Illinois Basketball: Illini targeting Big Ten forward in transfer portal

The transfer portal craziness has begun for the Illinois basketball program, as we have been in contact with a high-level Big Ten talent

Over the last few years, the Illini have been able to land some solid transfers in the portal. We snagged Jacob Grandison, who helped the program get back to the NCAA tournament. Alfonso Plummer then came along and was a three-point shooting ace for us.

This past season, the transfer portal provided Illinois with some high-level talent on paper. While that high-level talent could put up some big numbers on nights, there were just some major chemistry issues with the team. Hopefully, with the addition of someone like Jamison Battle, those chemistry issues would be solved.

On Monday, Travis Branham of 247Sports reported that Battle is doing an in-home visit with Butler. He then listed a myriad of teams that have been in direct contact with the talented Minnesota transfer.

Illinois basketball is trying to boost the frontcourt with the addition of Jamison Battle in the transfer portal

There were 16 teams on the list that Branham produced, one of the programs being the Illini. The list also included numerous power-five DI programs, including Big Ten foes Ohio State and Indiana.

Battle would be a big-time addition for Illinois. He is coming off a junior campaign that saw him average 12.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. He also shot 37.1% from the field and 31.1% from three-point range.

I would attribute some of the shooting struggles to the mess that Minnesota was this past season. For his career, Battle is averaging 14.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while shooting 42% from the field and 35% from three-point range.

Going after Battle makes sense for the Illini as well. I believe, and it is only speculation, that Coleman Hawkins is going to end up entering the NBA Draft, not hire an agent right away, go to the scouting combines, impressing the scouts, and then he will officially keep his name in the draft mix.

That means Illinois is going to need someone at the No. 4 spot next season. With RJ Melendez’s struggles in 2022-23, there is no guarantee he will snap out of his funk. Illinois targeting a player like Battle, who can play the No. 4 spot and also pop out for a three-pointer, is a good idea.