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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini starting lineup with Coleman Hawkins

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: A basketball rolls off the court during a timeout in the Big Ten Conference game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2017, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: A basketball rolls off the court during a timeout in the Big Ten Conference game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2017, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MIDDLE VILLAGE, NEW YORK – APRIL 05: Kofi Cockburn #21 of Oak Hill Academy after his teams loss to La Lumiere in the semifinal of the GEICO High School National Tournament at Christ the King High School on April 05, 2019 in Middle Village, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
MIDDLE VILLAGE, NEW YORK – APRIL 05: Kofi Cockburn #21 of Oak Hill Academy after his teams loss to La Lumiere in the semifinal of the GEICO High School National Tournament at Christ the King High School on April 05, 2019 in Middle Village, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

No. 5 Center

Starter: Kofi Cockburn

There have been a handful of recruits who I have been excited about beyond belief and Kofi Cockburn is one of those players. It is going to be fun to see the Illini have a skilled big man in the paint.

Obviously, Cockburn is going to step into the starting role this upcoming season. There is a chance he departs after his freshman year, but I see him sticking around for two seasons with the Illini. Cockburn should be a dominating force for Illinois down low. Look for him to be the starting No. 5 for this program as long as he is here.

Backup: Jermaine Hamlin

I am curious to see what we have in Jermaine Hamlin. He committed to the Illini just about a month ago, and his big body should provide some depth at the No. 5 spot.

Next. 3 observations from the Illini loss to Nebraska. dark

I have Hamlin backing up Cockburn for this upcoming season and in 2020-2021. He has great size at 6-foot-10, 235-pounds, so I am excited to see how he can use his body in the paint. I think Hamlin will be with the program for all four years. Keep an eye out for how this kid develops. He could be an under-the-radar pickup for this program.

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