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Illinois Basketball: 3 reasons Ben Stanley should pick the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: A basketball rolls off the court during a timeout in the Big Ten Conference game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2017, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: A basketball rolls off the court during a timeout in the Big Ten Conference game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2017, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO – MARCH 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini cheer team runs around the court against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during a first round game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 14, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. Illinois defeated Minnesota 51-49. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Some big news might be coming down the Illinois basketball recruiting pipeline in the coming weeks.

On Monday afternoon, national recruiting analyst Jeff Goodman posted news that Hampton transfer Ben Stanley will be deciding his destination between six programs. The six teams that made the final cut include Dayton, Oregon, Xavier, Maryland, Illinois and the possibility of coming back to Hampton.


Coming out of Millwood High School, Stanley didn’t have much recruiting attention as he only averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists during his senior campaign. He joined the Hampton squad but didn’t play as a freshman. After his redshirt year, Stanley started to blossom.

As a redshirt freshman, Stanley averaged 4.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest. His ability to shoot 59-percent from the field was impressive. He then parlayed that solid year into a breakout sophomore campaign where Stanley dropped 22 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. This put him on the national stage, and he now looks to want to join a bigger program.

I don’t blame Stanley for wanting to transfer. It is hard to get noticed at Hampton. Now that he has six teams left in his recruitment, it is time to decide where he should go. I want him on the Illinois roster.

Here are three reasons Ben Stanley should pick the Illini.

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