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.

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.