Illinois Basketball: Projected lineup if Brandon Weston picks the Illini

No. 5 Forward/Center

Starter: Giorgi Bezhanishvili

And now we get to the No. 5 spot for the Illini. It will be tough to see this position without Kofi Cockburn, but a senior version of Giorgi Bezhanishvili should be able to hold down the fort. I have Giorgi starting at the No. 5 spot because there isn’t much experience behind him.

Giorgi had a down sophomore campaign last season averaging 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. But the reason his season was down was due to the fact he had to make room for Kofi. That will all change by his senior season. Giorgi should take the reins and see somewhere north of 10 points or more per game.

Backup: Coleman Hawkins

I am curious to see how Coleman Hawkins develops over the next year. I see him potentially taking a redshirt year during his freshman season in 2020-21. This would enable the talented big man to get stronger and learn the pace of the game.

Hawkins could then come in during his redshirt freshman season and be the primary backup to Giorgi at the No. 5 spot. I think Hawkins is probably more of a No. 4, but he has the size to be able to hold his own at the No. 5. He would be a matchup nightmare for opposing big men too, as Hawkins can step out and shoot from distance.

Backup Jermaine Hamlin

Jermain Hamlin will see minutes during his junior year. He wasn’t asked to do much as a freshman, but he still spelled some valuable minutes for Kofi last season. I want to see Hamlin develop a little more and play with more confidence this year, though. If he can do that, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him move up the depth chart.

Backup: Brandon Lieb

Illinois did land a big man for the class of 2020. Brandon Lieb picked the Illini and could be a valuable piece for the program down the road. I see him redshirting this upcoming season and then seeing a few minutes as a redshirt freshman in 2021-22. I love the kids shooting, and look for him to make an impact by his junior year.