One Illinois star is rocketing up the mock draft boards

This Illini squad is full of talent from top to bottom. How do they project at the next level, though?

Illinois hasn’t had much success in producing NBA talent in recent years.

Meyers Leonard was the only active Illini in the league for a while, until Ayo Dosunmu was drafted 38th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2021.

Former Illini Brandin Podziemski was a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Whether or not you count him as a true Illini product and success story is up to you (we don’t).

Kofi Cockburn and Giorgi Bezhanishvili both had short stints in the G-League as well, before taking their talents overseas.

Brad Underwood has increased the talent level at Illinois like no other coach has. Every single recruiting class he brings in is filled with potential NBA players.

Let’s take a look at where these Illini players currently stack up in terms of their NBA future.

Terrence Shannon Jr

Terrence Shannon Jr is one of the biggest draft board risers in the first month of the…