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Illinois Basketball: Which Illini players hit expectations in 2017-2018

By Rees Woodcock

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his players during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his players during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 22: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da’Monte Williams (20) holds up three fingers in celebration after a big play in the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 22, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 22: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da’Monte Williams (20) holds up three fingers in celebration after a big play in the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 22, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Da’Monte Williams

Expectation: Hit

The most fascinating player for the Illini is Da’Monte Williams. This kid came into the Illinois basketball program only ranked as the No. 177 player in the class of 2017. But, at one time, he was a top 60 player in the nation.  A torn ACL during his senior year really sent him plummeting down the recruiting ranks.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, though. Williams might have been dropped in the rankings but he is still that same great player we saw during his sophomore and junior years in high school. Heading into last season, though, my expectations weren’t terribly high.

Williams was coming off that ACL tear and, honestly, I would have been okay with him redshirting year one. But, he was good enough to play and there were moments of greatness with him. His stats don’t jump off the page – 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists – but he could do everything on the court to help the team.

Illinois hasn’t had a player like Williams in a while. I can’t wait until he starts developing into an All-Big Ten caliber type of guard. He is going to be a huge asset to this Illini team. The expectation I had for Williams was low. If he played this past season then he hit my expectation. He did that and showed Illini fans how good he could really be.

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