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Illinois Basketball: 3 reasons Quincy Guerrier should pick the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 27: Quincy Guerrier #1 of the Syracuse Orange looks for a rebound in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game against the Houston Cougars in the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 27: Quincy Guerrier #1 of the Syracuse Orange looks for a rebound in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game against the Houston Cougars in the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Mar 12, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) attempts a three point basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) attempts a three point basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Next in line

A player like Quincy Guerrier has gone from a solid recruit who was hovering around the top 100 nationally, to someone who has his eye on the NBA because of the numbers he has put up the past season.

Guerrier averaged 13.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for Syracuse in 2020-21. Those are great numbers for a sophomore, and they should put him right in the crosshairs for the NBA the next couple of seasons. That is why coming to Illinois would be a great move. Guerrier is next in line to be drafted into the NBA.

I know, Illinois has had a long drought in the NBA Draft. The last player selected was Meyers Leonard in 2012. That is all changing in 2021, though. Ayo Dosunmu is going to be a first round pick. This should start a trend for the Illini of having players go in the NBA Draft. It wouldn’t shock me to see multiple players get picked in the next four or five years.

Guerrier could be the next Illini to go in the draft. If he picks Illinois, he would have a chance to shine and build on the outstanding numbers he put up last season. There is plenty of room to grow in Brad Underwood’s style of play.

Illinois had three players go over 10 points per game in 2020-21. Most likely, two of those players are going to be gone from the team. That leaves a lot of scoring needed, and Guerrier could soak up most of that scoring production.

Ayo is about to go in the NBA Draft in the coming months. Guerrier has a chance to be the next Illinois player selected in 2022. Let’s make that happen.

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