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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup with Adam Miller and DJ Steward

By Rees Woodcock

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 18, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 18, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 13: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) drives against Northwestern Wildcats guard Anthony Gaines (11) against forward Miller Kopp (10) during a Big Ten Tournament game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Illinois Fighting Illini on March 13, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 13: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) drives against Northwestern Wildcats guard Anthony Gaines (11) against forward Miller Kopp (10) during a Big Ten Tournament game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Illinois Fighting Illini on March 13, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No. 1 Guard

Starter – Trent Frazier

This entire projected lineup is predicated on who stays with the program and who wants to depart for the NBA. Trent Frazier has two years left in the college ranks if he chooses to stay around that long. If he does stick with the Illini, he would be the starting No. 1 guard when the 2020-2021 campaign rolls around.

Frazier finished his sophomore season putting up solid numbers. He improved on the year before averaging 13.7 points, 2.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. He did all of this while shooting 41.1-percent from the field and 40.6-percent from three-point range. While it didn’t seem like Frazier had a good season because of chemistry issues, he actually played pretty well.

Backup – Recruiting Need

There is a big recruiting need for the Illini at the No. 1 guard spot. Frazier isn’t a true No. 1 guard but I have him playing there because of the deficiencies in depth. But Illinois also needs to bring in a solid No. 1 guard from the class of 2020.

One option for this spot would be Marcus Watson. He is a solid point guard from Morgan Park High School. He is ranked as the No. 336 player in the class of 2020, so this would be a good option as a backup to Frazier for year one. That would enable Watson to get the flow of the game down better.

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