Why the Illinois transfer portal miss might not hurt after all

A former Illinois basketball guard has chosen Gonzaga for his final season, leaving fans wondering about the Illini’s next move. With a top transfer target in sight, this could be a minor hiccup or a strategic pivot.
Feb 12, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA;  Arizona State Sun Devils guard Adam Miller (44) dribbles the ball around Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Chance McMillian (0) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
Feb 12, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Adam Miller (44) dribbles the ball around Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Chance McMillian (0) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images | Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Former Illinois basketball guard Adam Miller has committed to Gonzaga for his final year of eligibility, ending rumors about a potential return to Champaign.

Miller was a graduate transfer who spent the last two seasons at Arizona State and will transfer to his fourth school for his fifth year of college basketball. He was reportedly receiving interest from the Illini, along with other programs such as Baylor, Pittsburgh, and Texas.

While Miller’s Illinois roots and experience made him an intriguing prospect for a homecoming, his decision to join Gonzaga is not a significant setback for the Illini.

Miller played over 25 minutes per game and was the fifth-highest leading scorer as a freshman at Illinois in 2020-21, averaging 8.3 points and 2.8 rebounds. The No. 1-seeded squad remains arguably the best team Brad Underwood has assembled at Illinois despite their early exit in the second round vs. Loyola-Chicago.

After transferring to LSU, where an ACL injury sidelined him for a year, and then to Arizona State, Miller developed into a reliable outside shooter, hitting 42.9% of his 3-point attempts in 2024-25. At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Miller would have brought physicality, defensive promise, and decent size to Illinois this season.

Brad Underwood always has irons in the transfer portal fire for the Illinois basketball program

However, missing out on Miller is softened by Illinois' strong position in the transfer portal. The Illini are heavily pursuing Andrej Stojakovic, a 6-foot-7 sophomore wing from Cal who averaged nearly 18 points per game last season.

Stojakovic, a former McDonald’s All-American, visited Illinois recently, and recruiting momentum favors the Illini, despite competition from Gonzaga, North Carolina, USC, and Florida. Overall, Stojakovic would be a better addition to Illinois over Miller, as his scoring ability and versatility align well with coach Underwood’s system.

Even without Miller, Illinois remains in the early contender conversation with teams like Purdue, UCLA, Michigan, and Michigan State. Providing the Illini land Stojakovic out of the portal, they will build a deeper, more dynamic team for the upcoming season. For Illinois, this is less a loss and more a pivot toward greater potential.