Illinois Basketball: Most underrated Illini recruits in the rankings era
Illinois basketball has brought in some quality recruits over the past couple of decades.
Some of these Illini recruits have been highly rated, like Ayo Dosunmu. But then there are some players who tend to get overlooked but have put up big numbers or been a quality player for the Orange and Blue.
During the rankings era, which looks like started in 2003, the 247Sports composite has overlooked some good Illinois basketball players. But which players are the most underrated during this span?
Most underrated Illinois basketball recruits in the rankings era
6. Chester Frazier
- 3-Star Recruit
- #283 in the class of 2005
- 3 NCAA tournaments – 2nd round, 1st round (x2)
- Best season – 7.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals
The first player checking in on the most underrated Illini recruits of the rankings era is Chester Frazier. He was the point guard who had the tough task of bridging the end of the national title roster to the next era of Illinois basketball.
Coming out of Notre Dame Prep in Maryland, Frazier wasn’t a highly-ranked recruit. 247Sports had him as a three-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 283 player in the class of 2005. Frazier was also the No. 51 point guard in the country and the No. 4 player coming out of Maryland.
During his four seasons with the Illini, Frazier was a utility guy who specialized in defense. His best season came in 2006-07 when he averaged 7.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Illinois did see some success when Frazier was running the point. We made it to the NCAA tournament in all but one year, and this included getting ousted in the first round twice and making it to the second round one other time.
It could not have been easy taking over a program that had seen so much success in the seven years prior. Frazier took the reins as one of the most underrated recruits of the rankings era.