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Illinois Basketball: Top transfer targets the Illini are pursuing 3.0

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 18: Illinois head coach Brad Underwood smiles during a time out in a huddle during a college basketball game between the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Illinois Fighting Illini on November 18, 2018 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 18: Illinois head coach Brad Underwood smiles during a time out in a huddle during a college basketball game between the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Illinois Fighting Illini on November 18, 2018 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 24: Ryan Betley #21 of the Pennsylvania Quakers drives to the basket against Seth Towns #31 of the Harvard Crimson during the second half at The Palestra on February 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Penn defeated Harvard 74-71. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 24: Ryan Betley #21 of the Pennsylvania Quakers drives to the basket against Seth Towns #31 of the Harvard Crimson during the second half at The Palestra on February 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Penn defeated Harvard 74-71. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /

3. Ryan Betley

While the list of possible transfers is dwindling, there are always one or two new names that pop up every week. The latest target for the Illini appears to be Ryan Betley.

Betley is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard who didn’t have much recruiting attention coming out of Downingtown West High School in Pennsylvania. He would eventually land with the Penn Quakers.

With the Quakers, Betley has had a pretty solid career. He put up 11.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a freshman. He also shot 40.2-percent from three-point range that year. The following season was even better for Betley as he put up 14.3 points and 5 rebounds per game.

Betley’s junior year was rocky, though. He played just five minutes that season before tearing his patellar tendon and missing the entire campaign. He did take a redshirt that season. Betley returned the Quakers last year and rebounded nicely. He finished his final year with Penn averaging 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Illinois would be a great destination for Betley. We need more depth at the No. 3 spot, and I think he would fill in that hole. His shooting ability would help the Illini win some games this upcoming season.

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