Illinois basketball added one of the best players in the transfer portal on Monday afternoon.
Securing the commitment of Quincy Guerrier was huge for the Illini. We needed a big transfer portal snag for the frontcourt and Guerrier delivered.
That frontcourt need is even stronger if we don’t have Coleman Hawkins return. Both Hawkins and Terrence Shannon Jr. have declared for the NBA Draft, and there is a chance neither of them come back to Champaign.
So, I put together a projected lineup with those two not coming back and Guerrier inserted into the roster. This lineup could do some damage in the Big Ten, but there are a few scholarships still left to fill.
Here is the projected Illinois basketball lineup with Quincy Guerrier.
No. 1 Guard
Starter: Justin Harmon
Illinois basketball doesn’t have a true point guard who has experience entering the 2023-24 campaign. Brad Underwood doesn’t play young guys unless they are extremely talented, and we don’t have that at point guard just yet. So, I think there is a shot that Justin Harmon starts at the No. 1 guard spot.
Harmon is coming into the program as more of a No. 2 guard, but I think having him as the point and being able to score at a high clip is exciting. Harmon finished last season averaging 2.9 assists per game, which would have ranked No. 2 on the Illini. The distributing ability is there, and I think this would be the best option for Illinois.
Backup: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn
I am curious how quickly the younger guards can get up to speed with the college game. Being able to flip Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn from Purdue was a big get. Now can the talented guard help Illinois this season?
I see Gibbs-Lawhorn coming in and giving the Illini 5-10 minutes per game as a backup guard. He will probably be shifted around at the various guard roles because he is a versatile player. Hopefully, we can see Gibbs-Lawhorn develop quickly, and he is a solid contributor come NCAA tournament time.
Backup: Niccolo Moretti
Many Illinois fans are high on Niccolo Moretti. I understand that he is a true point guard, but it is so rare to have Underwood trust young guys. If Moretti played last season, then I probably would have put him higher on the depth chart.
Moretti is coming in as an unranked player in the class of 2023. He already joined the team in the winter, so the experience of being around the guys is a plus. But practice is different from regular Big Ten game action. Could Moretti work his way quickly up the depth chart, of course, but for now, I have him as a backup guard.
No. 2 Guard
Starter: Luke Goode
Do you want to see a dude who bleeds Orange and Blue? Look no further than Luke Goode. I believe Illinois’ season could have been different if Goode was healthy last year. He finally was able to hit the court with roughly 10 games left, and he was instantly our best three-point shooter.
I have Goode coming into his junior year and being the starter at the No. 2 guard. He is a tremendous player to have out on the perimeter, but he isn’t just a one-trick pony. I would argue that Goode’s hustle and heart impress me more than his shooting. Look for Goode to not only be a leader on the Illini but for him to potentially be a first-team All-Big Ten player in 2023-24.
Backup: Sencire Harris
I believe Sencire Harris has earned a starting job next season, but with the way the roster is shaking out, I can’t put him in the starting lineup. This kid is a great player, and once his shooting catches up to the rest of his game, he will be a superstar.
To start the year, I have Harris as the primary backup at the No. 2 guard spot. He is probably going to be the first or second player off the bench for Brad Underwood. Harris should play the No. 1 through No. 3 spots on the floor throughout the 2023-24 campaign. He is a valuable player to this team and someone who can change the momentum of a game.
No. 3 Guard/Forward
Starter: Ty Rodgers
As of right now, Ty Rodgers is still on the Illinois basketball roster. There have been rumblings about him leaving, but everything that is being posted on social media says he is staying, except the fact he hasn’t officially announced that he is staying. I have Rodgers starting at the No. 3 spot in the lineup.
Last season, I was impressed with what I saw out of Rodgers. He struggled with layups at times, but that is something that is easily fixable. He is a great athlete who has an amazing instinct on the defensive end of the court. I also love his hustle. I think he is going to increase his numbers greatly next season. Look for him to be one of the best players on this team, and don’t be shocked if he is in contention for a spot on an All-Big Ten team.
Backup: Marcus Domask
Illinois was able to secure a few big transfer portal players this offseason. One that is kind of going under the radar is Marcus Domask. I think the star wing comes into the Illinois program and is a big-time contributor off the bench. I have him as the primary backup at the No. 3 spot.
Domask has averaged over 13 points per game every season of his four-year career. He has also hit 35.9% of his three-pointers throughout his career. Slotting him in as a main backup off the bench will give Illinois a spark when we need it the most. Brad Underwood usually likes to start rotating guys in and out a couple of minutes into the game, so look for Domask to be one of the first players to the scorer’s table.
Backup: Scholarship
I believe Illinois would have three scholarships left to fill, so bringing in someone to provide depth would be good at the No. 3 spot. I would like another shooter who can knock down shots from deep.
No. 4 Forward
Starter: Quincy Guerrier
The man of the hour is Quincy Guerrier. On Monday afternoon, Guerrier dropped the news that he was coming to Illinois. This was a big commitment for the Illini because we finally have more depth in the frontcourt. From day one, I have Guerrier starting at the No. 4 spot in the Illinois roster.
Guerrier is a very versatile player. He is great when his back is to the basket, but this kid can step out and hit the three-point shot as well. He shot 12.5% from three-point range as a freshman, and this past season, he increased that number to 34.7% as a senior. I could see Guerrier being a focal point in the Illinois offense. If nothing else, we are going to have one of the grittiest teams in college basketball.
Backup: Scholarship
With Coleman Hawkins departing the program for the NBA, this leaves Illinois with some depth issues in the frontcourt. Guerrier would take over the Hawkins role on the team, but I think Brad Underwood needs to go out and get another player to help at this position.
Let’s find someone who can give the program 5-10 minutes per game. I am not looking for a superstar, but maybe we can find a player in the transfer portal who was at a mid-major but could help us win some games. Guerrier needs a backup.
No. 5 Center
Starter: Dain Dainja
The man, the myth, the legend. Dain Dainja was the first to say he was returning to Champaign, and this Illinois fan will never forget that. He is back with the program, and I have Dainja starting at the No. 5 spot this upcoming season.
Dainja did a lot of good things for Illinois on the court. Beyond his 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per contest, Dainja showed his touch around the hoop. He has the ability to put up big scoring numbers if he becomes a little more polished with his moves in the paint. I think there is a lot of potential with Dainja, and let’s remember, the 2022-23 campaign was his first full year of playing college basketball. We have only just tapped into his potential as a player.
Backup: Amani Hansberry
I think Illinois is bringing in a player, Amani Hansberry, who can play multiple positions on the Illinois basketball team. Hansberry enters as a four-star recruit who was the No. 61 player in the class of 2023. He was also the Gatorade Player of the Year in Maryland.
For now, I have Hansberry coming in and being the primary backup to Dainja at the No. 5 spot. I also have him floating between the No. 4 and No. 5 spot. Whoever needs a breather, Hansberry can take their place in the frontcourt. Look for Hansberry to display his physical gifts for Illinois early and often. He is a true power forward.
Backup: Scholarship
The final scholarship I have on this list should go to the No. 5 spot. It would be nice to get a backup center into the program so Hansberry could move more to the No. 4 spot. Again, I don’t need someone who is going to play a ton of minutes, but when Dainja needs a rest, it would be nice to have some experience behind him.