Illinois Basketball: Xavier Bishop would be an intriguing option for the Illini

There is a new name on the transfer market that might be an interesting option for the Illinois basketball program.

Xavier Bishop announced on his Twitter account that he has decided to transfer for his senior season. From everything I have read and researched, I don’t think he is a graduate transfer, so he would have to sit out this upcoming season and then would be eligible to play for the 2020-2021 campaign.

Coming out of high school, Bishop wasn’t ranked or rated by 247Sports. He was looked at as a solid player, though. He was a 5-foot-8, 150-pound point guard from Lanphier High School in Springfield, Illinois. There were a handful of teams after him but he ended up landing with the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

With the Kangaroos, Bishop shined. He averaged 5.9 points, 2.1 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game his freshman season. He bumped those numbers up to 11.6 points, 3.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game during his sophomore campaign. This past year was his best with UMKC. He put up 15.4 points, 3.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

The fact Bishop is looking for a new home is intriguing to me. He would be eligible at a perfect time for the Illini, unless I am wrong and he is a graduate transfer. But, I can’t find anywhere that says that, so I am going with him having to sit out a season.

Ayo Dosunmu is, likely, coming back for his sophomore year. Illinois will then, essentially, keep the same backcourt. They will have Ayo and Trent Frazier at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. Andres Feliz will return for his senior year as a primary backup. But, after next season, Illinois is going to need to replace Ayo and Feliz. That is why having Bishop come in and sit out a season would be perfect for the Illini.

Once Bishop would be eligible, he would fit in nicely as one of the starting guards on the team. I could see him and Frazier, who would be a senior, lighting up the scoreboard. This duo would be pretty scary.

I am not sure if the Illini will pursue Bishop, but he is an option worth looking at for this program. He is an in-state kid who can put points on the board. I would be a fan of this addition.