Illinois, Duke emerge as early John Blackwell suitors

The NCAA College Basketball Transfer Portal season is off and running as of Tuesday. Wisconsin basketball star guard John Blackwell immediately rises as one of the best available. And already, Illinois plus Duke have risen as early strong suitors.

Joe Tipton of On3/Rivals revealed both power conference representatives as the early ones to watch for Blackwell.

“John Blackwell is one of the top guards to hit the portal. The All-Big Ten selection averaged just over 19 points per game,” Tipton wrote in his report.

Illinois surfaces as a big one here. The Illini can capitalize on their surprise Final Four run by swooping up a Big Ten rival.

Blackwell dropped 31 and 24 points in two games against Illinois, the former during the Big Ten Tournament. Head coach Brad Underwood himself has seen firsthand how damaging Blackwell is as a scorer.

Duke likely will court Blackwell too for this reason: Pending NBA Draft departures.

Jon Scheyer looks ready to reload as Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II look league bound. Blackwell hands the Blue Devils a sharpshooter to build around for next season.

But there’s a catch involving Blackwell: He’s testing the NBA Draft waters too.

This new era of roundball now allows players to enter the portal and become available for the draft at the same time. The tactic allows players to keep their options open in the event one doesn’t work out. Blackwell isn’t projected to land inside the top 10 of June’s draft.

Yet another key factor is NIL money and how much Blackwell can earn.

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