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It’s official — former Wright State guard Mark Alstork is set to join Fighting Illini basketball. The 6-foot-5 guard announced a commitment to Illinois on Wednesday afternoon, picking the program over LSU, South Carolina, and Pittsburgh.
Alstork, a graduate transfer, will be immediately eligible to play his final season upon arrival in Champaign.
It's official! ✍️
— Illini Basketball (@IlliniMBB) May 24, 2017
Welcome to the #Illini family, @Mark_Alstork pic.twitter.com/xGcWp2Nzh1
Statement from Brad Underwood:
"We're very excited to welcome Mark to our program and the Fighting Illini family. He is a proven scorer who has done it consistently at the Division One level. He scores the ball in a variety of ways and has great versatility. Mark will provide veteran experience and brings tremendous character and leadership abilities to our basketball team."
Illinois’ latest addition was the best player on a Wright State squad that went 20-12 during the 2016-17 season. While predominantly playing on the wing, Alstork filled the role of a volume scorer by averaging a team-high 19.0 points per contest on 40.0% shooting from the field and 38.7% from three-point range. The Ohio native also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
Alstork originally committed to play for Ball State as a three-star prospect out of high school. The only high-major schools to show interest at the time were South Carolina (scholarship offer), Maryland, Oregon, and Boston College.
Mark Alstork’s Career Stats
| YEAR | TEAM | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | TEAM | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
| 2016-17 | Wright State | 30.2 | 19 | 4.7 | 3.5 | 40.00% | 38.70% | 84.60% |
| 2015-16 | Wright State | 26.6 | 12.4 | 4.7 | 1.7 | 43.20% | 37.80% | 69.40% |
| 2013-14 | Ball State | 22.6 | 5.6 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 31.30% | 32.20% | 69.90% |
This is really significant development for an Illinois team that’s been struggling to fill their roster spots since the hiring of Brad Underwood in March. The Fighting Illini entered the day with at least four available scholarships for the 2017-18 season, and to add someone like Alstork this late in the calendar is an absolute coup; it’s hard to envision a scenario in which he isn’t a member of the starting lineup.