Illinois Basketball: You can build a program around Da’Monte Williams

The legend of the class of 2017 continues to be built every day for the Illinois basketball team.

This class transformed through two different coaching regimes and is looking to be one of the best we have seen in decades. There isn’t just one special player in this class either.

Trent Frazier has been the superstar scorer from the class of 2017. He is sensational every game and brings electricity to a dark program. I am excited about the potential Mark Smith possess as well. He has struggled at times but the ability to be special is there.

Greg Eboigbodin has started to emerge as the best option at the No. 5 spot for the Illini. No one really knew what we were getting with him, but he has surpassed expectations. Matic Vesel will also eventually come around and be a contributor.

Illinois also had another guard come in from the class of 2017. Da’Monte Williams came in as the son of former Illini legend Frank Williams. While he still is the son of Frank, in my opinion, he has dropped the title of Frank’s son and is now just Monte.

Monte’s basketball career has been up and down. He was once the No. 46 recruit in the class of 2017. Williams then dealt with injuries, and he was dropped in the recruiting rankings out of the top 100, finishing at No. 174. Many thought the class was just average because Williams’ ranking wasn’t high, so he ended up just looking like a three-star. But, Illini fans knew who’s blood this kid had and what talent he possessed.

The Iowa game was the first start for the young Williams. He earned this starting role not because of his scoring ability but for his ability to do the other things. Williams is a good rebounding guard. He can become a ball distributor if he needs to be. He even had a game in the last three where he had four steals.

Williams continues to impress, but should he be a starter right now? The answer is simply, yes.

The numbers won’t jump off the page at the end of the game for Williams. He won’t put up 25 points, although he probably could on a random night. But, what Williams brings to the Illinois basketball team is something we haven’t had in over a decade. He brings grit.

Next: 5 takeaways from the Illini loss to Iowa

Williams is that player who will do anything the coach says and will run through a wall for his teammates. He will and can become whatever the team needs. He does it all while getting dirty. He hits the floor and sacrifices for the team. He is a unique player who the Illini need to help reach the postseason in the near future. He is the heart and soul of this team and someone you can build a program around.