Jalen Coleman-Lands is today’s Illini basketball trending topic, in the silly season that just won’t end. Say this for the 2017 offseason, it has certainly not been boring. The eventfulness continues today with news that JCL is leaving the Illinois basketball program.
The Coleman-Lands defection hurts significantly, and had the potential to hurt much more as he was definitely one player (at least on paper) that could really help this Illini team because he seemed like such a great fit into new coach Brad Underwood’s system.
Not to mention that Deron Williams himself gave him his blessing to wear #5.
Of course, it’s not all bad news. Jalen Coleman-Lands did have a fantastic freshman year, his rookie campaign being a bright spot in an otherwise very dark season, but he regressed last year. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, Coleman-Lands, who averaged 8 points per game didn’t just fail to progress in his sophomore year; he was a major disappointment.
There is also of course the addition of Wright State graduate transfer Mark Alstork, who shares JCL’s penchant for shooting the three ball. The three point shot is the calling card in both player’s games, so “J. Cole” bolting is actually a little bit expected.
Writing Illini has an article today showing us what the Illini basketball lineup might be now that Jalen Coleman-Lands will no longer be a part of it.
Illinois also made a big time acquisition this offseason when they signed four-star Edwardsville guard Mark Smith, the Mr. Basketball in Illinois this year, and the first eventual Illini to win that honor since Jereme Richmond in 2010. Smith will help offset the loss of Coleman-Lands.
Today’s development means it’s time to play another round of “tell us again everything that’s happened this offseason with Illini basketball.”
Well, one highly rated recruit who hardly ever saw the court, D.J. Williams, bolted.
As did East St. Louis big man Jeremiah Tilmon, who vacillated on his commitment to the Illini three different times before finally making up his mind and defecting to Missouri.
Incoming freshman Belleville East guard Javon Pickett also opted out after Athletic Director Josh Whitman enacted Illini basketball head coaching regime change, replacing John Groce with Brad Underwood.
With four scholarships now open, you can be pretty sure that the offseason of major consequence for Illini basketball will continue, and that there’s a ton of news to come beyond Jalen Coleman-Lands.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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