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Illinois Basketball: 4 options to replace Jeremiah Tilmon

By Rees Woodcock

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 /
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Feb 5, 2017; Berkeley, CA, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Deleon Brown (5) on defense as California Golden Bears center Kameron Rooks (44) tries to set a screen for guard Grant Mullins (3) during the second half at Haas Pavilion. The California Golden Bears defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 77-66. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Berkeley, CA, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Deleon Brown (5) on defense as California Golden Bears center Kameron Rooks (44) tries to set a screen for guard Grant Mullins (3) during the second half at Haas Pavilion. The California Golden Bears defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 77-66. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Option 4: Kameron Rooks

Illinois needs a big man and now that they lost Tilmon they could use a player like Kameron Rooks.

Rooks decided to pursue a graduate transfer option after playing four years at California. He is now available to transfer anywhere in the nation.

The final year Rooks was with the Golden Bears he only played 17.1 minutes per game. In that time he averaged 4.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Illinois isn’t looking for an All-Big Ten caliber center, so I think he would be a solid get.

Tilmon is reported to potentially be going to Missouri after former California head coach Cuonzo Martin decided to take the job with the Tigers. If his former center would transfer to Illinois then that would make for an even better Braggin’ Rights game.

Rooks would be thrown into the starting role for the Illini considering Finke is the only other player over 6-foot-7. I would assume Finke would then backup Rooks and that would give Illinois a 7-foot-1 guy and a 6-foot-10 guy in the paint.

I think Illinois will be okay. They have some options to replace Tilmon and if they can’t, then I think they have solid enough talent to make the NCAA tournament.

Next: Top 5 recruiting targets for Brad Underwood

Hopefully, Underwood can convince one or more of these players to come to Champaign.

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