Illinois basketball gets another transfer commitment, but still looking for more (2024)

CHAMPAIGN — With the passing of the May 1 portal deadline, the two returners Illinois will have are set with Ty Rodgers and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn.

The rest of the roster is still a work in progress. Illinois lost nearly all of its production from its first Elite Eight run since 2005, but is reloading with the 11th-ranked transfer class in the country according to 247sports.

Illinois currently has four scholarships available to build out the rest of its roster. Coach Brad Underwood said that the Illini might keep one open for a midseason or late-arriving transfer to give the team some roster flexibility. Illinois has taken that approach in the past partially since most teams don’t have all 13 scholarship players in the rotation anyway.

Ben Humrichous commits to Illini

Illinois got a big man to get closer to completing its roster rebuild with the commitment of Evansville transfer Ben Humrichous.

Humrichous started his career at NAIA Huntington University in Indiana before transferring to Evansville last season and impressing with the Purple Aces. As a senior, he averaged 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists and was a member of the Missouri Valley All-Newcomer team. He also shot 41.4% from deep and give Illinois get some much-needed shooting on its roster.

He played as a small-ball big and could play as a stretch-five in a similar role that Coleman Hawkins played last season with his shooting and ability to run offense from the post or the top of the key. He could also play as a four-man next to a more traditional big like incoming freshman Morez Johnson.

Hawkins keeps name in draft, enters portal

Coleman Hawkins kept his name as an early entrant in the NBA Draft while other college stars like North Carolina’s RJ Davis withdrew to return to their schools. Hawkins has until May 29th to withdraw from the NBA Draft.

He also announced Tuesday he would be entering the transfer portal in case of injury or feedback from the NBA to return to school. That would give him the option of going to another school, and Hawkins had to make that decision before the May 1 deadline to enter the portal.

“The portal gives me the best chance to protect myself in those instances and maximize my opportunities as I go through the pre-draft process,” Hawkins said in a statement on X.

If Hawkins transfers to another university, that would mean 15 of the 18 high school recruits over the Illini’s past five recruiting classes have entered the transfer portal and ended their careers at another school. Hawkins is the only Brad Underwood recruit to play four years at Illinois.

The only players to stick around are current Illini Ty Rodgers and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, and former All-American Kofi co*ckburn, who entered the portal ahead of his final season before electing to return to Champaign.

The college route might make sense for Hawkins, who isn’t a common name on mock drafts. The Athletic and ESPN’s draft rankings each have him outside the top 60 and in the 70s and 80s. That would point to him either accepting a two-way contract and starting his career in the G League or trying to raise his stock in one final college season.

Niccolo Moretti enters portal

Illinois lost another one of its players from last season with the departure of Niccolo Moretti to the transfer portal. Moretti played in 18 games as a redshirt freshman in a season hampered by injury and averaged 1.5 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 5.9 minutes per game.

Illinois recruited Moretti from Italy to be developed into a multi-year contributor at the point guard spot, but the Illini got that with the addition of Arizona transfer Kylan Boswell from the portal.