Top 10 Illinois basketball transfers of all time

No. 1 Kenny Battle

We finally get to the best transfer in the history of the Illinois basketball program. One of the best teams ever for the Illini featured Kenny Battle and his immense talent. But his career didn’t start with the Orange and Blue.

The first stop for Battle was with Northern Illinois. He would spend two great seasons with the Huskies. Battle would average 19.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks in those two seasons. He would make the first-team All-MAC and was an honorable mention AP All-American with Northern Illinois.

Battle would bolt the Huskies program and land with Illinois. This was one of Lou Henson’s best snags while he was coaching the program. After sitting out a season, Battle would take the reins of the Illinois basketball team and never look back.

In year one, Battle would average 15.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. He would then follow those amazing numbers up with 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game in his final season with Illinois.

That two-year stretch saw a ton of winning as well. Illinois was a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament and made it to the second round in 1988. The following season, Battle would help lead Illinois to 31 wins and a Final Four appearance.

Battle had the numbers to be one of the best transfers in Illinois history. His numbers alone get him into the top three, but the success Illinois had on the court puts Battle over the top. He takes the No. 1 spot among the best transfers in the history of the Illinois basketball program.