Illinois Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Fighting Illini
Look for Fighting Illini freshmen and transfers to shine as reserves
Andre Curbelo, Freshman, Guard
Curbelo is a bright young talent at the guard spot for the Fighting Illini. He came to Champaign via Puerto Rico and New York’s Long Island Lutheran High School. He is a four-star recruit in the 2020 class who ranks 44th nationally, eighth-best point guard, and best point guard in New York and Puerto Rico.
He starred for the Crusaders last season averaging 16.7 points, 8.1 assists, 7.6 rebounds and 3.6 steals as a senior. The two-time Newsday All-Long Island Player of the Year and LongIslandBasketball.com Player of the Year will provide the team with plenty of production on both ends of the floor.
He can score, rebound, run the fast break with ease and teams need to be aware of him forcing turnovers. Our own Jack Bennett gave his thoughts on why Curbelo is the biggest steal of the 2020 recruiting class.
Adam Miller, Freshman, Guard
Miller is going to be another exciting Illinois freshman to watch. He starred at Chicago’s Morgan Park High School where he averaged at least 25 points, five assists, five rebounds, and two steals per game in his final two years.
He is the 33rd best player nationally in the 2020 class, the sixth-best shooting guard, and the second-best player in Illinois. He is going to provide the Illini with a lot of scoring, and he will be a more than capable reserve for Dosunmu. Writing Illini’s Max Feldman analyzed the two Morgan Park alums.
Austin Hutcherson, Redshirt Junior, Guard
Hutcherson is going to be key for Illinois off the bench as a veteran presence and the good news is he and Grandison had a year to practice and gel with the team. When he played for the Wesleyan Cardinals of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), he was the conference’s rookie of the year as a freshman and averaged 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists as a sophomore.
As a result of his performance that year, he earned a First-team NESCAC All-league selection, National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Second-team All-District and he led the NESCAC in scoring, 3-pointers, and free throw percentage. He led the Cardinals in 3-point percentage, assists, and steals.
Jacob Grandison, Redshirt Junior, Guard/Forward
Grandison came to Illinois via the Holy Cross Crusaders of the Patriot League. During the 2018-19 season, he led the team with 69 three-pointers and scored in double-figures 26 times including eight 20-point games. He will provide the Fighting Illini with production off the ball and on the perimeter.
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, Redshirt Freshman, Forward
Bosmans-Verdonk is looking to have a breakout season after missing 19 games last year with a foot injury. He played nine games, scored 11 points, and secured 10 rebounds in his limited role. Bosmans-Verdonk played six minutes per game and now that he has had an off-season to recuperate and get healthy, hopefully, that will rise to 12 to 14 minutes so that we can see more of what he can do on the floor.
Coleman Hawkins, Freshman, Forward
Hawkins is a three-star recruit from Napa, Calif.’s Prolific Prep. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists (led team) as a senior. He was a vital part of the dominant season Prolific Prep achieved as they went 31-3 record and the program’s first-ever Grind Session Championship before the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
Hawkins is a long, athletic forward who can shoot the perimeter shot, drive to the basket with ease, and score. When he’s faced with contact at the rim, he can change his shot to convert. Writing Illini’s Jalen Wilson has more on what Hawkins brings to the Fighting Illini.