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Illinois Basketball: Comparing Illini Players to Their NBA Counterpart

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 18, 2015; Providence, RI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Jalen Coleman-Lands (5) and guard Malcolm Hill (21) celebrate during the first half of a game against the Providence Friars at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2015; Providence, RI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Jalen Coleman-Lands (5) and guard Malcolm Hill (21) celebrate during the first half of a game against the Providence Friars at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2013; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Maverick Morgan (22) shoots the ball during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ben Woloszyn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2013; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Maverick Morgan (22) shoots the ball during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ben Woloszyn-USA TODAY Sports /

Maverick Morgan

With all of the injuries this past season, Illinois had to rely on 6-foot-10 center Maverick Morgan.

Morgan hadn’t really lived up to his size the first few seasons in Champaign, but halfway through last year he really started to pick things up.

Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini /

Illinois Fighting Illini

When Thorne went down with an injury, Morgan was called upon to pick up his minutes and hopefully pull down some rebounds.

For some reason, Morgan still isn’t a great rebounder, but he can pull them down every now and then.

Morgan’s shooting is what helps him standout from the pack.  He has great touch within ten feet of the rim and this is a great asset.

Last season Morgan averaged 8.3 PPG and 3.5 RPG, in only 21.1 MPG.  If he played more in these games his stats would be better.

Reminds Me Of: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks

This list doesn’t mean that these Illinois players will have the careers of the NBA players I compare them too.  It just means these Illini players remind me of these NBA players.

The one NBA player that I think of when I compare what Morgan does for the Illini is Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford.

Horford isn’t an overpowering center that pulls down a ton of rebounds.  He averaged 7.3 RPG this past season.

The comparison between the two is that they both have great shooting touch and are mediocre when it comes to rebounding.

I think if you give Morgan more minutes he will improve his rebounding and could put up Horford like numbers of 15.2 PPG and 7.3 RPG next season.

Next: Michael Finke

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