It’s a big weekend for the Illinois basketball program. Friday begins the official visit of Mike Thorne Jr., the 6-foot-11, 270-pound Charlotte transfer.
The Illini are one of four programs Thorne, a fifth-year transfer who will be eligible to play next season, is considering. Thorne, who averaged 10.1 points and 7.3 rebounds for the 49ers last season while shooting 53.4 percent from the floor, visited Pittsburgh last weekend.
After the visit with the Illini this weekend, the Fayetteville, N.C., native will visit Kansas next week. He also picked up an offer from Kentucky last week and will visit John Calipari’s program next weekend before making his decision.