Illinois Basketball Speaks With All-MAC Selection

Originally posted on Armchair Illini
By Kirkland Chappell | Last updated 3/26/24

Illinois Basketball Speaks With All-MAC Selection

The Illinois Basketball staff is hard after the transfer portal market, despite currently possessing a ticket to the NCAA Men’s Sweet Sixteen. As the Illini head East to Boston, lots of word hits the Twitterverse surrounding the staff’s conversations with potential portal prospects. Another young man to add to that list, is former Toledo guard Dante Maddox Jr. It was announced on “X” (twitter) by 24/7 High School Hoops that a plethora of teams are in the mix for the Chicago native, including Illinois. The young man entered the portal on Monday (3/26).

See his full list at the time of posting below, along with the original post at @247HSHoops on “X”.

What we know about Dante

Maddox Jr. is a former attendee of Bloom Township High School in the Northern Metro. The 6 foot 2 inch, 195 pound Chicago Heights native was a first-team all-state nominee in High School. He was a top 3 finalist for Illinois player of the year. As a redshirt freshman for Toledo, Dante averaged 6.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg in 2021-22. Playing in 23 games with, 11 starts for the Rockets. In 2022-2023, he certainly took a step forward in his game. As a redshirt sophomore, Maddox Jr averaged 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game in 2023. On the defensive side, he averaged 1.7 steals per game, as well. The Toledo transfer led the MAC in 3-point shooting this season as well. Totaling a 45.1% three-point percentage from deep. A 49.4% three-point average during league play, on 77 attempts. Certainly, a guy Brad Underwood could use on a squad which loses their 3 top producing scorers.

Why It Matters

As stated before, you lose a ton of Veterans from this team post March. Marcus Domask, Terrance Shannon, Coleman Hawkins, Justin Harmon and Quincy Guerrier will all be stepping away from the program once the Illini finish their run at Phoenix. Certainly, Brad Underwood, Chester Frazier, and the rest of this Illini staff are doing their due diligence in the portal market. Despite currently having a lot on their plate. This is a guy Illinois could potentially slide well into a wing/guard role in the Big Ten. Which, will be much needed for Underwoods unit in 2025, as we well know.