Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Top 5 Illini shooting guards of the 2010s

By Rees Woodcock

AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 22: Brandon Paul #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates during the game against the Colorado Buffaloes during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at The Frank Erwin Center on March 22, 2013 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 22: Brandon Paul #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates during the game against the Colorado Buffaloes during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at The Frank Erwin Center on March 22, 2013 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
CHAMPAIGN, IL – DECEMBER 27: Rayvonte Rice #24 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives to the basket against Delbert Love #3 of the Kennesaw State Owls at State Farm Center on December 27, 2014 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – DECEMBER 27: Rayvonte Rice #24 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives to the basket against Delbert Love #3 of the Kennesaw State Owls at State Farm Center on December 27, 2014 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. Rayvonte Rice

Illinois was able to secure a big-time scorer from the transfer market in 2012 when they pulled in Rayvonte Rice. The Champaign, Illinois native finally came back home to play for his hometown team.

Rice started his career with Drake where he lit the world on fire. He averaged 15.4 points with the Bulldogs, but no one ever knows how a small school player will correlate to a big-time program. No one truly knew what type of numbers Rice would put up with the Illini.

Illinois fans found out shortly what type of player Rice was on the court. He was sensational in the scoring department, averaging 15.9 points, 6 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.5 assists per game in his first year with the program. His second season was even better.

In the final year Rice was with the Illini, he ended up averaging 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He was able to hit his three-point shots at a clip of 43.6-percent as well. Sadly, Illinois would get to the bubble of the NCAA tournament each season Rice was in Champaign but would never make the postseason.

I would argue Rice would be higher on this list if Illinois had more success as a team during his two-year stint. But he still lands in the top five at No. 3 on the list of best shooting guards of the 2010s.

Home/Illinois Basketball