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Illinois Basketball: 5 biggest surprises for the Illini in 2017-2018

By Rees Woodcock

PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 25: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood during the first half of the College Basketball Game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 25, 2018, at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 25: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood during the first half of the College Basketball Game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 25, 2018, at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 28: Tyler Cook
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 28: Tyler Cook /

3. Mark Smith was a one and done

The prized commitment in the class of 2017 was none other than 2017 Illinois Mr. Basketball Mark Smith. This was a great get by Brad Underwood and his coaching staff. All the blue bloods were after Smith but the Illini were able to get him to stay home.

Smith went from being relatively unknown to a superstar. He was a 6-foot-5, 225-pound guard from Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Illinois. He was rated as a four-star recruit who was the No. 79 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 16 shooting guard in the nation.

Getting a player like Smith had me excited for the season. He was a superstar guard who would help change the Illini program around for the better. But, that didn’t happen while Smith was in Champaign. He struggled year one only averaging 5.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. The struggles on the court were real. He had the ability to drive but couldn’t finish and his long-distance shots were sporadic. But, you could see the potential was there.

Smith decided to bolt after one year, though. He was a one and done player for the Illini. But, he didn’t go to the NBA. He decided to transfer out of the program and will be playing for another program after he sits out a year.

I was surprised Smith ended up being a one and done for Illinois. I thought he could have really shined if he gave it more time in Champaign. I wanted to see him progress in the Orange and Blue but that didn’t happen. It was a sad ending to what could have been a really good career.

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