Illinois
Illinois basketball looking to transfer portal for frontcourt help
Illinois basketball is looking to build depth through the transfer portal, and one of the latest targets would accomplish this goal.
The transfer portal has slowed down the past couple of days, as there hasn’t been a departure or addition for the Illini. As of right now, we sit with three departures – Dain Dainja, Sencire Harris, Amani Hansberry – and four additions – Kylan Boswell, Jake Davis, Tre White, Carey Booth.
I would argue this is a great start to the transfer portal season. Brad Underwood and the coaching staff clearly aren’t done adding either.
On Saturday, Jamie Shaw of On3.com reported that USF transfer Kasean Pryor has heard from numerous programs since he entered the transfer portal. Illinois was among the programs that have already been in contact with the experienced forward.
USF transfer Kasean Pryor tells @On3sports he’s heard from the following schools since going into the Transfer Portal.
UConn
Arizona
Michigan
Gonzaga
Louisville
Illinois
Ole Miss
Texas Tech
Arkansas
USC
Mississippi State
Ohio State
SMU
Missouri
Villanova
Wisconsin
Cincinnati… https://t.co/WRIhzOe758 pic.twitter.com/HJPJta2Uuc— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) April 20, 2024
Pryor is a 6-foot-10, 210-pound forward who is originally from Chicago, Illinois, but he attended Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and he finished his high school career at Link Academy in Missouri.
There wasn’t a lot of recruiting attention for Pryor, so he ended up going the junior college route and picking Northwest Florida State College as his landing spot. Pryor then hopped to Boise State for two seasons and played last year with South Florida.
Pryor’s career didn’t take off until his stop with the Bulls last season. With South Florida, he averaged 13.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Illinois needs some help in the frontcourt for next season. We have three solid pieces in Ty Rodgers, Carey Booth, and Morez Johnson Jr.
I have Rodgers and Johnson starting with Booth backing both of them up at the No. 4 and No. 5 spots. That is great for now, but adding another frontcourt player who can spell minutes would be optimal.
Pryor would be a great option for the Illini. He is a nice big player who can bang around in the paint and rebound the basketball. I also like the fact He took 3.3 three-point attempts per game last season and hit them at a clip of 35.2%. He is just good enough from three-point range to be a threat, and that helps stretch the floor.
If Pryor does pick Illinois, I would likely put him as the primary backup to Johnson at the No. 5 spot. This would give us Rodgers and Johnson starting in the frontcourt and then Booth and Pryor in the second rotation. That is a dangerous frontcourt.
New names don the Illinois basketball transfer portal and recruiting wish list. New names don the Illinois basketball transfer portal and recruiting wish list. dark. Next
Police are investigating after a motorcyclist was killed in a crash in suburban Oswego on Saturday afternoon.
Officers responded to the 4000 block of Route 34 near Wolf Road for the crash around 1:42 p.m. The motorcyclist was unconscious and was receiving CPR when officers arrived.
They took over medical care until paramedics arrived and took the victim, identified as a 20-year-old man, to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The victim’s identity is being withheld pending an autopsy scheduled for Monday, police said.
Initial reports say the victim was traveling eastbound on Route 34 when he hit an enclosed trailer being towed by a van. According to the police, the van was also traveling eastbound and was attempting to make a right turn into a driveway when the crash occurred.
The driver and passenger in the van were not hurt, police said.
Route 34 was closed between Wolf Road and Boulder Hill Pass for four hours for crash reconstruction.
The crash remains under investigation pending completion of the traffic crash reconstruction report.
Illinois
Man arrested after barricading himself inside vape shop in Des Plaines, Illinois, police say
A man was arrested after police say he barricaded himself inside a business in Des Plaines on Saturday morning.
The incident happened just before 9 a.m. in the 1500 block of Rand Road.
Des Plaines police said officers responded to Vortex Vapes, located inside a strip mall in the 1500 block of Rand Road, just before 9 a.m. for a report of a suspect, a 26-year-old man from Des Plaines, armed with a box cutter, who confronted the shop employee.
The employee was able to escape the business, but the suspect stayed and barricaded himself inside, police said.
The Tactical Response Team responded to the business and arrested the suspect, who surrendered without incident.
The business was closed for about four hours. Police said the area is now safe for travel, and the business has since reopened.
This incident is still under investigation. Des Plaines police said they will provide additional information once it becomes available.
An Illinois high school football assistant coach has been arrested on criminal sexual abuse charges.
High School on SI previously reported that John “Jake” Wakey had been placed on leave and was being investigated after the FBI received a tip accusing an employee of inappropriate sexual conduct involving a former student over a year ago.
From that tip, investigators confirmed that at least eight students from 2013 to 2015 were abused by Wakey, according to a report by Capitol News Illinois. Thursday, he was arrested and charged with nine Class 2 felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Illinois Assistant Football Coach Was Investigated By FBI, Local Law Enforcement
The charges involve victims aged 13-to-17 by a person in a position of trust during the 2013, 2014 and 2015 school years. Four former students provided statements to Williamson County detectives, with eight total potential victims being connected to the investigation.
“Of those eight identifiable victims, four individuals have presently memorialized the facts of their experiences on the records with investigators, which ultimately formed the basis for the charges announced,” Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich said during a press conference. “In cases involving criminal sexual abuse, it frequently requires a victim-survivor to come forward, disclose what occurred and allow investigators to memorialize those facts for prosecution.
“For many victims, that process can take months or even years, as appears to have occurred in this investigation.”
It was also reported that the offenses involved members of the Carterville High School football team, where Wakey served as an assistant coach.
John “Jake” Wakey Has Previously Been In Trouble As Teacher, Coach
Wakey was placed on paid administrative leave back in February 2026 once the school district received word that he was involved in an investigation. He had worked for the Carterville School District since 2003 as both a teacher and as an assistant football coach.
Previously, Wakey had been suspended for 10 days in 2009 after being accused of inappropriately texting students, allowing students at his home and drinking in front of students. He was not charged at the time. He also received a misdemeanor conviction for providing liquor to minors in 2003 before joining Carterville.
“The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is aware of longstanding community concerns, suspicions, rumors and allegations involving inappropriate conduct, including allegations related to alcohol, student-teacher contact and the sharing of images involving students and/or faculty members,” Diederich said.
Wakey is set to be held at the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office after being transferred from the Livingston County Jail. The Carterville Board of Education is expected to hold a special meeting to take action on the “discipline and/or dismissal of a licensed employee of the District.”
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