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Illinois Basketball: 5 options for the Illini in the transfer portal 3.0

By Rees Woodcock

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 23: Bryce Hopkins #23 of the Kentucky Wildcats drives to the basket against Darius Days #4 of the LSU Tigers at Rupp Arena on February 23, 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 23: Bryce Hopkins #23 of the Kentucky Wildcats drives to the basket against Darius Days #4 of the LSU Tigers at Rupp Arena on February 23, 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 23: Bryce Hopkins #23 of the Kentucky Wildcats drives to the basket against Darius Days #4 of the LSU Tigers at Rupp Arena on February 23, 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 23: Bryce Hopkins #23 of the Kentucky Wildcats drives to the basket against Darius Days #4 of the LSU Tigers at Rupp Arena on February 23, 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. Bryce Hopkins

With two scholarships left to fill for the 2022-23 campaign, the possibilities are endless for the Illinois basketball program. One of the options out there is Bryce Hopkins.

I remember when Hopkins was coming out of the high school ranks. He was rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 39 player in the class of 2021. He had all of the talent in the world, and now that talent is trying to find a new home after one season with Kentucky.

Hopkins didn’t see a ton of playing time in the lone year with the Wildcats. He averaged just 6.4 minutes per game and put up 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds each night. That isn’t terrible production for the low number of minutes he received.

I am excited to see Hopkins back on the market. He is an in-state kid coming from Oak Park, so it would be nice to bring him back home.

Hopkins entered the transfer portal on April 7. Since that date, he has heard from a ton of other programs, and one of those teams was the Illini. He actually had Illinois among his tops teams when he was originally choosing a landing spot, but I assume he picked Kentucky after a couple of our coaches departed for the Wildcats last season.

The potential is through the roof with Hopkins. He has all of the tools to be an All-Big Ten caliber player. Illinois landing him would be huge for the program.

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