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Illinois Basketball: A thank you to the Illini players who are leaving the program

By Rees Woodcock

Jan 11, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) gathers guard Da'Monte Williams (20) and guard Alfonso Plummer (11) together during a break against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) gathers guard Da'Monte Williams (20) and guard Alfonso Plummer (11) together during a break against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
Dec 18, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Jacob Grandison (3), center, watch the action in the final minute of the second half against the Saint Francis Red Flash at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Jacob Grandison

Not a lot of transfer players have worked in the past for the Illinois basketball team. There have been numerous transfers that came in and couldn’t help lead the program to the NCAA tournament.

But that wasn’t the case with Jacob Grandison. He joined the Illini after two years with Holy Cross and he had to sit out a season due to NCAA tournament rules. For the 2020-21 campaign, Illinois fans got to see Grandison do work.

This kid joined the Orange and Blue and was an immediate do-it-all type of player. For his career at Illinois, Grandison averaged 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. He was sensational for the three-point arc, hitting 41% in each of his two seasons with the program.

Grandison gave Illinois a source of scoring off the bench and as a starter. The team saw great success with him on the court.

Illinois made it to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances with Grandison. We entered the 2021 postseason as a No. 1 seed for the first time since 2005. The Illini advanced to the Round of 32 in the two years he was with the program as well.

At the end of the day, Grandison made Illinois a more viable team and one of the best programs in the country. I would argue he is one of the best transfers this program has ever had. His ability to come in and make an immediate impact doesn’t go unnoticed. Thank you for everything, Jacob. You have meant the world to the Illini fanbase.

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