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Illinois Basketball: Illini lineup with Alfonso Plummer and Trent Frazier

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 2, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) dribbles on Michigan Wolverines guard Eli Brooks (55) in the second half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) dribbles on Michigan Wolverines guard Eli Brooks (55) in the second half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
Feb 20, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Jacob Grandison (3) in action while Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Both Gach (11) defends in the first half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 Guard/Forward

Starter: Jacob Grandison

With the return of Trent Frazier and addition of Alfonso Plummer, I kept Jacob Grandison at the No. 4 spot. Having someone as experienced as Grandison, to couple with the leadership and experience of Frazier and Plummer, is going to pay great dividends for the Illinois basketball program.

The numbers for Grandison didn’t jump off the page last year. He averaged 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest. But this kid was super-efficient. He knew his role on the team. Grandison shot 41.5-percent from three-point range, which is a great number. He also hit 95.7-percent of his free throws. Efficiency, leadership and experience are what Grandison brings to the table, and Illinois needs every single one of those things if we want to win next year.

Backup: RJ Melendez

The third member of the Illinois class of 2021 is RJ Melendez. He is a player that not a lot of people are talking about right now but will sneak up and start getting some serious minutes early in his Illinois career.

I have Melendez as the backup No. 4 to Grandison. I actually believe Melendez could get somewhere between 15-20 minutes per game, depending on who quickly he develops. If Melendez starts clicking and develops great chemistry with the rest of the Illini team, then he could be in for a solid freshman campaign. For now, though, I have him as the backup at the No. 4 spot.

Backup: Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk

Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk is the backup to the backup at the No. 4 spot. He shouldn’t be used unless Illinois is blowing the other team out of the water. This is how he was used last season, and the future should hold the same.

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