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Illinois Basketball: Player expectations for 2017-2018 season

By Rees Woodcock

March 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; General view of the court before the game between the Oregon Ducks and the Iona Gaels in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; General view of the court before the game between the Oregon Ducks and the Iona Gaels in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
Dec 3, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Payton Banks (0) dribbles the ball as Wright State Raiders guard Mark Alstork (24) defends during the first half at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Wright State 72-50. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports /

Mark Alstork

The prized transfer this year in the college basketball world was Mark Alstork. This kid was wanted by many programs but decided to pick Illinois over teams like South Carolina and LSU. The Illini needed him more than you can imagine.

Alstork has spent three years in the college game before transferring to Illinois for his final season. He is immediately eligible which is nice because the Illini needed him this season. He spent his first season with the Ball State Cardinals and averaged 5.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in the 22.6 minutes per game he received.

After one year with Ball State, Alstork transferred out of the program and committed to the Wright State Raiders. He played two seasons with the Raiders. In year one, he averaged 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in the 26.6 minutes he received. He increased that production last season as well. He averaged 19 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the 30.2 minutes per game he received.

Illinois is now getting a dynamic player in Alstork. He is a more athletic version of Rayvonte Rice, who the Illini received as a graduate transfer a few years back. He was spectacular for this program and expect Alstork to be the same.

This upcoming season, Alstork should be able to be an important part of this Illini team. He will likely be the starting No. 3 on the team and average about 26 minutes per game. In the time he receives, expect him to put up around 14 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3 assists per game. That is the type of production you should expect as an Illinois fan.

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