Illinois basketball head coach Brad Underwood will be undertaking a whole roster construction for the second time in as many offseasons. The Fighting Illini have gelled together new rosters in the Big Ten for two years in a row, including boasting one of the younger and less experienced teams in the conference this past season.
Underwood's squad has lost a handful of key contributors to the spring transfer portal window early this offseason for 2025. Here, we're looking at a tracker to see where the Fighting Illini players departing the program this offseason have ended up.
Carey Booth, PF
Former high-four-star recruit from Cherry Creek (CO) Brewster Academy, sophomore power forward Carey Booth, entered the spring transfer portal for the second offseason in a row. Booth will be looking for his third school in as many years after spending one season with the Fighting Illini this past season in the Big Ten.
He was the first portal departure for the Illini early this offseason in the spring transfer window. Booth played over 20 games for Illinois this past season, averaging 1.2 points per game and one rebound.
Committed to Colorado State
Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C
Arguably, the most impactful transfer departure for Underwood and the Illini early this offseason in the spring portal window, freshman big man Morez Johnson Jr. was Mr. Basketball in Illinois before he signed with the Illini in the 2024 class. Johnson was a top rebounder and rim protector on the defensive end for the Illini this past season in the Big Ten.
Johnson was a big part of the future core of the locker room for the Illini. He he great relationships with the coaching staff and was an energetic part of Illinois' frontcourt unit.
He ranked fourth among Big Ten freshmen in rebounding and third in blocks this past season in the 2024-25 campaign. Johnson will be playing the final three years of his eligibility in college at Illinois' Big Ten foe, Michigan, in Ann Arbor, going into the 2025-26 season.
Committed to Michigan
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, G
Lafayette, IN, native and former three-star recruit from Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, NC, guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn averaged a career-high 5.9 points per game for the Illini as a sophomore this past season in the Big Ten. Gibbs-Lawhorn was the most recent Illinois guard to find a new home in the mid-major conferences in the spring portal window this offseason for 2025.
He played in all 35 games for the Illini this past season, including making two starts for Underwood's squad. Gibbs-Lawhorn is one of three Illinois players who started multiple games this past season who entered the spring portal.
Committed to UNLV
Tre White, G
For the third time in the past three years, junior guard Tre White has found a new home via the spring transfer portal window in college hoops. White is jumping to his fourth major conference program in as many years after he committed to a blue blood program in the Big 12 this spring in head coach Bill Self and Kansas.
White started 31 games for the Illini in the Big Ten in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring in double figures at a clip of 10.5 points per game. He was one of Illinois' best inside scorers in the paint among the guards and an adept rebounder.
Committed to Kansas