I thought the future was set for the Illinois basketball program, but the transfer portal has struck in Champaign.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Illini guard Jayden Epps was entering the transfer portal. He played one season with Illinois and averaged 9.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Epps is now packing his bags and quitting on the Illini.
Epps is now gone, and this leaves another hole in the Illinois roster. What would the potential roster look like after the Epps departure?
Here is the projected Illinois basketball lineup after the Jayden Epps departure
No. 1 Guard
Starter: Sencire Harris (SO)
With Jayden Epps out of the picture, Illinois is going to need someone who has handled the basketball. We need someone who knows the system well and can play at a high level while on the court. That someone should be Sencire Harris.
I know many people are going to scoff at the notion that Harris should start at the traditional point guard role, but I think this is where he would shine in the current rendition of the Illinois roster. Harris isn’t looked to for shooting right now, but he is extremely quick. I would argue he is always the fastest player on the court. Having someone who can fly up and down the court with the ball is intriguing. Harris also brings a lot of energy to the table. He could get the Illinois offense going. Also, his defense speaks for itself.
Backup: Niccolo Moretti (FR)
Niccolo Moretti is the guard who many fans will probably want starting, but I don’t think you can give him the keys from day one. There are some encouraging things about Moretti, though.
I love that Moretti is already acclimated to the Illinois roster. He joined the program in the last couple of months and has been practicing. This will only help him for his first season with the Illini. I also love Moretti’s handles. He is good with the ball, and that is an exciting fact. A one-two punch at point guard of Harris and Moretti is solid.
Backup: Scholarship #1
Brad Underwood needs to continue looking for help at point guard. Landing someone in the transfer portal would be great for the program. My wish is Kerr Kriisa, but I don’t think that is going to happen. A solid point guard addition would help free up the roster tremendously.
No. 2 Guard
Starter: Luke Goode (JR)
I don’t think the departure of Jayden Epps is going to affect the No. 2 guard spot too much. I still have Luke Goode coming into the season and starting in this role.
I can’t help but think what last season could have been if Goode was healthy throughout the year. Illinois probably would have won more games. This would have given us a better seeding in the NCAA tournament. We might have been able to make the Sweet 16 with better seeding. But Goode didn’t come back until midway through the year. He was instantly the best shooter on the team. Goode would finish the season shooting 42.1% from three-point range. Look for him to be starting and hitting around 40% in the upcoming season.
Backup: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (FR)
Illinois basketball is bringing in an impactful guard who can do everything on the court for the 2023-24 campaign. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn should come into the program and get minutes right away. In fact, I have him as the primary backup at the No. 2 guard spot.
Gibbs-Lawhorn likely won’t play just one role on the team. He should be subbed in for multiple positions because of his versatility. This high riser has a ton of energy and fire in him. I can’t wait to see what Gibbs-Lawhorn can do on the court. Epps’ departure opens up so many more minutes for him as a true freshman.
Backup: Scholarship #2
I think everyone can agree that Illinois needs more shooting. This is where Brad Underwood comes into play. He needs to land a few transfer portal players this offseason. Getting a guard who can come off the bench and give the Illini 15 minutes and eight points per game is important. That is what I want out of a solid backup.
No. 3 Guard/Forward
Starter: Ty Rodgers (SO)
Illinois was able to land a freshman class that consisted of four four-star recruits and ranked No. 11 in the country for 2022. Just one year later, half of that recruiting class left the program. But I would argue, the best defender, Sencire Harris, and the best overall player, Ty Rodgers, are still with the team.
Rodgers is coming off a huge season where he showed a ton of promise as a player. That is why I have him starting at the No. 3 spot on the team. Rodgers’ numbers weren’t eye-popping by any means. He averaged 3.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game, but if you watched Illinois play, you could tell this kid is going to be a star. The biggest issue he has is finishing around the hoop. He missed a ton of layups. Let’s fix that and practice some free throws, and I think Rodgers is an All-Big Ten type of player.
Backup: Scholarship #3
It is clear that Illinois needs more depth out on the wing. We can rotate players in and out of this No. 3 spot, but Brad Underwood needs to go into the transfer portal and snag a player to help Rodgers.
There are plenty of talented wings out there who can drop 10 points per game. This would be optimal. I want Rodgers to start, but I want someone who can come in and contribute solid minutes. This will be crucial for the team’s success next season.
No. 4 Forward
Starter: RJ Melendez (JR)
I thought there was a chance Jayden Epps could take the keys to the team for the 2023-24 campaign, but he is now gone. A veteran leader who can pick those keys up is RJ Melendez. I have Melendez starting at the No. 4 spot.
This past season was weird for Melendez. I thought he looked uncomfortable in the Illinois lineup. In my opinion, the transfer additions to the team were the focal point, and this threw Melendez off his game. Toward the end of the season, Melendez started to round into form. I think the upcoming season is going to be his chance to shine in Brad Underwood’s system.
Backup: Amani Hansberry (FR)
Illinois was able to snag a bruiser in the class of 2023. While Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn can be a dominating guard, I think the addition of Amani Hansberry is going to be huge for the Illinois frontcourt. He should come in and compete for starting minutes from day one.
I have Hansberry as the primary backup at the No. 4 spot. He is someone who could really make an impact on this team. As a top 60 recruit, I expect big things out of him. Look for Hansberry to get thrown into the madness of college basketball early and often.
No. 5 Center
Starter: Dain Dainja (JR)
On Monday, Illinois received some positive roster news. Big man Dain Dainja announced that he was returning to the program for another season. He is going to come back to Champaign and start for the Illini at the No. 5 spot.
Dainja was a huge force for the Illini in his first season playing. He averaged 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per contest. I think his upside is extremely high. He has great athletic ability, and his touch within 10 feet is impressive. Dainja’s free throw shooting needs some work, though. I would also like to see a better reaction time and guarding ability off the dribble. Overall, though, I am comfortable with him starting.
Backup: Brandon Lieb (SR)
And just like that, Brandon Lieb is extremely important to the Illinois basketball program. I never thought I would say those words, but the little bit we have seen out of him has been solid.
Lieb played in 16 games this past season and provided some valuable minutes. There were times Dainja would get into foul trouble early, and Lieb held the fort down. I don’t think he is going to get a ton of playing time in 2023-24, but it is nice to have a 7-foot big man stashed on the bench.
Backup: Scholarship #4
Illinois would then use the final scholarship on another big man. We don’t have depth at this position, and Lieb is about to depart the program after the upcoming season. Brad Underwood needs to find a solid body that can fill some minutes in the future.