About five years after playing for the Fighting Illini, Ayo Dosunmu is passing the torch to an Illinois freshman. Dosunmu, who had a stellar season split between the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves, was recently seen giving some blunt advice to Illinois’ Lincoln Williams about what it takes to earn playing time under head coach Brad Underwood.

The former Fighting Illini star made it clear that talent and high school success alone will not guarantee minutes at the college level. During a recent YouTube vlog filmed inside the Illinois practice facility, Dosunmu spoke with Williams about the demands of playing for the Fighting Illini.

“Underwood loves psychotic motherf*ckers,” he told Williams during the workout. “Pick ‘em up full court, grab every rebound, tip dunk that… you gonna play.”

Chicago native Ayo Dosunmu gives Illinois Freshman Lincoln Williams advice in his latest YouTube Vlog:

"[Coach] Underwood loves psychotic motherf*ckers. Pick em up full court, grab every rebound, tip dunk that…you gonna play" 😭😭

full video in comments pic.twitter.com/Q6OifMUmp4

— BullsMuse (@BullsMuse_) September 14, 2026

Williams, a 6-foot-5 wing from Kankakee High School, joined Illinois after becoming his program’s all-time leading scorer. He is also considered one of the top in-state prospects in the 2026 recruiting class and will enter Champaign competing with other talented players for minutes.

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Before committing to Illinois in June this year, Williams finished his exceptional high school career as the all-time leading scorer with 1,853 points. He also set a single-season record with 703 points and claimed the school's single-game scoring record with his 44 points tear against Thornridge.

However, Dosunmu knows Underwood’s expectations from experience. The Chicago native played for Illinois from 2018 to 2021 and became one of the program’s most important players during its resurgence.

He helped the Fighting Illini win the Big Ten Tournament and earned consensus First-Team All-American honors before entering the NBA.

Now, Dosunmu is passing that experience to the next generation.