The Ayo Effect lives on in Champaign

Even as Illini legend Ayo Dosunmu begins his second season with the Chicago Bulls after an impressive All-Rookie campaign last season, his impact is still being felt in Champaign, as other programs hope to stoke their own renaissances with an Ayo of their own.

As Illini fans know, Dosunmu in 2017 was the highest ranked in-state recruit to commit to the Illini since Jereme Richmond and Meyers Leonard, the latter also being the last Illini to be selected in the NBA Draft until Dosunmu broke the spell in 2021.

Beyond the recruiting rankings and eventual NBA success, Dosunmu was the center piece that sparked the basketball revival in Champaign and put Brad Underwood’s program back on the map,…