No. 2 Guard
Starter: Luke Goode (SR)
At this point in the offseason, I think Luke Goode still sees a starting job. He has given three great years to this program, and his shooting ability should elevate him to the starting role at the No. 2 spot.
Goode averaged 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 38.9% from three-point range last season. On top of his great shooting ability, Goode’s hustle made him a fan favorite. He was all over the court going for loose balls and pulling down rebounds. I would be comfortable with Goode starting next season.
Backup: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (SO)
There is great potential with Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. The quick guard saw 7.1 minutes of action in 28 games last season, and you can tell he has a ton of talent ready to burst out.
Gibbs-Lawhorn finished his freshman campaign averaging 2.4 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game. His shooting numbers aren’t great, as he only hit 22.2% from three-point range, but he isn’t a bad shooter. Give him a bigger sample size, and look at his numbers increase. I have Gibbs-Lawhorn getting minutes and being the primary backup at the No. 2 spot.
Backup: Transfer Portal Scholarship
There are still players in the transfer portal lurking who could change the Illinois basketball lineup completely. With three scholarships available, Illinois could add someone like Dante Maddox Jr. for the No. 2 spot. Maddox is a big-time scorer out of Toledo who averaged 15.6 points and shot 40.2% from three-point range last season. Illinois is in the running to land the kid, and he would change everything.