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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini starting lineup with Jermaine Hamlin

By Rees Woodcock

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts 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 reacts 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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CHAMPAIGN, IL – DECEMBER 15: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) dribbles by ETSU Buccaneers guard Patrick Good (10) during the college basketball game between the East Tennessee State Univeristy Buccaneers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 15, 2018, at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No. 2 Guard

Starter: Trent Frazier

Since joining the program a couple of years back, Trent Frazier has been a true joy to watch. This kid loves the game and has put his heart and soul into this Illinois team. I think his game speaks for itself. He should be the starting No. 2 guard on this team.

Frazier improved on most of his freshman numbers last season. He averaged 13.7 points, 2.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. He was sensational and efficient. He was hitting his three-pointers at a clip of 40.6-percent. That is a Steph Curry-like percentage.

I noticed that Frazier didn’t start in some of the games played overseas. I would attribute this to Brad Underwood wanting to see what he has on the bench. There probably isn’t much to read into the benching of Frazier. If he doesn’t start, I would be extremely shocked.

Backup: Alan Griffin

A rising player on the Illinois roster and someone who could make an impact on the team this season is Alan Griffin. I have him emerging as a player who can put points on the board. I am slotting him as Frazier’s primary backup.

Griffin only managed to average 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game last season, but he didn’t see much playing time. He started to get some playing time in this overseas tour and didn’t disappoint. He ended up averaging 16.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game during the trip. I would love to see big numbers out of him this upcoming campaign.

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