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Illinois Basketball: Top 7 transfers the Illini are pursuing

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 09: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood looks up at the scoreboard to check out a replay during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 9, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.(Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 09: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood looks up at the scoreboard to check out a replay during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 9, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.(Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – DECEMBER 07: Kahlil Whitney #2 of the Kentucky Wildcats dribbles the ball against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights during the second half of the game at Rupp Arena on December 07, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – DECEMBER 07: Kahlil Whitney #2 of the Kentucky Wildcats dribbles the ball against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights during the second half of the game at Rupp Arena on December 07, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /

3. Kahlil Whitney

The transfer portal could be amazing for the Illinois basketball program. Some of the players were eyeing the Illini at one point but decided to head elsewhere. This is a chance for the Orange and Blue to snag recruits the second time around. That is the case with Kahlil Whitney.

Coming out of Roselle Catholic High School in New Jersey, Whitney was one of the most wanted recruits in the nation. He was rated as a five-star recruit who was the No. 11 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 2 small forward in the nation. This kid was on everyone’s radar but Kentucky ended up landing him.

In the lone season with the Wildcats, Whitney only had a chance to play in 18 games and only got 12.8 minutes per game. In that time, he averaged 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per contest while shooting 37.1-percent from the field and 25-percent from three-point range.

I always regarded Whitney as the best player in the class of 2019. This kid was fun to watch at the high school level. He has all of the tools to be great. The big question remains; will Whitney stay in the transfer portal or will he go to the NBA?

If Whitney does transfer, he would have to sit out a year due to the transfer rules. But Illinois could be a potential landing spot. He is from the state of Illinois and the Illini were on the shortlist for his commitment originally. We also have a need for a wing player. This would be a huge addition to the program.

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