Illinois Basketball: Top 5 NBA prospects on the Illini roster

By Max Feldman | Aug 22, 2020

IOWA CITY. IA- FEBRUARY 02: Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has words with Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) during a time out during a Big Ten Conference basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City Ia, on February 02, 2020. Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ANN ARBOR, MI – JANUARY 25: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) celebrates after scoring the game-winning basket during a regular season Big Ten Conference game between the Illinois Fighting Illini (21) and the Michigan Wolverines on January 25, 2020, at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Illinois defeated Michigan 64-62. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Ayo Dosunmu

Draft Year Projection: 2021 NBA Draft

Ayo’s build and skillset are made for the league. His work in the weight room as well as his experience playing both on and off-ball makes him a strong bet to be a borderline first-rounder next year.

He has elite feel in the pick and roll, impressive end to end speed, top tier competitiveness and motor as well as pure shot-making ability at all three levels. Efficiency as a playmaker, continuing to evolve his shot mechanics and defensive versatility will be the major hinge points of Ayo’s stock moving into his Junior campaign.

Ayo should be the head of the snake in recruiting pitches for years to come when covering development as the prominent figure in Underwood’s stint in Champaign thus far. Built-in the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Delon Wright, Malcolm Brogdon mold, Ayo’s success at the next level would go a long way for the Illini program.

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