Top 5 Illinois basketball crucial transfer portal targets

5. Marcus Hill – Bowling Green Falcons

Every transfer portal player Illinois is targeting could play multiple roles for the program. I love the possibility of both AJ Storr and Dante Maddox Jr. Another great player Illinois has eyes on is Marcus Hill.

Continuing with the trend, Hill played for Bowling Green last season, but the 6-foot-4, 185-pound guard is originally from Rockford, Illinois.

Hill would be an interesting player for the Illini to land because he is a different guard than the first two mentioned on this list. He is someone who can get downhill and to the basketball. When I watch him, I am reminded more of a Russell Westbrook-type of player than an outside shooter.

I like what I see scoring-wise with Hill. He averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steals per game last season. If Illinois doesn’t care a lot about outside shooting, which we know Brad Underwood does, Hill’s numbers won’t worry you. But the fact he shot 28.9% from three-point range is something to keep an eye on.

It would make sense for Hill to be looking for a starting job. Illinois needs guards on the roster, but do you start Hill over Ty Rodgers, Luke Goode, and Jake Davis? I don’t think so. I want hill, but only if he would be willing to be a primary backup. The inefficiency worries me a bit.