The NCAA on Wednesday approved a medical hardship waiver for Fighting Illini center Mike Thorne Jr. (Fayetteville, N.C.), granting him a sixth year of eligibility for the 2016-17 season.
Thorne played in a total of eight games this past season, averaging 12.9 points and 8.5 rebounds. He played in the first seven contests before suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee on Nov. 28 vs. Iowa State. After surgery and rehabilitation, Thorne returned to the court on Jan. 19 at Indiana. He suffered a physical setback in the days following that game and was ultimately sidelined the remainder of the season.
"We are thrilled for Mike," Illinois head coach John Groce said. "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."
Thorne made an immediate impact on the Illini offense as a scoring threat in the paint. He recorded a double-double with 25 points and 14 rebounds in his UI debut vs. North Florida (Nov. 13), then had 21 points and eight boards vs. North Dakota State (Nov. 15). After foul trouble limited his production at Providence (Nov. 18), Thorne bounced back with another double-double vs. Chattanooga (Nov. 21), collecting 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, followed by 12 points and a game-high nine boards vs. Chicago State (Nov. 23).
Thorne finished with eight points and a game-high eight boards vs. UAB (Nov. 27) and put up 10 points and seven boards in just 13 first-half minutes against the 4th-ranked Cyclones before suffering the knee injury. In his return against the Hoosiers, he tallied nine points and nine boards in 16 minutes of action.
Thorne is scheduled to have his master's degree in in education policy, organization and leadership conferred in August.
