Master’s Acquires Front-Line Help From University of Illinois : College basketball: Marc Davidson, a 6-6 forward, becomes third Division I player to join Mustangs in two years.

Marc Davidson has transferred to The Master’s College after two seasons of basketball at University of Illinois, becoming the third NCAA Division I player to join the NAIA Mustangs in two seasons.

Davidson, a 6-foot-6, 221-pound forward from Minooka, Ill., played sparingly for the Fighting Illini the last two seasons. He appeared in 30 of 32 games for Illinois as a sophomore, averaging 1.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in about 10 minutes a game.

Davidson transferred because of a lack of playing time and his growing interest in pursuing a career in the ministry.

“Those were both big factors in my decision,” Davidson said. “I had played eight minutes a game as a freshman, but only about nine or 10 minutes last year. I wanted to go someplace where my talents could be put to better use. . . . It is also a career move. The last two years have taught me that I need to think about my future beyond basketball.”

Davidson averaged 26 points as a senior Aurora Christian High in 1991, and was named Illinois Class-A (small schools) player of the year.

Emeka Okenwa and Terry Monnoy also transferred to Master’s from Division I schools.

Okenwa, the Mustangs’ leading scorer (16.6) and rebounder (9.7) as a junior last season, played at Southern Illinois.

Monnoy, from Idaho State, was Master’s starting point guard last season as a senior.

“Marc will fill a big gap for us at power forward,” Master’s Coach Mel Hankinson said. “He will be a perfect complement to Okenwa.”

Davidson is looking forward to playing alongside the 6-8, 240-pound Nigerian.

“I played with him when I was out there visiting the school and I was very impressed,” Davidson said. “He is incredibly strong.”

Okenwa and Davidson will team up with Leonardo Gourkas, a 6-11 freshman center from Brazil on the front line.

Illinois Coach Lou Henson told the Peoria Journal Star: “Marc is an outstanding young man. I would like to see him stay at Illinois, but we understand him wanting to go into the ministry.”

Staff writer John Ortega contributed to this story.