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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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GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 11: Au’Diese Toney #5 of the Pittsburgh Panthers attempts a shot against Manny Bates #15 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack during their game in the second round of the 2020 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 11: Au’Diese Toney #5 of the Pittsburgh Panthers attempts a shot against Manny Bates #15 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack during their game in the second round of the 2020 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

4. Manny Bates

Illinois could always use more help in the paint, and someone like Manny Bates could be a great option in the transfer portal.

Bates wasn’t highly rated coming out of high school. He was a four-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 104 player in the class of 2018. Bates still had a ton of recruiting attention, though. He ended up picking North Carolina State as his landing spot.

The career for Bates is actually pretty solid with the Wolfpack. He played two full seasons and his best year consisted of 9.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. This past season, he only saw action in one game before missing the year with a shoulder injury.

With three years of eligibility remaining, Bates is an attractive option in the transfer portal. He averaged 2.7 blocks per game, which is nasty. He could be a Nnanna Egwu type of player who can actually score the ball and rebound well.

After Bates entered the transfer portal, there were numerous teams that contacted the big man. Illinois was one of those programs. We could use a player of his size as well.

Bates is a 6-foot-11, 230-pound monster. Illinois doesn’t have an experienced big man on the roster right now unless Kofi Cockburn returns. I don’t think that will happen, though. Bates is intriguing to me because he plays a position of need for the Illini. He could duke it out with Dain Dainja for the starting No. 5 spot on the roster.

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