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Illinois Basketball: 5 options for the Illini in the transfer portal 1.0

By Rees Woodcock

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini draws a play in the first half of the game against the Houston Cougars during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 20, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini draws a play in the first half of the game against the Houston Cougars during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 20, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 12: Fardaws Aimaq #11 of the Utah Valley Wolverines takes a shot over Evan Gilyard II #3 of the New Mexico State Aggies during a semifinal game of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 12, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aggies defeated the Wolverines 78-62. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) /

The Illinois basketball team is now in the offseason, and this means the transfer portal is wide open for potential additions.

It was a rough ending to the 2021-22 campaign for the Illini, but what might be even rougher is the fact we are losing the majority of minutes played from this past season. But that is why the transfer portal is so great. Brad Underwood can replenish those minutes.

Here are five options for the Illinois basketball team in the transfer portal 1.0.

1. Fardaws Aimaq (2 years of eligibility)

  • Reasoning

The first of the transfers that I want Illinois to keep tabs on is Fardaws Aimaq. We could use another option in the paint, and Aimaq would provide that.

Illinois was one of the many programs that have contacted Aimaq. This leaves the door open for the potential of this kid coming to Champaign. His numbers are what really piques my interest, though.

Aimaq has spent three years in the college game and is now looking for a new home. He averaged just 5.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in year one before transferring out of the Mercer program. He would then land with Utah Valley where he spent three seasons and played in two of those campaigns.

This past season with Utah Valley, Aimaq averaged 18.9 points, 13.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. He shot 49% from the floor, 72.3% from the free throw line, and 43.5% from three-point range.

Aimaq’s all-around game is what intrigues me the most. His 6-foot-11, 245-pound size enables him to hold his own in the paint, but he can step out and take a three-point shot as well. This versatility would be nice for the Illini.

  • Where he would play

I think the No. 5 spot is, essentially, going to be a tryout this upcoming season. Kofi Cockburn is likely departing, so that leaves some unproven options. I have Coleman Hawkins at the No. 4 spot, so he’s out. Omar Payne showed he isn’t a starting Big Ten big man. I am curious to see what Dain Dainja can do. He transferred in from Baylor.

Aimaq would come into the Illinois program and be the leader for the starting No. 5 spot. He brings too much size and firepower to ride the pine. This would give Dainja more time to get up to speed as well.

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