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Illinois Basketball: Most underrated Illini recruits in the rankings era

By Rees Woodcock

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 05: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on February 05, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 05: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on February 05, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 16: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in action against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during a game at Jersey Mike’s Arena on February 16, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Illinois 70-59. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 16: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in action against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during a game at Jersey Mike’s Arena on February 16, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Illinois 70-59. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

3. Trent Frazier

  • 4-Star Recruit
  • #117 in the class of 2017
  • 2 NCAA tournaments – 2nd round (x2)
  • Best season – 11.6 points, 4.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals

It is tough to put a four-star on this list, but when you are ranked sub-100 and made a big impact, I have to include you. Trent Frazier was one of those players. This kid took a chance on the Illini, and he was a huge player for this program.

Frazier had multiple options coming out of Wellington High School in Florida. He was a high-scoring guard who could light up the scoreboard. Fraizer entered the Illinois program as a four-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 117 player in the class of 2017. He was also the No. 24 point guard in the country and the No. 9 player coming out of Florida.

I can’t believe it has already been seven years since Frazier was a freshman. He was able to put up some big numbers with the Illini. His best season came during his fifth year, as Frazier averaged 11.6 points, 4.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.

The program ended up seeing tremendous success in Frazier’s final three seasons. The COVID-19 year would have been an NCAA tournament appearance, and then in 2020-21 and 2021-22, Illinois made it to the second round of the postseason.

Frazier put up some big numbers while in Champaign. He is someone who will always be remembered by this fanbase. I believe Frazier is one of the most underrated players in the rankings era.

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