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Illinois Basketball: Top 3 Illini shooting guards of all-time

By Jalen Wilson

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 12: Luther Head #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini defends during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Assembly Hall on January 12, 2005 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated Penn State 90-64 during their run to the Final Four. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 12: Luther Head #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini defends during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Assembly Hall on January 12, 2005 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated Penn State 90-64 during their run to the Final Four. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO – MARCH 26: Luther Head #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates with assistant coach Wayne McClain after victory over the Arizona Wildcats in the Chicago Regional Final in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship at the Allstate Arena on March 26, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois. Ilinois defeated Arizona 90-89 in overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO – MARCH 26: Luther Head #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates with assistant coach Wayne McClain after victory over the Arizona Wildcats in the Chicago Regional Final in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship at the Allstate Arena on March 26, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois. Ilinois defeated Arizona 90-89 in overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

No. 3 Luther Head

Luther Head spent four years wearing an Orange and Blue uniform. He was a player who didn’t put up eye-popping numbers but had a lot of succes during his Illini career. I think most people wouldn’t suspect him to be at this spot, but I’m going to explain why I have him as the No. 3 shooting guard of all-time.

During his career with the Illini, Head averaged 10.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He shot 47-percent from the field and 38-percent from three-point range. He also had a true shooting percentage of 60-percent.

Head’s best season came during his senior year. He finished that season averaging 15.9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. He shot 46-percent from the field and 41-percent from three-point range.

Head has a long list of accomplishments, which is why I have him at the No. 3 spot. He was named to the All-Big Ten team once and was named as a consensus All-American. He also made the All-Big Ten Tournament team once, and he is Big Ten champion.

Illinois made the NCAA tournament all four years Head was in Champaign. The deepest run he made was getting to the NCAA championship game in 2005. Head holds places in the all-time record book for Illinois. He is No. 6 in all-time three-pointers made and No. 10 in total steals.

The biggest knock on Head’s Illini career is that his first two years were inconsistent. If that is his biggest weakness, then I think he is doing alright. I still think he is worthy of getting the third spot on this list.

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