyota Center in Houston, demonstrating the strong connection Illini has with Chicago’s western suburbs, including Naperville. Illinois has secured a commitment from Neuqua Valley senior guard Mason Martin, while his teammate Cole Kelly, a junior forward, has also received an offer. Benet coach Gene Heidkamp stated, “I think it’s great for all those individuals. Illinois is a great program. They have one of our players in the program right now. It’s great to see them doing so well and recruiting kids in the western suburbs.”
For Stasys, receiving an offer from Illinois marks significant progress in his career. Heidkamp added, “I’m happy for him. He’s starting to see all his hard work with all the attention he’s been paid by multiple schools. There’s a long way to go in his process. But to be offered by a school in the Big Ten is certainly a huge deal.” Stasys is expected to play a crucial role for the Redwings next season following the graduation of key players like Jayden Wright and Colin Stack. As a third-year varsity player, he averaged 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists as a junior and earned All-State third-team honors.
Stasys played as a key reserve during Benet’s state championship-winning season as a sophomore and took on a larger role as a junior, leading the team back to the state final. Coach Heidkamp commented on his versatility, saying, “He’ll play wherever we can take advantage of his abilities. He’s done a lot more handling the ball. He’s somebody who can play in the post. He’s somebody who can slash. He’s a great offensive rebounder. He runs the floor well in transition. We’re not necessarily going to pigeonhole him in any position. He’ll do a little bit of everything for us.”
Stasys expressed his willingness to adapt and improve, focusing on enhancing his offensive skills, including shooting and playmaking. “Sophomore year, I didn’t really have the ball in my hands much. I was more of a rebounding and defensive player, and as the years have progressed my role also gets bigger,” he said. His ultimate goal remains clear: “We’re just trying to win the state championship.” Stasys will play various roles to achieve this aim.
Currently, he plays center for Benet, given his height, but he is also honing his skills on the perimeter. Stasys acknowledges the connections he has with Illinois through Fagbemi and with Yale, where his sister Gabby plays volleyball. However, he is focused on his individual recruiting journey, looking for a program that offers a balance of high-level basketball, a supportive community, and strong player development. Good academics are a bonus, but not his sole focus.
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.