Illinois basketball looks to add shooting with latest transfer portal guard interest

Illinois basketball could be looking at boosting the scoring department for next season via the transfer portal.

Things are starting to really heat up in the transfer portal. Players are entering their names by the dozens every day, and the Illini aren’t sitting back and watching the world go by. We are actively in the transfer portal communicating with players who are looking for a new home.

Illinois has already been in contact with numerous players, and one player that caught my eye a little over a week ago was Sincere Parker. Coming out of Compass Prep in Arizona, Parker was overlooked by many programs. He ended up landing with Moberly Area Community College out of high school but then transferred to Saint Louis in 2022.

Parker spent two seasons with the Billikens, and he really started to blossom as a junior. He only played in 16 games this season before breaking his foot, but in that stretch of games, the talented guard averaged 15.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Back on March 17, it was reported by Joe Tipton of On3.com that Parker had entered his name into the transfer portal. This past Friday, Tipton followed up on his transfer portal news with a list of teams that had already contacted Parker. One of those programs was Illinois.

Landing Sincere Parker out of the transfer portal would give Illinois more depth at guard

I like Parker as an option for the Illini to create some bench depth. Heading into the 2024-25 campaign, Illinois is going to need some more scoring options, and Parker fits that bill.

Illinois’ backcourt is likely to consist of Ty Rodgers, Luke Goode, Niccolo Moretti, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, and Sencire Harris. That is a talented backcourt, but there is a lack of consistent outside shooting. Goode and Gibbs-Lawhorn would be the go-to scorers from three-point range.

I could see a starting lineup of No. 1 Moretti, No. 2 Goode, and No. 3 Rodgers. Gibbs-Lawhorn would be the main reserve for Moretti, and Harris would come in for Rodgers at the No. 3 spot.

Adding Parker to the mix would give Illinois a scoring option to back up Goode. Parker’s three-point shooting improvement piques my interest. He shot 31.5% in year one at Saint Louis, and that number improved to 42.6% this past season.

Having a knockdown three-point shooter coming off the bench would be big for the Illini. Parker provides that scoring threat. I would like for Illinois to be able to land Parker in the transfer portal. He would help our bench greatly.