Illinois Basketball: Top 4 Illini players to ever wear the No. 2

Dec 22, 2018; St. Louis, MO, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Kipper Nichols (2) shoots during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2018; St. Louis, MO, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Kipper Nichols (2) shoots during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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The list of the best Illinois basketball players continues as we take a look at the most talented players to ever wear the No. 2.

Much like the list of the top five players to ever wear the No. 1, there aren’t a ton of Illini players to ever suit up in the No. 2. In fact, I believe I only found four total players to ever sport the number.

With that being said, it is time to reveal the best to ever wear the No. 2.

Here are the top four Illinois basketball players to ever wear the No. 2.

Illinois basketball
PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 15: The logo of the Illinois Fighting Illini on the uniform shorts during in a college basketball game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 15, 2020 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

4. Connor Serven

  • Best: 0.3 Pts, 0.3 Reb
  • Career: 0.2 Pts, 0.2 Reb
  • 2 NCAA

The No. 2 has not been a number many Illinois players have donned over the years. In fact, I believe only four players have ever worn the number since the program existed.

Checking in at the No. 4 spot on this list is current Illini forward, Connor Serven. Serven has spent two seasons with the Illini so far and has played in a total of 13 games and has averaged 1.9 minutes in each contest.

In 2020, Serven lived out his dream by deciding to be a preferred walk-on with the Illini. Since joining the team, he has been used sparingly, playing seven games in year one and six games this past season. Serven’s best season was in 2020-21 when he averaged 0.3 points and 0.3 rebounds per game. So far, he has career averages of 0.2 points and 0.2 rebounds per contest.

Serven has been on some good Illinois basketball teams as well. In both seasons he has been on the roster, the Illini have made it to the NCAA tournament and have advanced to the second round.