Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup with Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins returning

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Mar 16, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (0) dunks against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois basketball has gone through the craziest offseason that I could ever remember.

I thought the Illini offseason that followed the 2021-22 campaign was crazy. We lost six out of the top seven scorers that year and had to rebuild the team. But I would put this offseason even ahead of that craziness.

Now that the dust is starting to settle, and we finally see who is on the roster entering the 2023-24 campaign, it is time to project what the lineup will look like. There is so much talent on this roster, but only five starting jobs. It will be interesting to see what Brad Underwood does this season.

Here is the projected Illinois basketball lineup with Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins returning

No. 1 Guard

Starter: Terrence Shannon Jr. (SR)

Does Illinois have a true point guard that has proved that he can be a starter yet? The answer is, no. But what we do have is a player who has the ability to play the No. 1 through No. 3 spots effectively. I love Terrence Shannon Jr. at the point guard position heading into the 2023-24 campaign.

Honestly, I look at Shannon as having the role of someone like James Harden. He can step back and knock down buckets from anywhere on the court, but over the past few seasons, Harden has developed into a solid distributor. I think that is what Shannon can be for the Illini this upcoming season. He was also second on the team with 2.8 assists per game last year. I like Shannon at the No. 1 guard spot with his ability to score and distribute.

Backup: Jeremiah Williams (JR) waiver

On Thursday, Illinois was able to land a solid player in Jeremiah Williams. He transferred from Temple to Iowa State after two seasons with the Owls. Williams would sit out last season after tearing his left Achilles tendon. He would transfer out of the Cyclones program and pick the Illini this week.

It is being reported by multiple outlets that Williams will need a waiver to be eligible this season since this would be his second transfer. If he does become eligible, I think he instantly becomes the primary backup to Shannon at the No. 1 guard spot. The last time Williams played, he averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. That would be fantastic coming off the bench.

Backup: Niccolo Moretti (FR)

Behind Shannon and Williams is likely to be a rotation of players, especially to begin the season. It wouldn’t shock me to see Sencire Harris or someone with experience be a backup at this position, but for the sake of this article, I am going to put Niccolo Moretti.

Moretti is a pure point guard who joined the program midway through last season. He didn’t see the court, but he at least knows the players and Underwood’s coaching style. Moretti gives Illinois some type of depth at a crucial position. I have him as the No. 3 backup to Shannon and Williams.

Backup: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (FR)

I think there is a legit chance that Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn comes into the Illinois program and takes a redshirt in year one. He is a solid four-star recruit, but with so much talent returning, the roster is kind of jam-packed. This would be a great opportunity for Gibbs-Lawhorn to come in and learn the speed of the game. Next season is when he can make a big impact on the program.

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