No. 1 Guard
Starter: Andre Curbelo
The 2021-22 campaign is a little thin right now considering we don’t have a full roster. The class of 2021 isn’t nearly complete. But, to lead things off, I have Andre Curbelo checking in at the starting No. 1 guard spot for the Illini. This seems like a no-brainer to many Illinois fans considering he should see playing time this year behind Ayo Dosunmu.
Curbelo is coming into the Illinois program as a highly-touted guard out of New York but originally hailing from Puerto Rico. The kid is a top 50 recruit and should make a splash in year one for the Orange and Blue. I expected Curbelo to learn a lot from Ayo in his lone year behind the talented future NBA player. His freshman campaign should lead to an even better sophomore year.
Backup: 2021 Recruit
Honestly, I am not completely sure where Illinois will go with their backup at the No. 1 spot. We don’t have a true point guard on the roster and there isn’t a ton out on the recruiting market for 2021.
I think Rafael Pinzon would be the best option as far as snagging a recruit goes. He is listed as a shooting guard but has the handles of a point guard. There is always a chance this spot is left open, essentially, and we have a rotation of someone like Austin Hutcherson bringing the ball up the court. He has good handles too. The backup No. 1 guard spot is a big question mark as of right now, though.