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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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PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 25: Trent Frazier
PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 25: Trent Frazier /

5. Trent Frazier lit the world on fire

The class of 2017 came into the Illinois basketball program highly touted. Mark Smith led the way being ranked in the top 100. Da’Monte Williams was a part of this class and he is the son of Illini legend Frank Williams. But, one player that didn’t get enough hype was Trent Frazier.

Frazier was a 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard from Wellington High School in Wellington, Florida. He was rated as a four-star recruit who was the No. 109 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 24 point guard in the nation. This kid played better than his rating in high school and at the college level as well.

Before coming to Champaign, Frazier won the Florida Class 9A Player of the Year honor his senior season. He had some accolades before becoming a member of the Orange and Blue. When he stepped foot in the State Farm Center, you could tell this kid was going to be special.

Next: Projected Illini roster with two scholarships remaining

Frazier finished his freshman season averaging 12.5 points, 3.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game. He was in the running for Freshman of the Year in the Big Ten and became the leader of this Illinois basketball team. I thought he was going to be a good player but Frazier exceeded my expectations. He set the world on fire year one and I can’t wait to see what he can do in the future.

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