Kinziger returning to Illinois State

MBB: The Redbirds now have two All-Valley players coming back next season

Apr 03, 2025

Johnny Kinziger earned 2nd Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors last season. (Photo: Illinois State Athletics)

Illinois State sophomore guard Johnny Kinziger told Randy Reinhardt, the ISU beat writer for the Pantagraph in Bloomington, Illinois, he’ll be back for his junior season with the Redbirds.

Here’s the video from Reinhardt’s brief interview with Kinziger on Wednesday night:

Kinziger averaged 14.6 points last season, shooting 38.6% from three-point range, as he earned 2nd Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors.

With Kinziger’s return, Illinois State has another huge piece of their nucleus coming back next season. Chase Walker (15.2 PPG), Kinziger, Ty Pence (7.4 PPG) and Jack Daugherty (6.3 PPG) have all announced they’re returning. If Landon Wolf (6.3 PPG) also comes back, the Redbirds would have five of their top seven scorers from this season playing in Normal next season.

As of this moment, only three of the 16 2024-25 All-Conference players, either due to graduating or entering the transfer portal, can still return next year. Kinziger and Walker are the only ones to confirm they’re coming back. There has been no public announcement either way from UNI’s Trey Campbell.

The transfer portal is currently open until Tuesday, April 22nd.

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