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Illinois Basketball: Top 5 Illini wing-forwards of the 2010s

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 22: Mike Davis #24 of the Illinois Fighting Illini tries to get the fans to make noise during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Assembly Hall on January 22, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State won 73-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 22: Mike Davis #24 of the Illinois Fighting Illini tries to get the fans to make noise during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Assembly Hall on January 22, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State won 73-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 18: Jereme Richmond #22 and Mike Davis #24 of the Illinois Fighting Illini apply pressure against Draymond Green #23 of the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Assembly Hall on January 18, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 18: Jereme Richmond #22 and Mike Davis #24 of the Illinois Fighting Illini apply pressure against Draymond Green #23 of the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Assembly Hall on January 18, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

4. Jereme Richmond

I am going to have some people question why I have Jereme Richmond on the list of top five wing-forwards. I don’t care, though. Richmond was going to be a special player and had a solid freshman campaign.

Richmond was a part of that amazing 2010 class that Bruce Weber was able to bring in. Three players from the state of Illinois signed with the Illini, and all three players were top 80 recruits. Two of the three were ranked in the top 30, one of which was Richmond.

The talented in-state recruit only spent one season with the Orange and Blue, though. He averaged 7.6 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. You could see how talented this kid was going to be. But he didn’t make very good decisions early on in his life.

At the end of his freshman campaign, Richmond decided to enter the NBA Draft. He wouldn’t get picked and off-court issues would soon follow. Richmond is one of those, “what could have been?” types of players.

Even though the stint at Illinois was short, Richmond belongs on the list of top wing-forwards of the 2010s. If he would have stuck it out with the Illini, I have no doubt in my mind he would have been All-Big Ten and, potentially, an All-American.

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