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Illinois Basketball: 4 transfer options to fill the Illini roster

By Rees Woodcock

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 14: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini talks to the fans after winning the Big Ten Basketball Championship over the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 14: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini talks to the fans after winning the Big Ten Basketball Championship over the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 04: Martice Mitchell #2 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers dunks before an NCAA college basketball game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 4, 2021 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 04: Martice Mitchell #2 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers dunks before an NCAA college basketball game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 4, 2021 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

2. Martice Mitchell

The transfer commitment of Omar Payne will help Illinois tremendously this upcoming season. But we still need some more size for the future. An option for the Illini frontcourt could be Martice Mitchell.

Coming out of Bloom High School and residing in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Mitchell was rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 162 player in the class of 2020. He was also the No. 36 power forward in the nation and the No. 3 player in the state of Illinois.

The 6-foot-10, 190-pound power forward had strong interest from a number of programs, but he decided to pick Minnesota as his landing spot. Mitchell only ended up spending one season with the Gophers, though. In that lone season, he put up 1.3 points and 0.3 rebounds per game. He only saw action in seven contests.

Richard Pitino was fired as Minnesota’s head coach, and this brought a lot of change to the program. Mitchell would then decide to transfer out.

Mitchell is more of a No. 4 than a No. 5, but Illinois doesn’t have to always go with a traditional big man. With someone like Mitchell, the Illini could bring athletic ability that not many teams can match. I could envision the future with Mitchell at the No. 4 and Coleman Hawkins at the No. 5. This would give Illinois two 6-foot-10 players who can both stretch the floor.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea for Illinois to pursue Mitchell. He might end up with New Mexico, where Pitino is now the head coach, but let’s go after some in-state transfers who are looking for a new start. Mitchell would be a great target for the program.

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