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Illinois Basketball: 3 reasons why Bryce Hopkins should pick the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 18: A. Illinois Fighting Illini logo is seen on the side of a basketball before the start of the during the college basketball game between the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 18, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 18: A. Illinois Fighting Illini logo is seen on the side of a basketball before the start of the during the college basketball game between the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 18, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 10: Adam Miller drives to the basket during the Nike Academy Showcase Game on August 10, 2019 at the Los Angeles Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Talented team around him

I mentioned in the previous slide that Illinois is going to have players departing the program. This is a bad thing, but that doesn’t mean the cupboard will be bare. Illinois will have a ton of talent on the team and will only continue to build.

Andre Curbelo, a top 50 player in the class of 2020, will be starting at the No. 1 guard spot. He is one of the best players in the country and will be sensational with the Orange and Blue. The handles that Curbelo possesses are insane, and he can get to the rim and score the ball. This kid is special.

The No. 2 guard will likely be Adam Miller in 2021-2022. Miller is a top 40 player in the class of 2020 and can score from anywhere on the court. He is a playmaker in the truest form. Snagging an in-state player like Miller will help this team for years to come.

Let’s take a look at who else would be on the roster. Luke Goode is a knockdown shooter who will be either starting or the sixth man on the team. He is a top 100 player in 2021. Illinois also has the experience of Austin Hutcherson and Jacob Grandison as senior leaders of this program. They can both do everything on the court. I haven’t even mentioned Giorgi Bezhanisvili who will also be a senior. He is a high-energy glue guy.

So, when you add a player like Bryce Hopkins to the mix, it makes Illinois a contender for a national title. He would give us three top 50 players in the starting lineup and a lot of senior talent. That is the combination to win now.

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