Illinois Basketball: Top recruiting needs for the Illini

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Mar 9, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Te’Jon Lucas (3) reaches for the ball in front of Michigan Wolverines forward Moritz Wagner (13) in the second half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Verizon Center. The Wolverines won 75-55. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1 Guard (Current: 3, Need: 0)

Heading into the 2017 season, the Illinois basketball team has a nice stable of point guards. This is a position that I am completely comfortable with for the first time since the Dee Brown era.

The incumbent starter for the Illini is Te’Jon Lucas. He had a pretty good season as a true freshman last year and I expect him to perform well again in 2017.

Illinois is also bringing in two great point guards from the class of 2017 as well. Trent Frazier and Mark Smith are both top 100 players and should be able to see a good deal of minutes early on in their careers.

As far as the starting position goes, I am not sure how Underwood will divvy up the minutes. There is a possibility of Smith starting with Frazier and Lucas coming off the bench. There is also a possibility of Smith starting and then Frazier or Lucas playing the No. 2 spot in the starting rotation.

No matter what the starting rotation turns out to be, I don’t think Illinois needs more point guard help. They are all set at this position for the first time in a very long time. I can’t wait to see what they can do on the basketball court.

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