Top 3 landing spots for Illinois transfer Coleman Hawkins ahead of 2024-25 season ft. SMU

Coleman Hawkins withdrew from the 2024 NBA Draft last month after playing four seasons with the Illinois Fighting Illini. A key forward for the program, he started all 35 games last season. However, he is seeking a change in scenery for his final year of college eligibility.

Averaging 12.1 points per game in his latest run, Hawkins led Illinois to the Elite Eight of the 2024 March Madness where they lost to the eventual champion, UConn. He recorded 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in a 77-52 loss against the Huskies.

He was the best rebounder for Illinois last season as he averaged 6.1 rebounds per game. Many programs will be looking for a player with that capability in the transfer portal.

With Hawkins making it clear that he will not play in the Big Ten again, let's take a look at the top 3 landing spots for the 6-foot-8 forward.

Top 3 landing spots for Coleman Hawkins in the transfer portal

3. Kansas State

Coleman Hawkins visited Kansas State last weekend as part of his official program visits. The Wildcats are having an amazing time at the transfer portal, already adding 8 new faces to their 2024-25 roster.

However, the addition of a forward like Hawkins would give a significant boost to their upcoming campaign. His combination in the front court with their new top-25 recruit Ugonna Onyenso will be a bliss to watch.

2. LSU

The LSU Tigers, under the guidance of Matt McMahon, are looking to rebuild its roster for the upcoming season. With their doors open to host top recruits, it is another program that will be visited by Hawkins on June 17, according to Joe Tipton of On3.

LSU's transfer class ranks 11th in the country, and the addition of Hawkins would make them one of the strongest rosters for the 2024-25 season. His skills, combined with that of Jalen Reed and Daimon Collins, would help them complete their frontcourt.

1. SMU

SMU saw its conference move to the ACC for the upcoming season, and Hawkins will be making his third official visit to the university.

If he decides to commit to the program that would be led by former USC coach Andy Enfield, the roster will see a combination of Yohan Traore and Jerrell Colbert as the centers, Matt Cross and Tibet Gorener as the wings, and Hawkins as their forward.