The Fighting Illini of Illinois has long been one of the storied programs of the Big Ten Conference. Though they have had a historic past, the last two-plus decades have seen some of the highest of high moments for Illinois basketball. Though they haven’t won an NCAA title in the era of March Madness, Illinois was awarded back in 1915 with both the Premo-Poretta and Helms Championships. They haven’t gone noticed in the NCAA tournament since then either with five final four trips since 1949.
The Illini have a vast collection of historic players, with 35 players all having their number honored within the State Farm Center in Champaign. Those players represent several different decades and eras. Not only have many historic Illinois basketball players at the collegiate level been very successful. Many of them have also gone on to have outstanding professional careers.
As we take a closer look at who cracks the all-time starting lineup for the Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team, don’t think every spot is set in stone. Guard play for one has always been a staple for the Illini. The number of historic guards who suited up in the orange and blue at Illinois is limitless. This school by far has some depth, especially at the guard position.
Guard: Deron Williams
If you need a point guard, look no further than Illini legend Deron Williams. Williams had it all and then some. His number five Illini jersey was everywhere. He burst on the scene quickly as a freshman starting 30 of 32 games in the 2002-03 season, from there he elevated himself into one of the best to ever play at Illinois. Williams was a two-time All-Big Ten performer and also was a consensus All-American in the 2004-05 season. That year saw him help lead the Illini to the National Championship Game, ultimately falling short against North Carolina. Following his three seasons in Champaign, and over 1000 points and nearly 600 assists.
Williams was selected 3rd overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2005 NBA Draft. He had a very respectable NBA career as well playing from 2005 until 2017. In his time with the Jazz, Williams was a three-time NBA All-Star. Williams earned All-NBA Honors twice in his career.
His global success didn’t stop there as he was also a key piece on the 2008 U.S. Redeem Team in the Beijing Olympics, winning the gold medal. He backed that up with a second in London in 2012. His success across the board is a key reason why Williams has to be the point starting point for this team.
Guard: Ayo Dosunmu
True, there have been plenty of other outstanding guards at Illinois. But Ayo Dosunmu is right there with the rest of them, because of what he meant for the program. Dosunmu was a key reason why current Illini coach Brad Underwood has been able to get Illinois basketball back to the level it currently is. His stats and performance on the court speak volumes as well. In 90 career games for the Illini, Dosunmu started each of them. Like Williams, Dosunmu contributed right away as a freshman. He made such an impact he was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2019.
His success as a freshman paved the way for two outstanding seasons in both 2020 and 2021. Dosunmu claimed All-Big Ten first-team honors in both seasons. His final season in Illinois also saw him with the Bob Cousy Award, which goes to the nation’s best college point guard. That season also saw Illinois break through and capture the 2021 Big Ten Tournament Championship. His collegiate success led to his selection in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls with the 38th pick. Dosunmu will enter his fourth season this year with the organization, after scoring a career-high 34 points during a game this past season. His success in college and versatile skill make him a key piece alongside Williams in the backcourt for this all-time Illini lineup.
Guard: Kendall Gill
Given all the talent at the guard position in Illinois basketball history, a third guard in this lineup makes sense. So why not go with Kendall Gill? Gill was a key cog in the group, passionately named the‘Flying Illini’ in the late 80s and early 90s. Gill spent four seasons in Champaign, with his junior season resulting in a run to the Final Four. They were ousted by eventual National Champion and fellow Big Ten team Michigan in that event, but it was still a special Illini team. Gill returned for his senior campaign which saw him lead the conference in scoring.
His success that season led to an All-Big Ten first-team selection and a consensus second-team All-American selection. Gill was pretty well known for his dunking ability and he got to showcase that his senior year when he won the College Dunk Contest at the Final Four in 1990. After four great years in Champaign, Gill moved on to the NBA. He was selected 5th overall in the 1990 draft. His 15-year NBA career may have seen him play for seven different teams, but Gill was a useful player finishing his pro career with nearly 13,000 career points.
Forward: Nick Anderson
Nick Anderson was part of the Illini during the same era as Gill. That era was special, and like Gill, Anderson had a great Illinois basketball career as well. Anderson was a McDonald’s All-American coming out of High School, not to mention Mr. Basketball of Illinois as well. He spent two seasons in Champaign. Anderson’s scoring was his biggest attribute, as he averaged nearly 16 points as a freshman, before averaging 18 points as a sophom*ore. He reached the 1,000-point mark in just 69 career games at Illinois. His 647 points in the 1988-89 season were fourth in the Big Ten. That successful sophom*ore season led to Anderson being selected in the 1989 NBA Draft, with the 15th overall pick by the Orlando Magic.
Anderson averaged double-digit scoring in 11 of his 13 NBA seasons and was a huge piece in the Magic reaching the 1995 NBA Finals. It’s obvious this seems more like a four-guard line-up, but Anderson was an elite scorer, especially at a time when the Big Ten featured the likes of Michigan’s Glen Rice and a very young Steve Smith at Michigan State.
Center: Kofi co*ckburn
The center position is an easy pick for this All-Time Illinois basketball line-up. Kofi co*ckburn was a force in the post and was the true definition of a Big Ten big man. The Kingston, Jamaica Native joined the Fighting Illini as a four-star recruit from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia in the Class of 2019. He quickly burst on the season scoring 11 points and 10 rebounds in his Illinois debut. That defined what his tenure would be like, as co*ckburn only got better and better every game he played. co*ckburn ended his freshman season as the Big Ten ROTY and on the All-Freshman Big Ten team. That led to two more seasons of dominance in the post for the Illini. Kofi was able to turn his sophom*ore and junior seasons into All-American campaigns. The 2021-22 season was a great one for co*ckburn as he finished as a Consensus first-team All-American. In his three seasons in Champaign, co*ckburn finished with over 1,500 points and 861 rebounds. He is third all-time in career rebounds for Illinois.
After that junior season, co*ckburn went pro but went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, and never really caught on with a team in the league. co*ckburn last played for the Seoul Samsung Thunders of the Korean Basketball League. Though his pro career hasn’t been highlight-worthy, co*ckburn was a force to be reckoned with at Illinois, and he is truly deserving of the starting center spot on this all-time Illinois lineup.
This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.
