Illinois' Mike Thorne Jr. awarded 6th year of eligibility

Illinois center Mike Thorne Jr. has been granted a medical hardship waiver by the NCAA, allowing him to return for his sixth season, the school announced Wednesday.

A torn meniscus in his knee limited Thorne to just eight games last season, but he proved effective when healthy. Thorne posted per-game averages of 12.9 points and 8.5 rebounds, and provided a dose of leadership for the Fighting Illini.

"We are thrilled for Mike," head coach John Groce said in a statement. "He endured a lot of adversity last season, suffering the knee injury after a great start and then having lingering complications that prevented him from being able to return to the court. Now he will get that chance to come back for a sixth year and finish his college career in the way we all envision. The NCAA deserves a ton of credit in this situation, as they have made a decision that is without question in the best interest of the student-athlete."

The return of Thorne could make Illinois a sleeper in the Big Ten next season, as the program is also set to bring back Malcolm Hill and Kendrick Nunn, the team's two leading scorers.