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Illinois Basketball: Illini eyeing graduate transfer Justin Pierce

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 05: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood reacts to a play during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 5, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 05: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood reacts to a play during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 5, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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A few players will depart the Illinois basketball team this offseason who will need to be replaced next year.

Aaron Jordan is the most productive player who will need to be replaced. Jordan was a four-year player with the Illini and someone who won’t be forgotten. This kid played with his heart each and every night. This past season, he averaged 27 minutes and, in that time, he put up 8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He was a nice piece to this team.

Another player who will need to be replaced is Adonis De La Rose. He was a graduate transfer big man who was a backup to Giorgi Bezhanishvili at the No. 5 spot. He averaged 8.7 minutes this season and, in that time, put up 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.

Illinois is replacing De La Rosa with incoming freshmen Kofi Cockburn and Antwan January. These two recruits will be great for the Illini at the No. 5 spot. The team should improve in this area. But, what about Jordan’s role on the team? Who is going to fill in there? Another graduate transfer might be a good idea, and Brad Underwood could have his man.

Jeff Borzello of ESPN reported on Saturday that Illinois was one of the many teams to reach out to graduate transfer, Justin Pierce. He played his last three seasons with Williams & Mary and is now looking for a new home to finish up his college career.

Each year, Pierce continued to improve his game. He averaged 3.7 points in just 10.7 minutes per game his freshman season. During his sophomore campaign, he bumped those numbers up to 14.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.6 minutes per game. This past season was Pierce’s best. He averaged 14.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 34.3 minutes per game.

It looks like Pierce is a player who could help this Illinois team. He shot better his sophomore season from everywhere on the court, but he is clearly developing into a three-point shooter. His percentages were a little off this past season, which scares me, but he clearly has the ability to shoot the ball. If we could get the efficiency of Pierce’s sophomore season, that would be fantastic.

Next. 3 observations from the Illini loss to Iowa. dark

Illinois might have a chance at landing Pierce too, despite the number of programs looking at him. His hometown is Glen Ellyn, Illinois, so we do have the location factor. It would be nice to bring him home. I think Pierce would fit well with what Underwood likes to do. This kid can run and spread the court. He would be a nice fit.

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