CHAMPAIGN -- The Illini currently have two big men on this year’s roster, and one will not be with the team this summer as freshman Samba Kane is leaving campus due to transcript issues -- sources told IlliniInquirer.com.

Kane arrived on campus in late May, but he was unable to enroll in summer courses. He plans to return to Illinois in August to begin taking classes for the fall semester.

That makes for yet another frontcourt misfortune for Brad Underwood since the end of last season.

Illini forward Leron Black, who led the team with 15.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, was eligible to return as a redshirt senior but instead elected to turn pro. Black certainly would have been in contention to be an All-Big Ten selection.

Three other big men left the program as well. Redshirt junior Michael Finke decided to play his fifth year of eligibility at Grand Canyon. Finke averaged just seven points and 3.2 rebounds per game during Big Ten play, while shooting 22 percent from three. That was a monumental dip after connecting on nearly 45 percent of his three-point attempts in league play the previous season.

Greg Eboigbodin and Matic Vesel are also gone after just one season at Illinois. Vesel left to return home to Slovenia after playing just 4.4 minutes per game as a freshman. Eboigbodin announced his intentions to transfer last week, despite being in line to compete for the starting spot at the five this upcoming season. Prior to his exit, he was the only returning player taller than 6-foot-6.

The Illini went into the offseason looking for size, and they were able to sign Kane and Giorgi Bezhanishvili during the late signing period in April. Kane is a seven-footer, who averaged 9.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as a senior at Florida Prep.

But Illinois missed on opportunities to land fromer Pittsburgh signee Bryce Golden, as they used the final official visit on him in April. And the Illini made an all-out push for Normal West big man Francis Okoro, but the top-50 prospect committed to Oregon.

If Kane returns to campus in August and is able to begin taking classes, he will be eligible to play in the upcoming season. But that is still far from ideal, as he could absolutely use the summer to learn the system, develop his game with Orlando Antigua and make important gains in the weight room with Adam Fletcher.

Especially for someone who became a prime candidate to start from Day One at the five after Eboigbodin announced that he is leaving.

An eventful offseason of epic proportions rolls on for Illini basketball.