Illinois Basketball: Terrence Shannon Jr. gets top shooting guard billing

An Illinois basketball star is being looked at as one of the best players at his position.

The Illini have a loaded roster this season. There are three graduate transfers, a fifth-year player, and a senior all on scholarship and all five players should contribute big-time minutes.

I haven’t even included some of the underclassmen who will help lead the Illinois basketball program to great heights. Players like Dain Dainja and Ty Rodgers, among others, will play a big role on this team.

On Tuesday, star guard Terrence Shannon Jr. got some love for the potential he has this season. It was announced that he was on the shortlist of players who made the preseason Jerry West Award watchlist. The Jerry West Award is handed out to the best shooting guard in the country.

If Shannon wins the award, he would be the third Illinois player to win that type of honor. Both Ayo Dosunmu and Dee Brown have won the Bob Cousy Award for the nation’s best point guard in 2021 and 2006, respectively.

Terrence Shannon Jr. has a chance to have a special final run with the Illinois basketball program

It comes as little shock that Shannon is one of the 20 players who made the preseason Jerry West Award watchlist. This kid is coming off one of the best years of his life as a basketball player.

In 2022-23, Shannon averaged 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, all of which were career highs. No one expects those numbers to be any lower this upcoming season either.

With so much returning and new talent on the Illinois roster, there should be plenty of space for Shannon to operate. Luke Goode is finally healthy and Marcus Domask has entered the picture. These two wings will help space the floor, as they are the best shooters on the team. This should open lanes for Shannon to drive and get to the hoop.

Illinois has an athletic backcourt as well. The ability to constantly move with and without the ball will help create better looks for Shannon on the perimeter. I would say one of his weaknesses last season was taking bad shots. That should be resolved in 2023-24.

I think Shannon is about to have a big year. Illinois has the horses to take this thing deep into the NCAA tournament. Don’t be shocked by the season’s end if Shannon is the Jerry West Award winner for 2023-24.