NCAA Basketball: Jesse Edwards, TJ Bamba among top 30 transfer pickups of the week
6. Marcus Domask – Southern Illinois to Illinois
2022-23 season stats: 16.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.8 apg
The 6’6 forward started all 106 games in his career and has a career average of 15.2 ppg on 36% shooting from three-point range. This past year, Domask went for 20+ points on 11 different occasions, including 32 points and seven rebounds against Cal Baptist in overtime and 31 versus Evansville.
He’s a talented all-around player and will be a needed asset for the Illini, who is without Terrence Shannon going forward. Not only can Domask fill in as a double-digit contributor at the Big Ten level but he’s an experienced passer and leader for what’ll look like a new-look roster for Illinois.
5. Dayvion McKnight – Western Kentucky to Xavier
2022-23 season stats: 16.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.8 apg
The 6’1 guard has averaged over 16 ppg in the past couple of years as the lead guard for the Hilltoppers. McKnight is capable of going off, with four games with at least 28 points. One of them was a 33-point performance against Middle Tennessee, including 13/13 from the free throw line. He doesn’t need the three-point line to put up points and can create his offense at a high level.
Xavier had a ton of success with a previous Conference USA ball-handler this past season in Souley Boum (UTEP), who has a similar scoring ability. He’s gone, along with the rest of the Musketeers’ backcourt from this past season so look for McKnight to have another large role, just on a different team.