Former Illinois Prep Standouts in Transfer Portal
While there are still several D1 prospects on the board in the state of Illinois, many college coaches have turned to the transfer market for players this time of year. Here we examine six former highly ranked Illinois prep standouts…
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Continue ReadingWhile there are still several D1 prospects on the board in the state of Illinois, many college coaches have turned to the transfer market for players this time of year. Here we examine six former highly ranked Illinois prep standouts that are in the transfer portal and where their recruitments stand.
SG Javon Freeman (Valparaiso)
High School: Whitney Young
AAU Team: Meanstreets
Class: 2018
Final Ranking: #9
Stats This Past Season: 11.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.0 APG
Recruitment:
Freeman decided to transfer after a successful freshman campaign in the MVC. He told us that Northwestern, Creighton, and San Diego State have reached out him. Illinois has spoken with his uncle former Illini star Marcus Liberty. Freeman says he is looking for a high-major program.
PG Luwane Pipkins (UMass)
High School: Bogan
AAU Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Class: 2015
Final Ranking: #9
Stats This Past Season: 16.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.2 APG
Recruitment:
Pipkins is a grad transfer that is coming off a year at UMass posting 16/5/5. The 5’11” scoring point guard visited Providence on Friday. He says other schools in contact include Providence, Texas Tech, Gonzaga, Loyola-Chicago, Iowa State, Fresno State, and Nevada.
SG Justin Pierce (William & Mary)
High School: Glenbard West
AAU Team: Mercury Elite
Class: 2016
Final Ranking: #6
Stats This Past Season: 14.9 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 4.1 APG
Recruitment:
Pierce is one of the more coveted grad transfer wings in the country after a coaching change at William & Mary. He told ESPN’s Jeff Borzello schools that have reached out include Texas, Florida, Michigan, Gonzaga, Arizona, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame USC, Nevada, NC State, Virginia Tech, Purdue, Kansas State, TCU, Stanford, Xavier, Ole Miss, Creighton, Butler, Illinois, Utah, Georgia Tech, DePaul, Northwester, and Boston College. Expect this list to get trimmed down to a more manageable one soon.
C Barret Benson (Northwestern)
High School: Hinsdale South
AAU Team: Illinois Wolves
Class: 2016
Final Ranking: #4
Stats This Past Season: 2.0 PG, 1.6 RPG
Recruitment:
Benson is a legit 6’10” center that has back to the basket scoring ability. Although it didn’t work out on the court at Northwestern the five man will graduate and transfer with one year left to play. Schools that have reached out about the center include Furman, San Jose St, Southern Illinois, Ohio, Cleveland State, Boise State, North Dakota, Alabama A&M, Tulsa, Detroit, UW-Milwaukee, Western Michigan, Valpo, USC, and IPFW. Safe to say he will have great options available! We think he can really help out a mid-major program that needs a five man.
PG Teyvion Kirk (Ohio)
High School: Joliet West
AAU Team: Young & Reckless
Class: 2017
Final Ranking: #13
Stats This Past Season: 14.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 APG
Recruitment:
Kirk had a strong sophomore season at Ohio. The former Joliet West standout told PHI on Friday morning that he had entered the transfer portal. It is still really early for TK. Look for a lot of mid-major plus programs to get involved here.
PG Xavier Bishop (UMKC)
High School: Springfield Lanphier
AAU Team: Team Rose
Class: 2016
Final Ranking: #26
Stats This Past Season: 15.4 PPG, 2.7 RBG, 3.8 APG
Recruitment:
Bishop is a scoring lefty point guard that went for 15 per game last season. He will most likely have to sit out one year to play one year unless he gets a waiver. The schools that have spoken with his high school coach at Lanphier Blake Turner include Montana, Loyola-Chicago, San Diego, Nevada, Indiana State, Towson St, Liberty, UCF, Southern Illinois, and Central Michigan.