No. 3 Wing
- Starter: Ben Humrichous
I think this is where we see the biggest change in the projected Illinois basketball lineup for the 2025-26 season. I would have Andrej Stojakovic in this slot most likely, but with him potentially being out, I would slot Ben Humrichous in as the starter on the wing.
Humrichous left a lot to be desired in his first season in Champaign. He managed to average 7.6 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 34.3% from three-point range. I expect more out of him this season, and his experience and size at 6-foot-9 should be an asset to the Illinois roster.
- Backup: Jake Davis
A player that I like and flashed a bit last season is Jake Davis. I think he could have a pretty bright future in the college game, and Illinois is going to need him in 2025-26. I believe Davis is likely to enter the season as the primary backup at the No. 3 spot if Stojakovic is out.
Davis had his moments in year one with the Illini. He averaged 3.0 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, but he was also up there with the best three-point shooters on the team, hitting 34.4%. There is definitely a role for Davis on this squad, and my hope is that he can be somewhat of a sparkplug off the bench.