Jake Davis Announces He’ll Return to Illinois for the 2024-25 Season
On Friday, Illinois sophomore forward Jake Davis confirmed that he will be returning to the Illini basketball team for another season.
While we may be a bit late to the news, it’s still worth acknowledging—because there’s no party quite like a Jake Davis party:
Davis, a 6-foot-6 forward from McCordsville, Indiana, was a dependable reserve scorer and the team’s top three-point shooter during his first season at Illinois, finishing with a solid 34.4 percent from beyond the arc in 2024-25.
ILL pic.twitter.com/WPjSZgRluh
— Jake Davis (@Jake_6davis) April 4, 2025
Although Davis only averaged 3.0 points and 1.4 rebounds last season, his return carries significant implications. His presence gives Illinois’ perimeter shooting a boost and adds depth to a roster that is set to see more changes. With work on his strength and agility during the offseason, Davis could potentially take on a larger role next season, possibly reaching the level of his freshman-year numbers at Mercer—where he averaged 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Davis’ return brings stability to a program facing another offseason of significant roster changes. His ability to stretch the floor with his shooting from the small forward position will continue to earn him minutes in Coach Brad Underwood’s system. Whether Davis becomes a consistent 20-minute-per-game contributor will depend on how much he can refine his overall game during the summer.
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