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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup with the RJ Melendez commitment

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da'Monte Williams (20) celebrate a three point basket in the first half against the Baylor Bears at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da'Monte Williams (20) celebrate a three point basket in the first half against the Baylor Bears at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 16, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats forward Miller Kopp (10) controls the ball against Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) during the second half at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats forward Miller Kopp (10) controls the ball against Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) during the second half at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 Guard

Starter: Trent Frazier (GR-C)

Illinois basketball could have a pretty solid team next season if they have two of their main seniors return. Due to the NCAA COVID-19 rules put into place, Trent Frazier can return to the Illini for one more season. I am going to slot him into the Illini roster as the starting No. 2 guard.

Frazier is helping the current squad as a starter at the No. 2 spot this season. He is putting up 10 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. His veteran leadership and talent will hopefully return next year. If he does, he should be slotted in the starting lineup as the No. 2 guard for the Orange and Blue.

Backup: Luke Goode (FR)

The class of 2021 isn’t big for the Illini, but they have a couple of talented players coming into the program who should help the team from day one. The first of the players is Luke Goode. The 6-foot-7 wing out of Fort Wayne committed to Illinois back in April 2020 and signed in November. This addition will be big for the program.

I have Goode slotted into the backup No. 2 spot for Illinois entering his freshman season. He is a big No. 2 guard, but I think his size will only help him when it comes to scoring. His length at 6-foot-7 will also help Goode on the defensive end of the court with closeouts and players having trouble shooting over him. I see him flourishing in this role.

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