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Illinois Basketball: Illini land two on the 247Sports All-Big Ten teams

By Rees Woodcock

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 27: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini shoots in the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on February 27, 2020 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 27: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini shoots in the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on February 27, 2020 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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The Illinois basketball season is right around the corner, and that means there are preseason All-Big Ten teams being released.

Illinois hasn’t been the most popular team on the All-lists the past few years. We have had some good players, but the teams tended to be bad. But that has all changed since Ayo Dosunmu and Company have arrived on campus. The Illini are one of the darlings of the college basketball world.

There are a lot of people taking notice of what the Orange and Blue have on campus right now. The return of two of the biggest stars this program has ever had in Ayo and Kofi Cockburn should set the Illini up for success this upcoming season. 247Sports thinks these two are even worthy of their preseason All-Big Ten team too.

247Sports’ third-team All-Big Ten starts off with Nate Reuvers, Geo Baker, Micah Potter, Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers. That is a stacked third-team considering there are a couple of players on that list who I believe have a shot at the Big Ten Player of the Year award.

I am actually not convinced the second-team is better than the third team. The second-team consists of Aaron Henry, Trevion Williams, D’Mitrik Trice, Rockett Watts and Marcus Carr. Williams is the best out of this bunch. This kid could take home the Big Ten Player of the Year honors. He is someone who I think will have a bright NBA future too.

And now we get to the first-team. This team is far superior to the other two teams. The first-team consists of Joe Wieskamp, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kofi Cockburn, Ayo Dosunmu and Luka Garza. Now, this is one of the best first-teams I have seen in years.

Garza and Kofi are going to be a fun watch at least twice this upcoming season. The matchup of these two big men reminds me of the 1990s. I believe each one of the five players listed above will get picked in the 2021 NBA Draft as well.

Next. Top 5 NBA prospects on the Illini roster. dark

The Big Ten is full of talent this upcoming season. It is probably the most stacked I have seen the conference in years. Let’s enjoy the talent on the court while we have it.

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