BTN.com staff, May 1, 2012

Illinois announced Tuesday that Drake's Rayvonte Rice has signed a tender of financial aid and will transfer to Illinois following the completion of the spring semester.

Rice, who averaged 16.8 points and 5.8 rebounds last season as a sophomore, will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Illini in 2013-14 and 2014-15 after sitting out the 2012-13 season.

?Rayvonte had an outstanding high school career locally at Centennial and was an impact player at Drake these last two years,? Illinois coach John Groce said in a statement. ?He is a natural scorer who has the ability to get to the basket and finish or draw fouls.

"He also has great hands and has a knack for getting steals and forcing turnovers. Overall, Rayvonte is an aggressive player on both ends of the floor who will fit in well with our style of play."