Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup with the dream class of 2021
No. 5 Center/Forward
Starter: Mac Etienne
The final piece to the class of 2021 would be the most important piece. Mac Etienne is a must-get for the Illini as they look for a replacement for big man Kofi Cockburn. Etienne is a 6-foot-10, 220-pound monster who is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 43 player in the class of 2021.
I would slot Etienne as the starting No. 5 for the Illini if he chooses Champaign as his home. If Illinois doesn’t land Etienne, the No. 5 spot is going to struggle mightily. I am not sure what the Illini would do with the position. I assume Giorgi would take it back over. But that is why snagging Etienne is so important. We need a big man, and he fits the bill.
Backup: Coleman Hawkins
I love the talent Illinois is bringing in from the class of 2020. I have already named a couple of players, but one of the more underrated talents is Coleman Hawkins. The 6-foot-10, 195-pound big man is overlooked at Prolific Prep because of the talent around him. I believe he would come into the Illinois program, redshirt year one, and then he would be a solid backup for the Illini in 2021-22.
Backup: Jermaine Hamlin
As a backup last season, Jermaine Hamlin averaged 0.9 points and 0.8 rebounds per game. He wasn’t asked to do much but provide some relief when Kofi needed a rest. I think that will be Hamlin’s role moving forward as well. He is someone who Illinois can rely on spelling minutes for starters and backups.
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Backup: Brandon Lieb
The final piece to the puzzle is Brandon Lieb. A talented 6-foot-11, 205-pound big man out of Deerfield, Illinois, Lieb is entering the program from the class of 2020. I don’t expect much from Lieb the first few years with the team, but this kid could be an important piece for the Illini down the road.