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MVC Basketball: MiKyle McIntosh leaving Illinois State, could transfer

By Taylor Sturm

Nov 21, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Illinois State Redbirds forward MiKyle McIntosh (11) defended by TCU Horned Frogs forward JD Miller (15) at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Illinois State Redbirds forward MiKyle McIntosh (11) defended by TCU Horned Frogs forward JD Miller (15) at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois State’s MiKyle McIntosh might return to college basketball, but he will not be returning to the Redbirds next season.

The Illinois State Redbirds disappointingly lost out to the Wichita State Shockers in the MVC Tournament final, ruining their hopes of an NCAA Tournament berth. Perhaps the only team with a legitimate argument as to being the biggest snub of the 2017 NCAA Tournament, Illinois State will wonder what might have been, as the majority of their starters are moving on from the team heading into next season.

Perhaps the only team with a legitimate argument as to being a 2017 NCAA Tournament snub, Illinois State will wonder what might have been, as the majority of their starters are moving on from the team heading into next season.

Even worse news is that potential graduate player MiKyle McIntosh will no longer be with the team next season. McIntosh, who declared for the NBA Draft without an agent, has now said that he intends on going to another school if he decides not to try his luck in the NBA.

There is no doubt in my mind that the inability of the Redbirds to make it to the Big Dance affects McIntosh’s decision. If he forgoes the NBA Draft, he will head to a program that will likely go to the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

While many believe he could be a star sixth-man for any Power 5 program, MiKyle probably wishes to go to a team where he would start. More importantly, however, is that he clearly intends to take his talented to the next level, meaning that he likely wants a program that will get a lot of eyes on it from NBA scouts so that he can increase his draft stock.

While definitely no more than speculation, it would not be a surprise to me if he ended up somewhere in the Big Ten.

Next: Early preseason top 25 for 2017-18

MiKyle averaged 12.5 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 1.8 assists per game last season. Keep an eye on this player, because his addition could take a team from NCAA Tournament hopefuls to NCAA Tournament locks.