Illinois Basketball: Illini targeting transfer big man out of Furman

Illinois basketball is in their offseason, and that means it is time to crank up the interest in the transfer market.

The Illini have been rumored to show interest in some of the bigger players in the transfer portal so far this offseason. One of the new names to now keep an eye on is Noah Gurley.

Gurley is a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward who has spent the past three seasons with the Furman Paladins. Just days ago, the talented Furman product entered his name into the transfer portal, and the interest among some of the bigger programs in the nation is strong.

According to Jake Weingarten of Stockrisers, Gurley has been contacted by a myriad of programs. One of the programs that has been in contact with Gurley is Illinois. Being in the mix for some size is probably not a terrible idea for the Orange and Blue.

What would Gurley bring to the Illinois basketball program?

Size. Gurley’s size is the first thing that stands out to me. His 6-foot-8, 210-pound frame is something I love. We need players who are versatile, and that is what Gurley brings to the table.

The length that Gurley brings to the table is also something I would love on the Illinois basketball team. He is 6-foot-8 but can play like he is 7-foot. I believe Gurley can guard the No. 3 through No. 5 roles too. A defensive juggernaut like that would be dangerous in Brad Underwood’s system.

And, on the offensive end of the court, Gurley seems to be dynamic. He has averaged 14.3 points and 15.4 points per game in his sophomore and junior seasons, respectively. Gurley is developing his three-point shot as well, which saw a slight tick downward last season, but that is due to his volume increasing.

Throughout Gurley’s career, he has had some big games against good teams. This past season, the forward went up against Alabama and almost knocked them off. He had 15 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block in that game. Just a few days before that game, Gurley went up against Cincinnati and put up 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block.

As a sophomore, Gurley was also dominant. In an overtime loss to No. 14 Auburn, he put up 21 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist. This kid can play with the big boys, and I want him on the Illinois basketball team.

It is extremely smart for Underwood to target Gurley. He is someone who is going to be an instant impact player wherever he ends up playing. He isn’t a fringe transfer who can’t compete with the best of the best. This kid is just looking for a route to get to the NBA, and Illinois could be the best option.