Illinois Basketball: Jeremiah Williams departure opens scholarship for Illini

All good things have to come to an end, but I didn’t think they would end this quickly for an Illinois basketball transfer commit.

This offseason has been kind of crazy for the Illini. It was looking like we were going to lose two big pieces in Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins, but they both returned to the roster for one more go at a national title.

While those two were deciding on whether or not to come back to Champaign, Brad Underwood was busy signing two great freshmen and a transfer class that impresses the masses. Amani Hansberry, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Quincy Guerrier, Justin Harmon, and Marcus Domask are all new faces who will help Illinois win games in 2023-24.

Illinois also had a transfer commitment in Jeremiah Williams. On Friday, that commitment ended, as Williams took to social media to announce that he was opening his recruitment 100%.

Truth be told, Jeremiah Williams leaving the Illinois basketball program is probably what is best for the team

Coming out of Simeon High School in Illinois, Williams was a three-star recruit. He decided to commit to Temple where he spent two seasons. He would transfer to Iowa State after the 2021-22 campaign, but injuries derailed his career. After not playing with the Cyclones, Williams looked for a new home and landed in Champaign.

Williams’ commitment to Illinois came on June 1. It is now June 23, and he has decided to back away from that commitment. I wish the kid nothing but the best.

Opinion

This is best for both parties. Williams wants to look for a home where he can play, and Illinois continues to be on the hunt for talented recruits to join the program this season. Yes, there are still some top recruits available from the class of 2023.

As of right now, former Kansas commit Chris Johnson is still available. Illinois jumped on his recruitment after he backed away from the Jayhawks in early June. Texas has a Crystal Ball Prediction to land Johnson, but that prediction is only a six out of 10 confidence.

That is just one name that Illinois has been rumored to be eyeing over the past month. With Williams off the books, Underwood now has a scholarship to play with for 2023. Let’s see what he can do with this opportunity.