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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup with Matthew Mayer

By Rees Woodcock

Matthew Mayer celebrates a successful 3-pointer during Baylor’s victory at Oklahoma in January.Syndication The Oklahoman
Matthew Mayer celebrates a successful 3-pointer during Baylor’s victory at Oklahoma in January.Syndication The Oklahoman /
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Illinois basketball
Feb 13, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard RJ Melendez (15) shares shares a hand with teammate Jacob Grandison (3)at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 Guard/Forward

Starter: RJ Melendez

The 2021-22 season showed Illini fans a lot of what the future will hold for the Illinois basketball team. One of the main pieces of the future is RJ Melendez. He showed so much progression in his game and the ability to be a primetime player for the Orange and Blue.

In the first season with Illinois, Melendez was able to average 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in just 8.5 minutes of action in each game. What stuck out to me about his talent is his athletic ability and the insane 60% he shot from three-point range. This ability is why I think Brad Underwood goes with Melendez as the starter at the No. 3 spot. He has a chance to leave early for the NBA, and I think Underwood needs to put Melendez front and center for the world to see.

Backup: Ty Rodgers

Despite only returning four total players from last year’s roster, Illinois actually has some solid depth. The couple of transfers who came into the program is a big reason for the depth, but so is the class of 2022. This group brings so much talent to the table, and Ty Rodgers is a crucial part of this class.

Rodgers enters the Illinois basketball program as a four-star recruit and the No. 48 player in the class of 2022. He is a great wing player from Thornton High School, and he is also the best player coming out of the state of Illinois. I truly think Rodgers could easily start for the Illini this season, but the transfer talent will delay his starting spot a year. But, trust me, Rodgers will be a mainstay on the Illinois roster in 2023-24. For now, I have him as a primary backup getting solid minutes as a freshman.

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