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Illinois Basketball: Brandin Podziemski joins list of Illini Gatorade POY’s

By Rees Woodcock

Jan 30, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; A general scene of the I flag and cheerleaders prior to the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; A general scene of the I flag and cheerleaders prior to the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – DECEMBER 06: General view of Illinois Fighting Illini basketballs seen before the game against the IUPUI Jaguars at State Farm Center on December 6, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year 1987 – Marcus Liberty

Illinois fans in the 1980s didn’t have to wait too long to snag their next Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. In fact, just one year later, the Illini were able to pull in the 1987 winner in Marcus Liberty.

Lou Henson was on fire in the mid-to-late 1980s when it came to recruiting. Liberty was among the many great recruits, and he might have actually been the best of the bunch. Coming out of King High School in Chicago, Liberty was arguably the highest-rated recruit in the nation. That is right, Illinois had what many considered as the best player coming out of the class of 1987.

Why was Liberty the best to do it in his class? He dominated with King, averaging 27.7 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks and 3 steals per game as a senior. Those incredible numbers helped propel Liberty to the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year in 1987.

Liberty ended up sitting out his freshman year at Illinois but was unleashed on the Big Ten in 1988-89. He would only end up spending two seasons in Champaign, but they were incredible years. In Liberty’s first season, he averaged 8.4 points and the Illini went to the Final Four. In year two, he put up 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

It may have been a short run with the Illini, but Liberty is one of the best to ever come through the program. He was one of the first Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year’s to join the team as well.

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