UMD Athletics

BEFORE UMD: Joined the Bulldogs for the 2019-20 season as a graduate transfer from the University of Wisconsin ... made 85 appearances -- all as a reserve -- over three seasons with the Badgers ... was a member of Wisconsin clubs that advanced twice to round of Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament ... averaged 9.7 minutes per outing as a freshman and set career bests for both points (10 versus Purdue University) and rebounds (seven vs. Penn State University) that winter ... starred for three seasons at Grand Rapids High School, earning all-state honors in both 2012-13 and 2013-14 ... left the Thunderhawk program after his junior season as their all-time leading scorer (2,185 points) and rebounder (1,402) to enroll at Brewster Academy (N.H.) ... helped lead the Bobcats to the 2015 National Prep School championship and a 34-1 overall record ... was ranked as the 95th best player in the country by ESPN.com.

PERSONAL: Born Alex Darin Illikainen in Bigfork, Minn. ... is the son or Darin and Mary Illikainen ... has three sisters -- Morgan (a former four-year hockey letterwinner at Dartmouth College), Molly (who played NCAA I  hockey at both St. Cloud State University and Providence College), and Madison ... his father, Darin (hockey; 1984-88) and mother, the former Mary Zgnoc (basketball; 1985-89) are both UMD athletic alums ... earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in life science communication from Wisconsin in 2019.