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Illinois Basketball: Ranking the Top 5 guards of the 2010’s

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 17, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Malcolm Hill (21) reacts after dunking the ball against the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half at the United Center. Illinois defeats Brigham Young 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Malcolm Hill (21) reacts after dunking the ball against the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half at the United Center. Illinois defeats Brigham Young 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Illinois basketball team has had some great guards throughout the history of the program.

These talented players have done wonders to this team with their skills on the basketball court. There have also been a handful of skilled guards who have played for the Illini since 2010.

Here are the top five guards in the 2010’s.

5. Kendrick Nunn

The Illinois basketball team needed more guard help for 2013 and beyond. That is why getting Kendrick Nunn was a big deal at the time.

Nunn was a four-star recruit who was the No. 56 player in the class of 2013 and the No. 2 player in the state of Illinois. The only player ahead of him that year was Duke commit and NBA Draft pick, Jabari Parker.

Illinois landed the next best option, though. Nunn was a talented 6-foot-3 guard out of Simeon High School in Chicago, Illinois. Getting a player of this caliber from Simeon was going to start the pipeline back up.

Nunn had good career trajectory going. Despite not making the tournament his first three seasons in Champaign, he was still putting up solid numbers. Nunn finished his junior season averaging 15.5 points, 5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. His senior campaign was supposed to be even better.

That senior season never came for Nunn, at Illinois anyways. He was charged with domestic abuse and later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge. The Illini had no other option but to kick him off the team.

Nunn is now with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. He had to sit out this past season but will be available this upcoming campaign.

Illinois had a special player when Nunn committed. He could have gone down as one of the greatest of all-time, but he couldn’t stay out of trouble and that was his ultimate demise.

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