Illinois Basketball Looks to Boost Offense with High-Scoring Guard from Transfer Portal
Illinois Basketball Eyes High-Scoring Transfer Guard Jemel Jones
The Illinois basketball program is making moves in the transfer portal, turning its attention to Jemel Jones—a prolific 6-foot-4 guard who averaged 18.9 points per game last season at Cal State Bakersfield.
Though Illinois has yet to secure a guard from the portal, head coach Brad Underwood remains persistent in his search after missing out on high-profile targets Josh Dix (Creighton) and Jaylin Sellers (Providence). His latest outreach is to Jones, a native of Illinois who had a standout junior season as the leading scorer for the Roadrunners.
Jones also chipped in 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, showing off a well-rounded offensive skill set. While he connected on 35.2% of his three-point attempts—averaging just over one triple per game—his strength lies in the midrange, where he thrives using his length, smooth release, and polished footwork to create separation.
A dynamic scorer, Jones showed his full potential in a January matchup where he exploded for 45 points on 13-of-22 shooting (including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc), helping Cal State Bakersfield rally from 22 points down to beat Cal State Northridge 94-90.
Depending on how NBA draft decisions play out for Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley, Jones could slide into a starting role alongside Kylan Boswell or come off the bench as an instant-offense option. Either way, he’d bring valuable experience and scoring punch to an Illini team looking to reload.
With nine other programs also expressing interest, Illinois stands out as the most high-profile contender and offers Jones a real shot to contribute on a team with NCAA Tournament ambitions.
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