Redshirt freshman Niccolo Moretti has entered the transfer portal, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. Moretti enrolled at the University of Illinois for the spring semester of the 2022-23 school year and practiced with the men’s basketball team for the remainder of the season. 

This past year, Moretti played his first season for the Illini and averaged 1.5 points in 18 games. The Bologna, Italy native’s minutes were limited; he only touched the floor for 5.8 minutes per contest. Moretti’s most impactful performance for Illinois came in a Feb. 24 win over Iowa, where he scored nine points and knocked down both of his attempts from long range.

Moretti’s offensive game and ability as a facilitator weren’t fully showcased at Illinois after being buried in the rotation for most of the year and seeing head coach Brad Underwood seemingly favor rising sophomore Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, especially toward the end of the season. With the Illini also adding rising junior guard Kylan Boswell in the transfer portal, minutes for Moretti would likely have been limited again next season.

Moretti entering the portal adds to the growing list of Illini heading out of Champaign after the season concludes, either to enter the NBA Draft or transfer portal. Underwood has only retained two of his scholarship players from last season’s roster: rising junior guard/forward Ty Rodgers and Gibbs-Lawhorn. The Illinois coaching staff now has four scholarships available to distribute.

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