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Projected Illinois basketball lineup with the addition of Tre White

While the transfer portal is filling up, the Illinois basketball team is plucking out talented players who could help the program win games.

By Rees Woodcock

Louisville s Tre White makes the basket against Georgia Tech Saturday night in the KFC Yum
Louisville s Tre White makes the basket against Georgia Tech Saturday night in the KFC Yum / Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA
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No. 2 Guard

Starter: Luke Goode (SR)

If the season started today, Illinois doesn’t have a lot of shooting talent. The best shooter on the team is likely coming from Luke Goode. The senior guard has waited and stuck with the Illini through thick and thin, and now he gets a chance to start for the program.

Goode registered 20.1 minutes per game this past season and averaged 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest. He led the Illini in three-point shooting at 38.9% as well. The tenacity of Goode is something that goes under the radar. This kid hustles for every loose ball and can go up and get rebounds when you least expect him. I can’t wait to see what he does as a senior. It wouldn’t shock me to see him shoot over 40% from three-point range and get some looks from the NBA. He is a solid three-and-d guy.

Backup: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (SO)

Illinois has an electric and versatile guard who has the ability to do everything on the court behind Goode. I love what Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn brings to the program. He also has already committed to coming back for his sophomore season.

As a freshman, Gibbs-Lawhorn averaged 2.5 points and 0.9 rebounds per game. He didn’t get a lot of time on the court, averaging just 7.1 minutes per game, but when he was playing, he was fun to watch. The energy that Gibbs-Lawhorn brings to the court is infectious. Look for him to have a good year and to increase his minutes by at least double this upcoming season. I have Gibbs-Lawhorn as the primary backup at the No. 2 guard spot.

Starter/Backup: Scholarship #2

With three scholarships left to fill for next season, I think Illinois needs to go get a bouncy guard who can light up the scoreboard. The player I am eyeing here is Dante Maddox Jr. He has Illinois in his top five, and Maddox plans on visiting the Illini in the coming weeks. A decision by Maddox is coming this month too. He averaged 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game last season with Toledo. He also hit 40.2% from three-point range.

Another option here would be AJ Storr. The former Wisconsin superstar entered the NBA Draft and the transfer portal. Once he gets evaluated, he will make a decision on what he plans to do. If he comes back, Illinois should be a frontrunner. Storr averaged 16.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last season. Landing him, Maddox, or both would be insane.

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