There’s a ton to be excited about with this year’s Illini basketball squad.
Despite losing his top five scorers from a team that won a share of the Big Ten regular season title, Brad Underwood was able to masterfully replenish his roster with talent, securing commitments from Texas Tech transfer Terrence Shannon Jr. and Baylor transfer Matthew Mayer to pair with the country’s 11th-ranked recruiting class (per 247 Sports).
Perhaps the most exciting piece the Illini have in my opinion, however, is returning sophomore RJ Melendez.
Some of the Big Ten’s brightest stars over the last few seasons—such as Johnny Davis, Keegan Murray, and Jaden Ivey—took massive leaps from their freshman to sophomore years.