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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup for 2023 with no new additions

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN , IL - NOVEMBER 13: The Big 10 logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Georgetown Hoyas and the Illinois Fighting Illini at the State Farm Center on November 13, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
CHAMPAIGN , IL - NOVEMBER 13: The Big 10 logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Georgetown Hoyas and the Illinois Fighting Illini at the State Farm Center on November 13, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Grand Blanc forward Ty Rodgers (23) shoots a free throw against Ann Arbor Huron during the second half of the MHSAA Division 1 boys state final at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Saturday, April 10, 2021.
Grand Blanc forward Ty Rodgers (23) shoots a free throw against Ann Arbor Huron during the second half of the MHSAA Division 1 boys state final at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Saturday, April 10, 2021. /

No. 3 Wing

Starter: Ty Rodgers

It is hard to watch Ty Rodgers and then put him on this list. Why you might ask? Because I am not sure if he is going to last two years at Illinois. I believe there is a chance that Rodgers shows out this season and departs for the NBA. That is how good I think he could be for this program.

Rodgers was a four-star who was ranked as the No. 52 player coming out of Thornton Township High School in Illinois. I would venture to say, most people probably view Rodgers as underrated checking in at No. 52 in the class of 2022. I see Rodgers being a primary backup at Illinois in 2022-23, and if he makes it past this year, then he is for sure going to be starting at the No. 3 spot next season. This kid is amazingly talented.

Backup: Scholarship/Transfer

Illinois is going to need to find some help at the wing moving forward. Granted, we have a ton of wing-type talent on the roster, but we could always use more help.

This is where depth would take the biggest hit moving into next season. A player like Terrence Shannon Jr. is going to depart, which would leave Illinois looking for more options to play behind Rodgers at the No. 3 spot. If we could find a good young player or a talented transfer, that would be optimal for 2023-24. Illinois needs a primary backup to Rodgers.

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