No. 2 Guard
Starter: Marcus Domask (6YR)
I think most Illinois basketball fans are shocked by the possibility of Marcus Domask coming back to Champaign. It was reported by IlliniGuys and confirmed by his father, Dan, to the Writing Illini that they are in the process of trying to get Marcus back in the fold.
If Domask does come back to Champaign for his sixth season, he would start at the No. 2 guard spot for the Illini. He averaged 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game in his first season with the Illini. I could see those numbers exploding in 2024-25, though.
Backup: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (SO)
Illinois has a few players who can play multiple positions on the court. I believe Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is one of those multi-tool athletes.
I have Gibbs-Lawhorn manning the primary backup role to Domask in 2024-25. That doesn’t mean Gibbs-Lawhorn won’t play much, though. I see him getting minutes at the No. 1, No. 2, or even the No. 3 spot next season. He averaged 2.4 points as a freshman, but his energy and explosion are exciting. He will be a huge asset to this program.
Backup: Jase Butler (FR)
I love Illinois’ class of 2024. Jase Butler is flying under the radar, but this kid is extremely talented. I think he could end up taking a redshirt next season, but Butler will be a solid part of this team during his career. His game took a leap as a senior in high school, and I only expect him to continue getting better.