Miami basketball could potentially add Illinois transfer guard

The Miami basketball team defeated Illinois 81-79 this past season in Champaign this season and now the Hurricanes are in the running to add former Illinois guard Alan Griffin.

If you can’t beat them, join them. That is the motto of former Illinois guard Alan Griffin as he is considering joining the Miami basketball team after the Hurricanes defeated the Fighting Illini 81-79 in Champaign last November. Griffin averaged 8.9 points per game, 4.5 rebounds and made 41.6 percent of his three-point attempts.

Multiple outlets are reporting that Griffin is also considering Arizona, Marquette, Dayton, Iowa State, Texas, Syracuse and Duke. Griffin is the son of longtime NBA player and current Toronto Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin. There has not been a determination if Griffin would have immediate eligibility.

It would work in Griffin’s favor for him to sit out the 2020-21 season if he transfers to Miami. The Hurricanes return senior guards Chris Lykes and Kameron McGusty and sophomores, Isaiah Wong and Harland Beverly. Miami is also expecting to add five-star wing, Earl Timberlake. Timberlake has committed to Miami but not signed.

If Griffin had stayed at Illinois he likely would have competed to be a starter next season. Griffin scored eight points, had three rebounds, two blocks and made two of his four three-point attempts in Miami’s victory at Illinois last November. With Lykes and McGusty moving on after next season there is a spot for Griffin.

Beverly and Wong project to be the starting backcourt in 2020-21 with a potential third-spot open. Timberlake is likely to be a one and done if he honors his commitment and signs with Miami. Miami also signed four-star small forward Matt Cross during the early signing period in November.

Griffin posted a letter thanking Illinois for the opportunity to play there and his teammates and the staff for supporting him. Griffin was a three-star recruit from Archbishop Stepinac in New York.  He was the 185th ranked player and 41st ranked shooting guard in the 247Sports Composite from the class of 2018.

Griffin improved tremendously from his freshman to sophomore season. As a freshman, Griffin averaged 2.8 PPG as a freshman in 7.8 minutes per game playing in 30 games. Griffin shot 38.5 percent from the floor and made 30.4 percent of his three-point attempts in 2018-19.