A couple of big transfer portal pieces fell into place on Thursday, and now there are fewer options for the Illinois basketball team.
I wasn't too shocked that AJ Storr didn't decide on the Illini. There were rumblings he was going to Kansas, so this decision wasn't a surprise. I was a bit surprised that Dante Maddox Jr. didn't come to Champaign. He ended up picking Xavier as his landing spot.
Illinois is still looking good when it comes to new additions, though. We have added four players from the transfer portal, and there are still solid options out there. There might even be a class of 2024 addition that could come to fruition.
Here is the Illinois basketball transfer portal and recruiting wish list
Koby Brea – Dayton Flyers
Illinois has done some great work in the transfer portal thus far, but adding another wing for depth would be a good idea. That is why I like the Illini targeting Koby Brea.
Brea is a 6-foot-6, 205-pound wing from New York. Coming out of Monsignor Scanlan High School in the Bronx, Brea was looked over by many programs. He wasn’t rated or ranked but picked Dayton as his landing spot.
In four years with the Flyers, Brea has improved his game. This past season, he averaged 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. He started in four out of the 33 games he played in for Dayton in 2023-24 as well.
With one year left to play, Brea is now looking for a new home. Brea entered the transfer portal, and on Tuesday, Jamie Shaw of On3.com reported numerous teams had already contacted the talented wing. One of the programs to show interest was Illinois.
The great thing about Brea is the fact he can play multiple positions. I could see him coming in at the No. 2 or No. 3 spot. He was also a great shooter last season, taking 6.1 three-pointers per game and hitting them at a crazy clip of 49.8%. This kid would be a steal, and he would help Illinois’ second rotation greatly.