Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Illini land on transfer Jose Perez’s top list

By Rees Woodcock

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 15: Jose Perez #5 of the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs reacts after a three-point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 77-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 15: Jose Perez #5 of the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs reacts after a three-point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 77-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Illinois basketball team continues to make top lists for some of the biggest names on the market.

On Saturday night, Wake Forest transfer Chaundee Brown announced his top four list, which included Illinois. This was a massive list to make, and Brown is a player who would help the Orange and Blue in a couple of years. The Illini followed that top list with another big-time top list from Jose Perez on Sunday afternoon.

Perez decided to cut his list down to 10 programs. The 10 teams vying for his commitment included Memphis, New Mexico, Georgia Tech, Marquette, BYU, Minnesota, DePaul, St. John’s, Iowa State and Illinois. That is a tough list but one that the Illini can beat.

I am intrigued by the possibility of landing someone like Perez. The kid didn’t have high-level DI recruiting attention coming out of high school, but he landed with Gardner-Webb where he flourished.


As a freshman, Perez put up 15.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3 assists per game which shooting 44.8-percent from the field and 38.1-percent from three-point range. This past season was even better with the averages. He finished his sophomore campaign averaging 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. His shooting numbers weren’t nearly as good, though, only going 34-percent from the field and 25-percent from the three-point arc.

Now Perez is looking for a new home. He has to sit out this upcoming season due to NCAA transfer rules, but after that, he gets to play two more years at the college level. This would be a perfect scenario for the Illini.

I am not so worried about our guard situation this upcoming season. I am more worried about what we will do at the No. 5 spot. But, when the 2021-22 season rolls around, that is when I am concerned about what we are going to do for guards. Trent Frazier and Da’Monte Williams will both depart due to graduation. Andre Curbelo and Adam Miller could, potentially, be gone if they have great freshman seasons. That would leave us high and dry.

Next. Top transfer targets the Illini are pursuing 4.0. dark

So, having someone like Perez waiting in the wings for the 2021-22 campaign would be huge for Illinois. He could step into a starting guard spot from day one. Honestly, his game reminds me a lot of Rayvonte Rice. Rice was able to put up big numbers for the Orange and Blue. Let’s make that happen again.

Home/Illinois Basketball