Illinois guard Luke Goode enters NCAA transfer portal

The Fighting Illini just lost another player to the portal. This time, junior wing Luke Goode has entered, per On3, and will evaluate options ahead of his senior year.

Goode largely came off the bench in 2023 to provide 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while playing just north of 20 minutes a night. He also shot the ball well from 2 and 3, as he did in 2022 as well. Just a real solid and dependable role player for Brad Underwood. A dying breed, you might say, and partially because it’s hard to keep guys from the portal if that’s all their role is.

Who knows where Goode will end up. He could very well be more of a centerpiece if he moved down to a smaller program than Illinois. But then again, Goode could draw a number of interested suitors among Power Six programs who want him to come in and provide that same stability for their teams.

Meanwhile, Champaign has been bustling with transfer portal activity — folks coming and going every single week since the season ended against UConn.

Illinois Transfer Rundown

Jim Halpert is probably more of a 76ers fan, but if he still needs to learn what a rundown is, then he can take a gander at this one on the Illini transfer activity:

Jake Davis — The commitment of Jake Davis, frizzy redhead and productive freshman out of Mercer, was not a joke on April Fool’s Day, but instead, the first of many transfer pledges for the Illini. With modest production, nine points and four rebounds per game, he’s likely more of a long-term add.

Dain Dainja — Former Baylor big man spent a couple productive years with the Illini, but after seeing his playing time cut in half from 20 minutes to 10 per game in ’24, he’s off to Memphis to join up with what will be a massive transfer class down there.

Tre White — the former USC forward who really wasn’t great at Louisville last year will hope to get a fresh start away from the Kenny Payne disaster. He did average 12 points per game last year and even had a strong freshman campaign on both ends with the Trojans.

Kylan Boswell — It’s not every day the starting point guard off a 2-seed is available in the portal, but the rising junior left Arizona and landed at Illinois. A great athlete with a linebacker’s frame, Boswell has the look of an Illinois guard and the style of play to fit Underwood.

Sencire Harris — Sat out all season due to injury and is now heading from Illinois to West Virginia to play under their new regime.

Carey Booth — A touted freshman thrust into an immediate heavy-minutes role at Notre Dame this season and was far from ready to play on a team coached by Micah Shrewsberry. The ND coach was pretty harsh on him, but Underwood’s more free-flowing and up-tempo style should suit him well.

Armani Hansberry — Well, the Illinois front-line will sure look different next season as he also joined Harris at WVU following a promising year in ’24.