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Illinois Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Fighting Illini

By Austin Walther

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Illinois Men's Basketball Head Coach Brad Underwood speaks at the 2017 Big Ten Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Illinois Men's Basketball Head Coach Brad Underwood speaks at the 2017 Big Ten Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Potential Starting Five for the Illini

G, 6’1, 170, Sophomore, Trent Frazier

Trent Frazier was the second-leading scorer for Illinois last season with 12.5 points per game. It’s almost a guarantee that he’s going to lead the team with Leron Black gone. Frazier is only a true sophomore, but he’ll be ready for big things in the Illinois uniform. The only reason he won’t receive award recognition is that the Illini won’t finish in the top-10 of the Big Ten.

G, 6’5, 210, Senior, Aaron Jordan

Aaron Jordan is the only true senior on the team. He’s the third leading scorer of all returners with 7.9 points per game while hauling in 3.1 boards. He knocked down 44 three-pointers and came up with 27 steals. Jordan has the most experience on the team and is poised to be one of the top leading scorers. He’ll be ready to run alongside Frazier and will need to use his leadership to keep Illinois competitive during the hard times of conference play.

G, 6’5, 185, Freshman, Ayo Dosunmu

They’re going to give up some size, but the Illini has to start him. Ayo Dosunmu is the 32nd ranked player according to 24/7 Sports. He’s the third-ranked combo guard and first in the state. Brad Underwood believes he’s the best point guard in the country among the incoming freshman. He averaged over 25 points per game along with over seven rebounds and assists during his senior season at Morgan Park for their second-straight IHSA Class 3A Championship.

F, 6’6, 225, R-Junior, Kipper Nichols

Kipper Nichols was just a three-star in 2015. He redshirted, struggled his freshman year and then broke out last season. Nichols averaged exactly 10 points per game, grabbed 4.2 boards and shot over 80 percent from the line. He only started nine games last season for the Illini, but they messed around with many different lineups. This year will have a little more structure as Underwood has complete control over the team. Nichols will be your typical swingman, shooting over 30 three-balls last season.

C, 7’0, 262, Graduate, Adonis De La Rosa

Here’s a nice, big recruit for the Illinois Fighting Illini. Adonis De La Rosa is coming over for a graduate year from Kent State. He will definitely replace Michael Finke in the starting lineup and actually add a couple of inches. De La Rosa is an all-around bigger player also. He scored over 11 points and hauled in 7.6 rebounds in over 25 minutes per game for the Golden Flashes. The big man is a little turnover prone, but he makes up for it in his great shooting from the line. Illinois will enjoy having this body in their starting lineup.

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