Did You Watch These Illinois Fighting Illini Heroes in Full Flow?
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Despite never winning a national championship, the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team have had some remarkable players. For people who are local to Illinois and have witnessed some top college basketball clashes over the years, they might recall some former talents who went on to have excellent professional careers in the sport.
Of course, basketball can be ruthless. Despite showcasing their abilities on the court in the college category, not every player is necessarily guaranteed to replicate their performances in the professional world. However, many former Illinois college stars have managed to do exactly that, while also going on to hog headlines, be backed by fans who assess NBA player props and other betting DraftKings markets, and be heavily featured on basketball shows. For fans of college basketball in the state, it’s always great to see players go on to achieve greatness.
With all that in mind, below we take a brief look at some Illinois Fighting Illini heroes who you might have even watched yourself in full flow. It’s worth noting that we can’t feature every player from the team’s history, but there are some instantly recognizable names who are included.
Dee Brown (2003-2006)
Starting things off with a player who simply had to make the list, Dee Brown’s career hasn’t been bettered when assessing the array of Illinois Fighting Illini heroes from over the years. Brown recorded numerous records during his time with the team, while he also registered 1,812 points – the third-highest total in school history. Given his immense potential, Dee Brown was eventually picked up by the Jazz in the NBA. A player with the greatest college career in the team’s history, Dee Brown is an inspirational figure for many of today’s current crop.
Johnny Kerr (1951-1954)
Widely regarded as one of the team’s finest ever players, Johnny Kerr lit up many games between 1951 and 1954. Kerr was a key cog in the 1952 Final Four team, going on to score 1,000 points for Illinois. As such, Kerr became a hot property, eventually going on to have a solid career in the NBA with the 76ers.
Robert Archibald (1998-2002)
It’s fair to say there aren’t many aspiring basketball professionals from Scotland, but Robert Archibald was most definitely one of them. Between 1998 and 2002, Archibald was a formidable presence on court, with this 6’11” center eventually going on to appear in the NBA, although he struggled to replicate the type of form he showcased in the college game. Overall, though, Robert Archibald’s journey from Paisley to the NBA was quite remarkable.
Bill Burwell (1960-1963)
A player more senior fans of the team might recall, Bill Burwell wasn’t the best player Illinois has had, but he had a knack for scoring important points when they were so desperately needed. However, Burwell actually never made it to the NBA, but he averaged 18.5 points in his best campaign, highlighting how productive he was in terms of scoring.
Deron Williams (2002-2005)
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When Deron Williams started to impact college games, he didn’t look back. The former co-captain and co-point guard was an integral part of one of the most successful periods for the team and always led from the front. The national runner-up from 2005 earned himself a good reputation in the college sphere, therefore leading Williams to be drafted third overall in the 2005 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. Also turning out for the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Deron Williams’ career in the NBA was hardly a surprise given his clear potential when turning out for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
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