By Evy York, Summer Editor • Jun 25, 2026

Illinois senior Kylan Boswell signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets Thursday after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. On a two-way contract, Boswell will see a lot of time in the NBA G League, but still has the chance to fight for time on an NBA roster. Players on two-way contracts can be active for up to 50 NBA regular season games. 

Boswell’s ability to impact games in areas outside of scoring, both offensively and defensively, will aid him in earning minutes with Charlotte. During his senior season at Illinois, Boswell defended the opposing teams’ best player night in and night out, no matter the size or skillset, and earned himself a spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive team. Last year, he recorded 22 steals, the second-most on the Illini roster. 

Boswell’s strength allowed him to defend bigger forwards near the basket, while his consistent effort to pressure ball handlers was disruptive on the perimeter. With the Hornets, this mentality to have pride on the defensive end first will differentiate him from other incoming rookies. 

Offensively, Boswell can fit into a role player position if given the opportunity. Even when he wasn’t on the ball constantly after the rise of Keaton Wagler, that didn’t stop him from continuing to be a distributor and making unselfish plays. Although he missed seven games, Boswell still totaled 90 assists last season, recording a season-high of eight against USC. In Boswell’s two seasons at Illinois, he proved that he doesn’t always need to score to be a solid offensive player — a trait he can carry with him. 

Similar to any rookie, Boswell still has room for development. That begins with his scoring. Overall, Boswell was consistent from the field, shooting 44.5% on the season while averaging 12.3 points per game. His ability to push the ball in the open floor and his effort to offensive rebound, even as a smaller guard, were areas where he stood out offensively. Yet, 3-point shooting was an Achilles’ heel, as he shot just 30.7% last season. This is an area Boswell will need to improve upon to take the next steps in getting a spot in an NBA rotation. 

Boswell is now the newest name on a growing list of guards Illinois has developed into NBA talent, further proving the program’s ability to prepare its players for the next level. The first test against NBA competition for Boswell will be at the NBA Summer League in July.

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