Illinois Basketball: The legend continues to grow for Trent Frazier

The legend of Trent Frazier grew for the Illinois basketball team on Saturday night.

I always thought this kid was a great player. As soon as he stepped foot on the court and started to razzle-dazzle, I was immediately in awe of his abilities. He has been the heartbeat of this program since he pledged his commitment.

On Saturday night, Frazier did something that only 50 players in the long history of the program have been able to accomplish. He surpassed the 1,000-point mark during his career. This is a great achievement and one that will live in the record book for ages.

Frazier was able to get to this accomplishment in a short amount of time too. He was able to hit 1,000 points in just 82 games. Illini legend Eddie Johnson also hit 1,000 points in 82 games. Malcolm Hill did it in 88 games. It took Brandon Paul 99 games. It even took all-time great Dee Brown 79 games to get to this mark. That just puts what Frazier has accomplished into perspective.

I also then step back and think about the willingness of Frazier to give up his role as the No. 1 man on this team. He came in and was instantly our best player. But more talent has joined him, and he has done the most unselfish, humble, thing you can do as a player. He is sacrificing his numbers for the sake of his team. That has to be hard to do and is something that doesn’t go unnoticed.

Even with Frazier sacrificing his numbers, he is still on pace to cement himself in the Illinois record books for the rest of time. He is on pace for roughly 1,506 career points, which would rank No. 12 all-time. He would be right ahead of legends Efrem Winters and Nick Weatherspoon. That is some good company.

Frazier hitting that scoring mark would only add to how many times his name is in the Illini record book. He is already No. 5 in three-pointers made in a game (7). He is No. 9 in three-pointers made in a season (80). And, with the pace he is on now, Frazier should sit No. 9 in career three-point field goals made this year. He is on pace to get to 194 three-pointers for his career after this season. By the time he is done, he is projected at 258 three-pointers, which would be No. 4 all-time.

The legend of Frazier continues to grow by the game. This kid is something special, and Illinois fans need to appreciate what we are watching. A player like this doesn’t come around very often.