Illinois Basketball: Transfer Will Baker would be a perfect fit for the Illini

In the class of 2019, the Illinois basketball program received one of the best big men in the country when Kofi Cockburn pledged his commitment to the Orange and Blue.

A 6-foot-10, 290-pound center coming out of Oak Hill Academy, Kofi had all the potential in the world. From his first game with the Illini, the big man has lived up to his top 50 billing as well.

As a true freshman, Kofi averaged 13.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. After deciding to pull his name out of the NBA Draft, the Jamaica native has now started his sophomore year even stronger. Kofi has averaged 15 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1 block per game and has helped Illinois to a 3-0 start.

But all good things must come to an end. Kofi had his name in the NBA hat for a while before withdrawing it. I don’t believe we will be so lucky the next time around. I think that name stays in the hat and Kofi gets selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.

That would leave Illinois looking for a No. 5 to start the 2021-22 campaign. There is a new name on the market who could help fill that void for the Illini.

Will Baker

On November 29, the 7-foot, 235-pound center decided to change the course of his future completely. He announced on his Twitter page that he is moving on from the Texas Longhorns and will be looking for a new home to finish out his collegiate career.

This is big news in the college basketball world. Baker isn’t just a middle of the road player looking to transfer. Coming out of Westlake High School in Texas, Baker was rated as a four-star recruit who was the No. 35 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 9 center in the nation. He was actually ranked 11 spots ahead of Kofi.

As a freshman, Baker played an average of 8.4 minutes per game in 23 games of action. During the time on the court, he put up 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest as well. Through three games as a sophomore, Baker didn’t see a single minute on the court. So, it would make sense that he is looking for a new home.

Baker would be a perfect fit for Illinois.

I think it is well established that Baker wants to play right away. He wasn’t seeing the playing time at Texas anymore, so he needs to go somewhere he can earn minutes.

Illinois is currently in a pickle when it comes to the No. 5 spot. With Kofi, likely, leaving after his sophomore season, this leaves a massive hole in the paint for the Illini. The options to replace Kofi aren’t the best right now either.

I would argue Giorgi Bezhanishvili would be the replacement for Kofi as of right now. While he put up good numbers as a freshman in this spot, the team wasn’t good and Giorgi was too undersized.

The next thought to fill the No. 5 spot was with a solid incoming freshman. But this has come to a screeching halt as one by one each big man that Illinois has been eyeing has picked other programs. The most recent blow was by Mac Etienne who picked UCLA over the Illini.

With little in the way of options, Illinois now needs to look at the transfer market. The first option up would be Baker. With him not playing the 2020-21 campaign, Baker could use this year to sit out and then suit up for the Illini in 2021-22. That would make him available when Kofi would leave the program.

The options are dwindling for Illinois when it comes to the No. 5 spot. Adding someone like Baker would help solve a huge problem. Hopefully, the Illini coaching staff does their homework and at least puts out feelers for the kid.