Dain Dainja

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Photo by: Zach Wall

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Photo by: Zach Wall

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

2023-24 (RS Junior | Illinois)

One of six Illini to play in all 37 games
Ranked sixth on the team in both scoring (6.3 ppg) and rebounds (3.7 rpg)
Team-leading 68.2% from the field (101-148)
Set the Illinois program record for consecutive field goals made at 20 (3/17-28), a streak that spanned six postseason games (3/15-28)
Scored season-high 21 points (9-9 FGs) and tied season bests of 8 rebounds and 2 blocks vs. Morehead St. (3/21)

2022-23 (RS Sophomore | Illinois)

Finished fourth on the Illini in scoring (9.5) and second in rebounding (5.5)
Shot 63.6% from the field (131-206), second in B1G in 2-point percentage
Ninth in Big Ten, (third on the team) in blocked shots (1.2 bpg)
Scored a career high 22 points (8-10 FG) with four blocks and four steals vs. Bethune-Cookman (12/29)
Registered 20 points and career-high 15 rebounds with five blocks vs. Kansas City (11/11)
17 points and 10 boards for first career double-double in Illinois debut vs. Eastern Illinois (11/7)

2021-22 (RS Freshman | Baylor)

Appeared in Baylor’s first three games of the season, totaling six points and three rebounds in nine minutes, before electing to transfer
Transferred to Illinois at the semester break and practiced with the Illini during the spring semester

2020-21 (Freshman | Baylor)

Sat out the season as a redshirt during Baylor’s run to the 2021 NCAA Championship

High School

Four-star, top-100 recruit in Class of 2020, ranked No. 52 by ESPN and No. 91 by 247Sports
Led Park Center to a 23-5 record, conference title, and 5AAAA section final as a senior before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic
Second-team All-State by the Associated Press
Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Series green team
All-Northwest Suburban West Conference Team

Personal

Born July 16, 2002 in Chicago
Parents are Baba Dainja and Latasha Kilgore
Father played college basketball at Minnesota from 1990-93
Hobbies include fashion, clothing and photoshoots
Biggest sports achievement is earning a scholarship to play college basketball
Favorite athlete is Carmelo Anthony
Favorite artist is Young Dolph
Enjoys soul food
Lists his father as the person who has most influenced his basketball career, “He brought the game to me and worked with me."