Illinois Basketball: Top 3 Illini small forwards of all-time

The Illinois basketball program has had an array of talented small forwards in the past, and I’m here to tell you who the top three are of all-time.

This small forward list will be different from the all-time shooting guard and point guard list. The list will still include three players but I will name two more players as an honorable mention.

To make this list, players have to have good stats and at least one NCAA tournament appearance. The players had to at least made one All-Big ten team as well. I will also take field goal percentage into account because I always think it’s important that a player shoots well from the field.

One of the players being left off the list is Malcolm Hill. Hill spent four years wearing an Orange and Blue uniform. For Hill’s career, he averaged 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.  He was a good player and I respect him for staying all four years, even though he could’ve transferred. But the reason he isn’t on the list is that he has no postseason success. Now, it isn’t all his fault. He showed up most seasons,  but postseason success is really important to me when ranking players.

The other player being left off this list is Rick Schmidt. He didn’t make the list for the same reason Hill didn’t make it. He lacked postseason success and accomplishments. He made zero postseason runs and has no All-Big Ten teams or national awards.

Those are my two honorable mention players. So, without further Ado, here is the all-time Illini small forward list.