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Illinois Basketball: Illini add to depth with Andres Feliz commitment

By Rees Woodcock

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 15: A detail view of the March Madness logo that is embossed into the official tournament basketballs is seen during an open public practice during the practice day before the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on March 15, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 15: A detail view of the March Madness logo that is embossed into the official tournament basketballs is seen during an open public practice during the practice day before the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on March 15, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Illinois basketball team added to their class of 2018 on Sunday morning.

Andres Feliz took to Instagram to announce he will be continuing his basketball career with the Illini. This is a solid pickup for the Illini and it will help give them even more depth than they already had.

Feliz is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard who attended West Oaks Academy in Orlando, Florida before committing to play for the USF Bulls two years ago. But, before Feliz suited up for the Bulls, he left the program and played in the junior college ranks for Northwest Florida State.

During Feliz’s freshman campaign, he averaged 11.6 points and 4.7 assists per game in 25.5 minutes of action. His sophomore season as even better. He ended up averaging 20 points, 6.1 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. His numbers took a huge jump and now the Illini can have this coming off the bench.

I love the addition of Feliz considering the type of production he had at the JUCO level. I don’t expect him to have those numbers with the Illini, but he is a great option as the backup to Ayo Dosunmu or Trent Frazier.

Illinois lost Te’Jon Lucas and needed a solid replacement for him. Having someone experienced coming in is great. But, I think we might have landed someone who is just as good or potentially better. We might have upgraded the backup position here.

I expect Dosunmu being the No. 1 with Frazier at the No. 2. Feliz then would fill in for Dosunmu most of the time and come in for Frazier every once in a while. It is good to have a guard who can do everything on the court as well. Underwood looks for those multi-tool athletes.

Next: Projected Illini starting lineup with Tevian Jones

Illinois got a great JUCO player today. Feliz is going to add to what should be one of the best backcourts I have seen in the Orange and Blue in a long time.

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