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Illinois Basketball: Early projected Illini lineup for the 2021-22 season

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 27, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (left) and guard Da'Monte Williams (right) celebrate during the second half against the Ohio Bobcats at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (left) and guard Da'Monte Williams (right) celebrate during the second half against the Ohio Bobcats at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JANUARY 24: Alfonso Plummer #25 of the Utah Utes scores a three point basket against the Washington Huskies during the first half at Alaska Airlines Arena on January 24, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JANUARY 24: Alfonso Plummer #25 of the Utah Utes scores a three point basket against the Washington Huskies during the first half at Alaska Airlines Arena on January 24, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

No. 2 Guard

  • Starter: Alfonso Plummer – NR

There were a ton of transfers in the portal this offseason, but easily one of the biggest gets for any program was when Alfonso Plummer picked the Illinois basketball team. The Illini needed a shot in the arm after losing Ayo Dosunmu and Adam Miller. Plummer is a player who can give the program that needed shot and more.

Plummer wasn’t a highly rated recruit coming out of high school. He spent some time in the junior college level and then transferred to Utah. This past season with the Utes, Plummer put up 13.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game while shooting a great 38.3-percent from three-point range. He was also taking 6.7 three-pointers per game. Those are outstanding numbers. Hopefully, Illinois can get at least 80-percent or more of that production.

  • Backup: Brandin Podziemski – 4-star

There has been a lot of impact freshmen come through the doors of the State Farm Center in the last four years. I think you are going to end up adding Brandin Podziemski to the list of great freshmen for the Illini. His game continues to build, and his hype is already through the roof.

Podziemski really broke onto the scene over the past year and has risen ever since. He is a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 67 player coming out of the class of 2021. Podziemski was so good his senior year, he ended up winning the Wisconsin Mr. Basketball and the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year in a talent-rich state. His amazing shooting ability, handles and confidence is going to be fun to watch in Champaign.

  • Backup: Luke Goode – 4-star

Illinois probably had one of the most underrated recruiting classes in 2021. Another member of this great class is Luke Goode. Shooting was clearly a priority for Brad Underwood, and he was able to pull in some of the best pure shooters out of this class.

Goode is entering the Illinois basketball program as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 98 player in the class of 2021. He hails from Homestead High School, which is in northeast Indiana. This is not familiar recruiting territory for any former Illinois head coach. The Fort Wayne area is usually dominated by Michigan State, Purdue and Indiana. I am happy to see Illinois get a piece of that pie now. Goode should be a sensational spark plug in year one for this program.

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