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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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GLENDALE, AZ – APRIL 03: The ball goes through the hoop during warm ups before the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

No. 2 Guard

Starter: Mark Smith

Brad Underwood only had one commitment for the class of 2018 he had to pull in and that was Mark Smith. Smith wasn’t just any ordinary recruit, though. He was a top 100 player who won the Illinois Mr. Basketball award. This kid was special and Underwood was able to land him in a short amount of time.

If you ever watch Smith on the basketball court you can tell why he will start in 2017 and the following year in 2018 as well. He is a superstar in the making. I think recruiting sites have him rated too low. He is a four-star recruit who is the No. 80 player in the class of 2017. I think he will be tremendous and that is why I project him starting as a sophomore at the No. 2 guard spot.

Backup: Da’Monte Williams

Many people are overlooking another member of the class of 2017. Da’Monte Williams was the first commitment to this class and that was a time he was ranked in the top 75. Since then, he has dealt with injuries and that has dropped his ranking quite a bit.

Williams is coming into the Illinois program ranked as the No. 181 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 7 player in the state of Illinois. I wouldn’t buy into the low rankings, though. This kid has tremendous talent and that will show on the court. He will be a special player for the Illini and likely the backup No. 2 guard in 2017.

Backup: Aaron Jordan

Aaron Jordan would be entering his senior season in 2018. He will have a chance to show Underwood his worth on the basketball court this upcoming year and that will determine how much playing time he gets the following year.

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