Illinois Basketball: 4 options to replace Jeremiah Tilmon
![Jan 4, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Brad Underwood reacts and breaks a clipboard against the Texas Longhorns during the second half at the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns won 82-79. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports Jan 4, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Brad Underwood reacts and breaks a clipboard against the Texas Longhorns during the second half at the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns won 82-79. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/71d95b38812eaa8d838593650b46c90e66589998df7896f3fa2a586586a5f45c.jpg)
Option 2: Mayan Kiir
With Illinois losing such a valuable player like Tilmon, they will need to find someone who is athletic and can play in 2017.
That player just might be Mayan Kiir. He is a former Illini target that committed to VCU a while ago but since has been released from his National Letter of Intent because his head coach went to LSU.
Kiir is a three-star recruit who is from Bradenton, Florida. He is 6-foot-9, 220-pounds, and I think would be a perfect fit in what Underwood is trying to do with the Illinois offense.
Illinois doesn’t need a big lumbering player who can’t run the floor well. That is what we would have been getting with Tilmon. Yes, he is a great player inside, but Illinois wants to run-and-gun and it would have been difficult with Tilmon.
Kiir brings a more athletic build to the table. He is a player who can run while also playing well in the paint. I always liked him before he committed to VCU and now that he is available, Illinois needs him.
The Illini were in his top three before the commitment and I assume they will still be in his select few. I hope he picks Illinois because this program is about to doing something special.