In a spacious ballroom that elicited a mighty echo with each bounce of the basketball, Illinois was introduced to Jon Ekey.

Then a forward for the Illinois State Redbirds, Ekey poured in 14 points while shooting 3-6 from 3-point range in a narrow defeat at the hands of Illinois in the 2011 Cancun Challenge Championship game. If a 3-point shot by Illinois State’s Tyler Brown wasn’t waived off after Brown’s heel glanced the out-of-bounds line, the Redbirds might have delivered the upset against their in-state foe.

“It was funky playing in a ballroom,” Ekey said. “But it was definitely a big-time game, and those are the kind of games I like.”

Illinois head coach John Groce announced Wednesday that Ekey, along with Seton Hall guard Aaron Cosby, will transfer to Illinois upon completing their spring semesters. Ekey, a junior, will be eligible to play immediately because of his status as a graduate student, while the sophomore Cosby will sit for the 2013-2014 season per NCAA transfer rules.

The transfers of both Ekey and Cosby serve a dual purpose. Ekey will provide a veteran presence and depth to complement the five incoming freshman that otherwise would have logged heavy minutes off the bench. The transfers also fill a cavernous need in the shooting department.

“Both guys bring shooting to the table, which is something we wanted to address after losing Paul, Richardson and Griffey,” Groce said in a teleconference.

Cosby sank 40 percent of his 3-point attempts last season — an admirable statistic for a guard playing in the rigorous Big East, but one that doesn’t tell the whole story. According to Groce, Cosby played significant minutes at the point guard position, which put him in the difficult position of hoisting up contested 3-point heaves as the shot clock wound down on offensive possessions. That he shot at such a high clip under such duress impressed Groce while he was searching for prospective transfer players.

With the addition of Ekey and Cosby, Groce still has one scholarship open for next season. Ideally, Groce said he would like to add another guard who can handle the ball and shoot while Cosby sits next year as well as extra frontcourt depth, but he’s determined to be picky in that process and will select another transfer only based on fit.

“We hit a home run in terms of fit (with Ekey and Cosby),” Groce said. “Our objective is fitting specific needs. If we can’t fit a need, we’re comfortable rolling that last scholarship.”

Unlike Cosby, Ekey figures to contribute significantly to next season’s rotation. The 6-foot-7 forward will replace the role often filled by departing senior Tyler Griffey as the tall shooter in the pick and roll game. Unlike Griffey’s more earthbound athleticism, Ekey possesses a sneaky athletic prowess that allows him to guard both guards and forwards. In three seasons, Ekey ranks as the sixth-best shot blocker in Illinois State history.

“Groce had me as the pick-and-pop guy or the guy that’s ready in the corner when guys get in the lane and need to kick it out,” Ekey said. “I’m crafty and can get open and get putbacks with my athleticism.”

Ekey will study in the graduate sports management program that will add to his business administration degree he will receive next month from Illinois State. He also has a game already circled on the calendar. A Missouri native, Ekey knows the magnitude of the Braggin’ Rights rivalry between Illinois and Missouri. Ekey will have the opportunity to secure the first Illini win over Missouri in the last five years, and that propulsion to a bigger stage is exactly what attracted him to Illinois.

The other attraction was his new head coach. Ekey could feel a palpable excitement growing within him each time Groce explained his vision for Ekey on next year’s team. It’s a trait that has the Illinois program buzzing, and Ekey positively enthused for this fall.

“He gets you excited to play and do what he wants you to do,” Ekey said. “That’s definitely what I was looking for my last year.”

Thomas can be reached at [email protected] and @ThomasBruch.