FIGHTING ILLINI ROSTER � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26 SEASON PREVIEW � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 27 #12 LERON BLACK � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 28 #43 MICHAEL FINKE � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 30 #23 AARON JORDAN � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 32 #3 TE’JON LUCAS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 34 #2 KIPPER NICHOLS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 35 #24 MARK ALSTORK � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 36 #41 CLAYTON JONES � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 38 #45 CAMERON LISS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 39 #35 SAMSON OLADIMEJI � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 40 #10 DREW CAYCE � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 41 #11 GREG EBOIGBODIN � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 41 #1 TRENT FRAZIER � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 42 #13 MARK SMITH � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 42 #32 TYLER UNDERWOOD � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 43 #4 MATIC VESEL � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 43 #20 DA’MONTE WILLIAMS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 44 THE FIGHTING ILLINI 2017-18 ILLINOIS ROSTER NUMERICAL No� Name Pos� Ht� Wt� Year Hometown/High School/Previous School 1 Trent Frazier G 6-1 170 Fr. Wellington, Fla./Wellington 2 Kipper Nichols F 6-6 225 r-So. Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward 3 Te’Jon Lucas G 6-1 180 So. Milwaukee, Wis./Washington 4 Matic Vesel F 6-10 215 Fr. Ljubljana, Slovenia/Domžale 10 Drew Cayce G 6-1 175 r-So. Libertyville, Ill./La Lumiere (Ind.)/Creighton 11 Greg Eboigbodin F 6-9 225 Fr. Benin City, Edo, Nigeria/University of Detroit Jesuit 12 Leron Black F 6-7 230 r-Jr. Memphis, Tenn./White Station 13 Mark Smith G 6-4 225 Fr. Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville 20 Da’Monte Williams G 6-3 190 Fr. Peoria, Ill./Manual 23 Aaron Jordan G 6-5 210 Jr. Plainfield, Ill./East 24 Mark Alstork G 6-5 190 Gr. Dayton, Ohio/Thurgood Marshall/Wright State 32 Tyler Underwood G 6-2 180 r-So. Champaign, Ill./Nacogdoches (Texas)/Oklahoma State 35 Samson Oladimeji G 6-4 200 So. Rolling Meadows, Ill./Fremd 41 Clayton Jones G 6-0 190 r-Sr. Champaign, Ill./Central/Lake Land 43 Michael Finke F 6-10 235 r-Jr. Champaign, Ill./Centennial 45 Cameron Liss F 6-6 220 r-Jr. Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North ALPHABETICAL No� Name Pos� Ht� Wt� Year Hometown/High School/Previous School 24 Mark Alstork G 6-5 190 Gr. Dayton, Ohio/Thurgood Marshall/Wright State 12 Leron Black F 6-7 230 r-Jr. Memphis, Tenn./White Station 10 Drew Cayce G 6-1 175 r-So. Libertyville, Ill./La Lumiere (Ind.)/Creighton 11 Greg Eboigbodin F 6-9 225 Fr. Benin City, Edo, Nigeria/University of Detroit Jesuit 43 Michael Finke F 6-10 235 r-Jr. Champaign, Ill./Centennial 1 Trent Frazier G 6-1 170 Fr. Wellington, Fla./Wellington 41 Clayton Jones G 6-0 190 r-Sr. Champaign, Ill./Central/Lake Land 23 Aaron Jordan G 6-5 210 Jr. Plainfield, Ill./East 45 Cameron Liss F 6-6 220 r-Jr. Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North 3 Te’Jon Lucas G 6-1 180 So. Milwaukee, Wis./Washington 2 Kipper Nichols F 6-6 225 r-So. Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward 35 Samson Oladimeji G 6-4 200 So. Rolling Meadows, Ill./Fremd 13 Mark Smith G 6-4 225 Fr. Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville 32 Tyler Underwood G 6-2 180 r-So. Champaign, Ill./Nacogdoches (Texas)/Oklahoma State 4 Matic Vesel F 6-10 215 Fr. Ljubljana, Slovenia/Domžale 20 Da’Monte Williams G 6-3 190 Fr. Peoria, Ill./Manual Head Coach: Brad Underwood (1st year at Illinois, 5th year overall) Assistant Coaches: Orlando Antigua (1st year), Ron Coleman (1st year), Jamall Walker (6th year) Assistant to the Head Coach: Geoff Alexander (1st year) Strength & Conditioning Coach: Adam Fletcher (3rd year) Director of Operations: Joey Biggs (1st year) Video Coordinator: Patrick Schulte (1st year) Graduate Manager: Grant Bale (1st year) Athletic Trainer: Paul Schmidt (6th year) PRONUNCIATION GUIDE LERON Black le-RON Drew CAYCE KAY-see Greg EBOIGBODIN ee-BOYG-bo-deen Michael FINKE FEEN-kee TE’JON Lucas TEE-zhahn Samson OLADIMEJI ho-lah-di-MAY-jee MATIC VESEL mah-TEETS vuh-SEAL DA’MONTE Williams da-MON-tay 26 // FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL // 1,764 VICTORIES // 17 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS // 30 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES // FIVE FINAL FOURS THE FIGHTING ILLINI SEASON PREVIEW Welcome to the Underwood Era of Illini Basketball He netted double figures in 27 of 32 games, with 17 outings RETURNING FOR THE ILLINI IN 2017-18 First-year head coach Brad Underwood is ushering in a new of 20-plus points. He also set a school record with 176 free Category 16-17 Returning Lost Return Pct� era of Fighting Illini Basketball. throws while draining 70 three-pointers. While known for his Minutes 7,025 2,374 4,651 33.8% scoring, Alstork will be counted on to help the Illini in all Points 2,508 752 1,756 30.0% Underwood was hired in March after leading Oklahoma State areas and has that ability as he also averaged 4.7 rebounds Field Goals 898 279 619 31.1% to a 20-win season and NCAA Tournament appearance. That and 3.5 assists last season for the Raiders. 