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Illinois Basketball: Starting lineup with the projected class of 2018

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 13: Illinois Fighting Illini fans cheer during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Assembly Hall on February 13, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Purdue defeated Illinois 81-70. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 13: Illinois Fighting Illini fans cheer during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Assembly Hall on February 13, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Purdue defeated Illinois 81-70. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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No. 1 Guard

Starter: Te’Jon Lucas

Some people may doubt that Te’Jon Lucas will be starting for the Illinois basketball team in 2018 but I don’t. I think he has a lot of talent and will be the starting No. 1 guard for this program.

Lucas averaged 20.7 minutes per game last season and everyone saw what he could do. He was an instant game changer, and I can make an argument if John Groce would have played him earlier, the Illini could have gone dancing.

With a handful of newcomers coming in, Lucas will have to share who brings the ball up the court, though. It won’t just be him handling the ball and that will be a nice change of pace for the fans. Illinois will actually have guard depth.

Backup: Trent Frazier

Another great commit for the class of 2017 was Trent Frazier. He is going to help the Illini with guard depth they haven’t had in quite some time.

Frazier came into the Illini program as a four-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 86 player in the class of 2017. He will likely start as the backup this season to Lucas. He will then probably be a backup in 2018 as well. Don’t be surprised if Frazier gets around 20 minutes per game, though. There is a lot of talent with him and he will be key to getting to the top of the Big Ten.

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