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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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ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 3: Madison Williams #25 and Matt Hein #5 of the Illinois State Redbirds] defend against Aaron Cook #10 of the Southern Illinois Salukis during the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Semifinals at the Scottrade Center on March 3, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 3: Madison Williams #25 and Matt Hein #5 of the Illinois State Redbirds] defend against Aaron Cook #10 of the Southern Illinois Salukis during the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Semifinals at the Scottrade Center on March 3, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

7. Aaron Cook

I have added one or two players on this transfer list who would be fringe guys, but I believe they would help the Illini win games in the future. One of those transfer players is Aaron Cook.

Cook was a relatively unknown player coming out of Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis. He wasn’t rated or ranked by the recruiting sites, but he would eventually pick Southern Illinois as this landing spot.

The time with the Salukis was successful for Cook. He spent four years there and put up some solid numbers. His numbers started to increase during his sophomore campaign where he averaged 9.8 points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game.

As a junior, Cook would continue to see his numbers increase. He averaged 10.5 points, 3.7 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game that season. This past year was supposed to be the best for Cook, but he broke his hand six games into the season. He was averaging 15 points, 3.3 assists, 3.2 steals and 3 rebounds per game in those for six games.

It has only been a couple of days, but Illinois hasn’t been mentioned as a team who has contacted Cook. There aren’t any specific teams to have contacted him yet, but multiple conferences have been mentioned.

Next. Projected Illini lineup without Alan Griffin & Tevian Jones. dark

Going after Cook would make sense for the Illini. We could use some instant help at the guard position. The location for Cook is great as well. This seems like a match made in heaven. I would be surprised if we don’t pursue this talented transfer.

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