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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup with Amani Hansberry

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN , IL - NOVEMBER 13: The Illinois Fighting Illini logo on the floor before a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas 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 Illinois Fighting Illini logo on the floor before a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the State Farm Center on November 13, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Illinois basketball
Skyy Clark (30) drives the ball past TaDarius Jacobs (23) on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, during Hoop City Pro Week at First Assembly Christian School in Cordova. /

It was a long wait, but the Illinois basketball team secured their first commitment for the class of 2023.

Amani Hansberry decided to end his recruitment and pick the Illini on Sunday. This was a huge commitment for the Orange and Blue as Hansberry is a top 60 player in the class of 2023.

With this commitment, the Illinois lineup needs to be adjusted. Having more frontcourt depth is always a good thing.

Here is the projected Illinois basketball lineup with Amani Hansberry.

No. 1 Guard

Starter: Skyy Clark

When the 2023-24 season rolls around, I am hoping Skyy Clark is still Illinois’ starting point guard. The only reason he wouldn’t be starting for the Orange and Blue is if he has a great freshman campaign and departs for the NBA.

Clark has enrolled at Illinois and is going to be the starting point guard this season. His development over the next year is going to be huge for the Illini next season. If we can get Clark to have an average of roughly eight points and four assists in year one, then we can build on that in 2023. I think Clark is going to be a great player for this program.

Backup: Jayden Epps

I think Jayden Epps is more of a No. 3 guard, but with Illinois’ lack of depth at point guard, he is probably going to be the secondary ball handler for this team. Epps at least has some point guard experience under his belt. He can be a distributor if that is what the team needs. I am excited to see how electric this kid is as the primary backup to Clark in 2023-24. He will be a sparkplug for the Illini.

Backup: Scholarship/Transfer

I want to free up Epps to play other positions more often. That is why I would like Illinois to use one of their two remaining scholarships on a backup point guard. We need someone who can come in and spell minutes for Clark and then take over his starting job once he departs for the NBA. I love that his brother, ZZ Clark, is coming in from the class of 2024, but we need someone sooner than that. Let’s snag a transfer or a good young guard from the class of 2023.

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