Boise State hoops adds final transfer. He’s a top-60 recruit from a Power 4 team
Boise State men’s basketball rounded out its 2026-27 roster with the addition of former Illinois guard Ty Rodgers, the program announced Friday morning.
Rodgers is the final addition to Boise State’s squad for next season, team spokesperson Jordan Beasley told the Idaho Statesman, bringing the Broncos’ spring transfer portal business to a close, at five additions.
Rodgers was listed as a top-60 recruit by ESPN and 247Sports coming out of high school, and he featured in 71 games for the Fighting Illini across two seasons. The second of those seasons, in 2023-24, saw Rodgers start all 38 games as Illinois reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
He’s not a stranger to Boise State head coach Leon Rice, either. Rice was an assistant coach for the USA Men’s U18 national team that won gold at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship — Rodgers was on that team and averaged 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists en route to the gold medal.
However, he hasn’t played a competitive basketball game since the Elite Eight loss to UConn over two years ago. Rodgers redshirted the 2024-25 season to focus on his development and then missed the entire 2025-26 season after suffering a torn patella tendon in his left knee in the offseason.
Rodgers had returned to practices with Illinois before his transfer to Boise State. If he’s awarded a medical redshirt for missing the entirety of last season, Rodgers could have two years of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-6 guard will likely slot in as the two-guard for Boise State, with returning sophomore Aginaldo Neto and North Dakota State transfer Damari Wheeler-Thomas likely to rotate at point guard.
While not a high-level scorer, averaging just 6.2 points per game on 52.7% shooting in his sophomore season, Rodgers has the potential to be a huge defensive addition. He has attempted just one 3-point shot in his college career — which he missed — and instead provides value as a high-motor, versatile defender.
He averaged 5.3 rebounds and 2 assists per game in his final season with Illinois.
With the addition of Rodgers, here’s what Boise State’s final portal addition list looks like. The year listed next to each player is accurate for the 2026-27 basketball season:
- Damari Wheeler-Thomas, redshirt senior guard from North Dakota State
- Jerquarius Stanback, redshirt sophomore forward from Alabama State
- Jikany Deang, junior center from North Dakota State College of Science
- Dovydas Butka, junior forward from Campbell
- Ty Rodgers, redshirt senior guard from Illinois
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 12:22 PM.
