Illinois Signs Jake Davis From Transfer Portal With Hopes Of Adding Depth In The Backcourt

Anthony Pasciolla | Apr 2, 2024

Mar 30, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts against the UConn Huskies - Brian Fluharty/USA Today Sports / Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

The Illinois Fighting Illini had recent success with the transfer portal.

They may have found another on Tuesday after announcing the signing of guard Jake Davis. He last played at Mercer.

Davis joins the likes of Terrence Shannon and Marcus Domask as players who have transferred to Illinois in the past few years. Both players helped the Illini this season make a run to the Elite Eight, where they lost to UConn.

The 6-foot-6 Davis averaged nine points and 4.5 rebounds in 25 games last season as a freshman at Mercer. He played his high school ball at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis.

Welcome to the Orange and Blue, @Jake_6davis. #Illini | #HTTO | #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/JAZWCXWkHK

— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) April 3, 2024

Davis should help add depth after the Illini lost the likes of Domask, Shannon and forward Coleman Hawkins. Shannon is expected to be a lottery pick in this year's draft while Hawkins could slip into the second round after deciding his college days are over.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood said he doesn't expect this to be a rebuilding year. He wants the Illini to build off this year's success. They won the Big Ten tournament and advanced past the first weekend of the NCAAs for the first time under Underwood.

I think we've turned the corner a long time ago," Underwood said. "This is a great program. We're getting guys like him out of the portal. We're getting guys like him out of high school. We've got another great recruiting class. We'll continue to add guys we want.
I guess are you asking should we slip? Shame on you. You've been around me five years. Hell, we're not going anywhere."