3-Pt. FGs 270 79 191 29.3% followed a dominant run at Stephen F. Austin where he led Free Throws 442 115 327 26.0% the Lumberjacks to Southland Conference regular season and Freshman Influx Rebounds 1,135 479 656 42.2% tournament titles in each of his three seasons, compiling an Added to the mix of returnees is a talented and promising Assists 472 136 336 28.8% 89-14 record and leading to three straight NCAA Tournament five-player freshman class. Blocks 83 17 66 20.5% Steals 197 71 126 36.0% bids. Underwood’s first recruit was a big one in Edwardsville’s Owning the third-most victories in NCAA history by a head Mark Smith. The first Illinois Mr. Basketball to select the RETURNING ILLINI LEADERS coach through his first four years (109), Underwood is now Fighting Illini since 2010, Smith averaged 21.9 points, 8.2 Category Player Statistic 16-17 Rank employing his exciting systems of uptempo and positionless rebounds, 8.4 assists and 2.1 steals as a senior. Formerly a Minutes Te’Jon Lucas 842 5th Points Leron Black 252 5th multi-sport athlete, he did not focus solely on basketball until spread offense with pressure and deny defense in Champaign. Points/Game Leron Black 8.1 4th his senior year of high school. Smith is a powerful, skilled Field Goals Leron Black 101 4th Setting the Stage player with multi-positional skills and strong work ethic. FG Pct. Michael Finke .483 3rd The Illini return just two starters and five scholarship players 3-Pt. FGs Michael Finke 37 4th from last season’s senior-laden team that compiled a The Illini inked one of the top players in the state of Florida in 3-Pt. FG Pct. Michael Finke .411 1st 20-15 record and advanced to the NIT Quarterfinals. In fact, top-100 recruit Trent Frazier. He averaged 27.6 points, 6.3 Free Throws Te’Jon Lucas 42 3rd Illinois returns just 30 percent of its points, 42 percent of rebounds and 4.4 assists as a senior. Frazier was an electric FT Pct. Leron Black .722 3rd its rebounds and 34 percent of its minutes from the 2016- scorer in high school, tallying a school-record 52 points in Off. Reb. Leron Black 55 2nd 17 season. The Orange and Blue will need to replace its a game and leaving as Wellington High’s all-time leading Def. Reb. Leron Black 141 2nd graduated top-three scorers in Malcolm Hill (17.2 ppg, 5.1 scorer with 1,742 points in three varsity seasons. Frazier has Tot. Reb. Leron Black 196 1st rpg), Maverick Morgan (9.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Tracy Abrams great quickness and deep shooting range. Reb./Game Leron Black 6.3 1st Assists Te’Jon Lucas 95 2nd (8.6 ppg), along with Jalen Coleman-Lands (8.0 ppg). Blocks Kipper Nichols 7 4th The third guard in the recruiting class is Da’Monte Williams Steals Te’Jon Lucas 32 3rd Black and Finke Lead Frontcourt from Peoria Manual. The son of former Illini All-American A pair of fourth-year juniors in forwards Leron Black and Frank Williams, Da’Monte is coming off a torn ACL that Michael Finke are the Illini’s top returners. abruptly cut short his senior season after three games. He RETURNING ILLINI TOTALS 2016-17 Career averaged 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists as a junior, Double-Digit Scoring Games Black started the final 27 games last season, ranking fourth leading Manual to a third-place finish in state. Williams has Michael Finke 11 21 on the team in scoring with an average of 8.1 points while outstanding passing ability and vision and the length and Leron Black 13 20 leading the Illini in rebounds with 6.3 per contest (14th in competitiveness to be a strong defender. Te’Jon Lucas 5 5 Big Ten). The Memphis native recorded three double-doubles Kipper Nichols 2 2 on the year – including two during the NIT – and scored in Underwood signed two frontcourt players during the summer. Aaron Jordan 1 2 double figures 13 times. Always active around the basket, Greg Eboigbodin is an athletic, 6-9 forward from Nigeria who Black will look to increase his rebounding and scoring arrived in the U.S. for high school. He attended University of 20+ Point Games production this season. Detroit Jesuit High, where he first began playing basketball. Leron Black 1 1 Eboigbodin improved each year and ended up averaging Michael Finke 0 1 Finke was the UI’s sixth-leading scorer a year ago at 6.9 13.8 points, 13.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting 66 10+ Rebound Games points per game. He also led the team in 3-point shooting percent from the field as a senior.