The 2020 offseason has served well for Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini.
After their two star players Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn declared for the 2020 NBA draft in April, both players announced their returns to the Illini on social media this past weekend.
Additionally, the 2020 recruit class for the Illini ranks 17th in the nation.
This class includes four-star guards Adam Miller and Andre Curbelo, three-star forward Coleman Hawkins, and three-star big man Cameron Lieb.
Here is a look at a potential Fighting Illini lineup for the 2020-2021 season.
Point guard
Starter: Trent Frazier
Backup: Andre Curbelo
For now, I have Trent Frazier starting at the point guard position. Frazier will be entering his senior season. The Wellington native has averaged 11.8 points, 2.1 boards, and 2.5 assists during his three years with the Illini
However, this could change as Andre Curbelo is a special talent and has a bright future ahead as a Fighting Illini.
Don’t be surprised if Curbelo cracks the starting-five at some point next season.
Junior guard Ayo Dosunmu will also likely see substantial minutes at the point.
No. 2 guard:
Starter: Adam Miller
Backup: Jacob Grandison
Illinois’ 2020 Mr. Basketball will start at the no. 2 guard position next season.
Miller will play alongside his former Morgan Park teammate, Ayo Dosunmu.
Transfer guard Jacob Grandison, who averaged 13.9 points and five boards per contest at Holy Cross, will get a hefty amount of minutes coming off the bench.
No. 3 guard:
Starter: Ayo Dosunmu
Backup: Austin Hutcherson
No surprise here, as 2019-2020 All Big-Ten First Team member Ayo Dosunmu gets the starting nod at the no. 3 guard position.
Junior transfer Austin Hutcherson will be the primary backup at the no. 3 guard position. Hutcherson averaged 20 points, 5.6 boards, and 3.2 assists per game in 2019 at Wesleyan (div. 3).
Forward
Starter: DaMonte Williams
Backup: Coleman Hawkins
Backup: Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk
DaMonte Williams may not “wow” you with his stats, as he only averaged 2.3 points per game last season. However, he has been an exceptional defender for Underwood’s Illini.
Williams’ defensive abilities, high basketball IQ, and physical toughness make him a valuable asset for the Illini, allowing him to make the starting lineup his senior season.
Coach Underwood also tends to go with a small lineup.
Freshman Coleman Hawkins and Sophomore Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk both should still get a decent amount of playing time, despite not cracking the starting lineup.
Center
Starter: Kofi Cockburn
Backup: Giorgi Bezhanishvili
Backup: Jermaine Hamlin
Kofi Cockburn is the clear-cut starter at the 5 for the Illini. Cockburn was the Big-Ten’s Freshman of the Year award winner, and Fox Sports’ Freshman of the Year.
Bezhanishvili will be the primary backup for Cockburn at the 5, but will likely see a lot of minutes at the 4 position as well if Underwood decides to go with a “big” lineup.
In conclusion
Illinois will look to feed off of their 2019-2020 Big-Ten fourth-place finish.
The Illini will have a championship mindset during the 2020-2021 season, as Ayo Dosunmu once said, “My dream is to play in the NBA. But first, I need that national championship”.