Illinois basketball in contact with big-time transfer portal forward

The 2024-25 season has yet to come to an end, but the Illinois basketball coaching staff is surely already looking at the transfer portal.

Numerous names have hit the transfer portal with more to surely come. The Illini have a roster that is going to need retooling after the current campaign concludes due to departures coming down the pipeline.

One player that is now on the Illini radar is Nick Davidson. He is a 6-foot-10, 238-pound forward who has spent the last three seasons with Nevada. According to Joe Tipton of On3.com, Illinois is one of the many teams that have already contacted Davidson's camp.

Davidson’s game has grown over the last three seasons too. He averaged 6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds as a freshman. This past season, he had career-highs in numerous categories and finished the season averaging 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game. He also shot 50% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range.

There were a couple of power-four conference programs Davidson went up against while at Nevada. This season, he beat Washington 63-53 and put up 14 points and nine rebounds. He took down Oklahoma State 90-78 and had 23 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Davidson then narrowly lost to Vanderbilt 73-71 while putting up nine points, nine rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.

Illinois basketball could always use a transfer portal addition like Nick Davidson in the frontcourt

I am impressed by Davidson’s game. He is someone who could stretch the floor for the Illini and make shots from all levels. I love his size too. The big question remains, who will be back for Illinois?

Let’s just go off what I think could potentially happen. I think Morez Johnson Jr. is going to be back with the Orange and Blue. My rationale for that is that Johnson was committed to Illinois for nearly three years and held strong to his commitment. He doesn’t feel like someone who will bolt after one season.

Johnson will start at the No. 5 spot next season. The No. 4 spot is up in the air, though. I have a feeling Tomislav Ivisic is gone. Will Riley is definitely gone. Ben Humrichous is aging out. That doesn’t leave a lot of bodies in the frontcourt.

Bringing in Davidson makes a lot of sense. He would start alongside Johnson. Davidson would give Illinois more of a dual-threat option, and Johnson could be the guy who cleans up the glass. That would be a dangerous one-two punch in 2025-26.