Illinois basketball targets Benet’s Edvardas Stasys, a fast-rising prospect with ‘opportunity of a lifetime’

The recruiting process is taking off for Benet star Edvardas Stasys. The 6-foot-8 senior forward recently received an offer from Illinois. It’s his first from a Big Ten school. “I’m super grateful for it, for sure,” Stasys said. “I’m definitely grateful for the Illini staff. It’s definitely an opportunity of a lifetime. “But I’m not making any decisions until probably a few months. I’m going to go out and visit some schools, and then I’ll plan on making my decision.” Stasys, who is considering majoring in finance or business, intends to do his due diligence to winnow down a growing field of suitors. Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Belmont, Central Michigan, Harvard, Holy Cross, Robert Morris, Western Michigan and Yale are among the other programs that have extended offers. The addition of Illinois, which advanced to the Final Four under coach Brad Underwood earlier this year, has added buzz to the process. The Illini’s roster includes sophomore point guard Blake Fagbemi, who was Stasys’ teammate for two seasons and led the Redwings to their first Class 4A state championship in 2025. Illinois has heavily recruited Chicago’s western suburbs, including the Naperville area. The Illini already have a commitment from Neuqua Valley senior guard Mason Martin, whose teammate Cole Kelly, a junior forward, has received an offer too. “I think it’s great for all those individuals,” Benet coach Gene Heidkamp said. “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, the Illinois offer is a sign of how much he has progressed. “I’m happy for him,” Heidkamp said. “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 figures to be a huge deal next season for the Redwings, who will be counting on him more than ever. As a third-year varsity player who earned All-State third-team honors after averaging 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists as a junior, Stasys will be Benet’s star attraction following the graduation of Jayden Wright and Colin Stack. “He’s made a big step,” Heidkamp said. “We’re hoping for a big year from him, that he can keep building on the success that he’s had.” Stasys was a key reserve on Benet’s state championship team as a sophomore. He took on a bigger role last season as the Redwings returned to the state championship game, where they lost to Marist. Much more will be asked of Stasys next season, especially offensively. “He’ll play wherever we can take advantage of his abilities,” Heidkamp said. “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. “So we’re not necessarily going to pigeonhole him in any position. He’ll do a little bit of everything for us.” Stasys is up for the challenge and has focused a lot of energy on improving his offensive skills. “Shooting the ball is definitely an emphasis,” he said. “Playmaking, I think I’ve gotten a lot better with that, and just overall confidence having the ball in my hands more. “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.” But Stasys’ goal remains the same. “We’re just trying to win the state championship,” he said. Expect to see Stasys in numerous roles as Benet tries to do that. “Right now at Benet I’m playing center because I’m the biggest guy there,” he said. “So I’ll play back to the basket. I’ll also face guard on the perimeter. Being a versatile player is what I’m aiming for.” Stasys also knows what he’s aiming for in his recruiting process. He has insight into the Illinois program through Fagbemi and also has a connection to Yale, where his sister Gabby plays volleyball. “She loves the Yale community, and I’ve seen that it’s treated her well,” Stasys said. “But I’m on my own recruiting journey, so we’ll see how it goes. “I look for a program with high-level basketball and a great community. I’m also looking for great player development with great guys around it. Academics would be a bonus on top of all that.”