Top 10 Illinois basketball 3-point shooters of all time

Throughout the history of the Illinois basketball program, we have had some great three-point shooters.

This list is honestly not fair to the older Illini generations, as the three-point line wasn’t officially introduced in the college game until April 1986. So, that is where the possibilities for the top 10 start.

I wanted to take a look at the 10 greatest Illinois basketball three-point shooters. It was tough because the three-point line has increasingly become more popular, but with a combination of great numbers, longevity, and consistency, I think I have a solid list.

Here are the top 10 Illinois basketball three-point shooters of all time

No. 10 Matt Heldman

There have been many great three-point shooters come through the Illinois basketball program, and Matt Heldman is up there with the best of the best.

Out of the 102 instances where an Illinois player has shot at least 3.0 three-point attempts in a season, Heldman owns two of those spots. His impressive shooting goes deeper than that, though.

Only 26 times in the history of the Illinois basketball program has someone shot at least 40% from three-point range. Heldman is No. 14 and No. 22 on the list of the best three-point shooting percentages from players who averaged at least 3.0 three-point attempts in a season.

As a junior, Heldman chucked up 4.8 three-point attempts and hit them at a clip of 41.8%. He followed that tremendous season with a senior campaign that saw him average 5.0 three-point attempts and knock them down at a clip of 40.6%.

For his career, Heldman eclipsed the 40% mark from three-point range, hitting 40.5% in four seasons. When Illinois entered the NCAA tournament, Heldman’s shooting only got better. In four NCAA tournament games, he shot 69.2% from three-point range.

Heldman was one of the best three-point shooters in program history. Sadly, he passed away in a tragic accident in 1999. His legacy with the Illinois basketball program will never be forgotten.