​Sep. 5—Worlds collide this morning in honor of Illinois football opening the 2026 season with a Thursday night win against UAB. My brain is wired for basketball — constantly — so it got me thinking. Which Illini football players could make for a strong starting five to run the court at the ARC?I’ve attacked this thought problem previously, building a hoops five around Danville’s Julian Pearl and Caleb Griffin, two-time Belleville West state champion Keith Randolph, Isaiah Williams at point guard and Nate Hobb as the lob threat.That was a solid group. The latest version, though, also has some legitimate hoopers with a bench that includes Xavier Scott, Dane Eisenmenger, Jershaun Newton and Jayshon Platt:Nas Rankin, 6-0, 170, WRRankin earned N-G All-State Second Team honors as a junior after averaging 23.2 points, three assists and three rebounds for Morgan Park. That got the Mustangs standout a scholarship offer from Brad Underwood. Rankin still would like to play both sports for Illinois, but that seems unlikely this coming basketball season given all 15 roster spots are now full after the addition of Arizona State transfer Quentin McCoy.Tanner Heckel, 5-11, 195, DBHeckel was a three-time all-state selection in high school and topped 1,500 career points between his three seasons at Inman (Kan.) and his senior year at Lyndon (Kan.). That final season with the Tigers ended with a state runner-up finish, as Heckel averaged 19.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.3 steals and three assists. Throw in a 42-inch vertical, and the Illinois defensive back is just as at home on the hardwood.Ty Robinson, 6-4, 205, WRThere’s a reason Robinson was on the field for Illinois’ end-of-half Hail Mary. The biggest available Illini wide receiver was the “go get it” guy, and he got it. Robinson is in his first season at Illinois after playing football at Colorado and Ball State, but he could have gone the basketball route. He had a hoops-only offer from Minnesota and a dual offer from Wyoming to play both. Robinson averaged 11.9 points and 3.5 rebounds across four seasons at Eaglecrest (Colo.) and capped his career with the Raptors putting up 16.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.Alex Perry, 6-5, 220, WRSince this is all theoretical Perry can be included even though he’s likely sidelined for the entire 2026 season after a pinched nerve in his shoulder will necessitate surgery. The big target the Illini expected to have in the passing game would occupy a key frontcourt position on the basketball court. But Perry’s not just tall. He’s got a basketball background, too, helping Port Charlotte (Fla.) win three district championships. Perry had some mid-major hoops offers, averaged 18.8 points and 8.3 rebounds as a junior and broke the Pirates’ scoring record with 49 points in his senior night game.Tony Balanganayi, 6-4, 290, DLBalanganayi wouldn’t be the tallest option at center, but the Palatine product would certainly be among the most physical. It wasn’t just his strength, t