No one really knew what the Illinois basketball team was getting when they picked up a commitment from Tulane transfer, Kipper Nichols.
Past
Nichols was a player who the Illini picked up at the beginning of the second semester in 2015. He wasn’t eligible to play for a year per NCAA rules, even though he never even played a game for the Green Wave. Illinois finally was allowed to play Nichols starting the second semester last year and he didn’t disappoint.
Last season, despite not playing at the collegiate level before, Nichols played pretty well. He finished the season averaging 4.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in the 13.6 minutes per game he played. He also shot 45.3-percent from the field and 44.4-percent from the three-point line.
Present
There is a new head coach – Brad Underwood – in town so this could mean great things for Nichols. I am not sure who will be in the starting lineup but I have Nichols as the backup at the No. 4 spot for the Illini. He is a 6-foot-6, 225-pound athletic wing who can do great things when in an offense that runs.
Underwood brings that running offense to the table. Nichols is going to benefit from having a new head coach and, despite being projected not to start, I think he will receive solid minutes. Illinois is short on bigger players so they will likely play small this season.
I potentially see Matic Vesel starting at the No. 5 which would leave Leron Black to start at the No. 4. Nichols would be behind Black but there is no depth there and Nichols will benefit. I see him getting at least 20 minutes per game. In that time he will shine.
Next: Trent Frazier past, present and future
Future
The future for Nichols is kind of murky. He will always see playing time but being a starter is not likely, in my opinion.
Black is going to be the starter for the next two seasons at the No. 4 spot. There is a possibility of Nichols moving to the No. 3 spot but the class of 2018 will bring in depth for the No. 3 spot. That means he won’t see a regular starting spot for his junior season.
Nichols would then enter his senior campaign but in 2019, the Illini should be bringing in some solid bigs and their guards will be good as well. I see Nichols being a primary backup once again during his senior season as well.
While Nichols is likely to be a backup his entire career, he will still see a lot of minutes throughout his stay in Champaign. He will be an important piece for Illinois to get to the NCAA tournament and their ultimate goal, the national title.