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Eastern Illinois men's basketball head coach Marty Simmons has announced the third player to join his inaugural recruiting class at EIU as Jermaine Hamlin will transfer from the University of Illinois.
 
Hamlin (6'10, 235) was a two-year member of the Illinois program appearing in eight games last season as the Fighting Illini won the Big Ten Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.  As a freshman in 2019-20, he played in 16 games with a season high eight points and four rebounds.   He practiced over the last two years against Illinois All-American Kofi Cockburn and Giorgi Bezhanishvili.
 
"We are excited to have Jermaine join the EIU basketball family.  Jermaine gained valuable experience in his time at Illinois and brings the experience of what it takes to win a conference championship to EIU," said Simmons.  "Jermaine's length and athleticism make him and elite defender, evidenced by his ranking seventh in blocked shots playing for Brad Beal Elite in the Nike EYBL circuit.  Offensively he has a strong skill set around the basket and plays above the rim."
 
The Lincoln, Illinois native helped Coach Neil Alexander's squad to a 27-5 record and a sectional title game appearance his senior year.  He was named first team All-Apollo Conference and third team All-State by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and an All-State honorable mention pick by the Associated Press.  Hamlin averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game as a senior while shooting 71 percent from the field.  He scored in double figures in 22 of 31 games during the season with six 20-plus point performances.  
 
Hamlin joins Paul Bizimana (6'8, F, Haltom HS/Haltom City, Texas) and Kejuan Clements (6'2, G, Triton College/Chicago, Ill.) as members in Simmons first EIU basketball class.