Top 10 Illinois basketball freshman seasons in the Brad Underwood era

Illinois basketball has recruited at the highest levels over the past decade, and that isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Brad Underwood has put together an incredible program, and the Illini continue winning every season.

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No, we aren’t always led by experienced upperclassmen either. Illinois has brought in plenty of freshmen who go on to have big first years with the team. Since we have had so many great freshmen, I wanted to put together a list of the top freshmen since Underwood took over.

Here are the top 10 Illinois basketball freshman seasons in the Brad Underwood era

22-13 overall, Round of 32

As much as it pains me, I think you have to put Morez Johnson Jr. on the list of the top freshmen in the Underwood era.

Johnson committed to Illinois years before suiting up, and he stuck with that commitment through his freshman year. Before transferring to Michigan, he averaged 7.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks with the Illini as a freshman.

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It was a toss-up between Johnson and Adam Miller for No. 10 on this list. I went with Johnson because of his rebounding ability and being a defensive stopper.

Keaton Wagler is the most surprising freshman rise I have ever seen for Illinois basketball, but Giorgi Bezhanishvili’s freshman campaign is up there with the most shocking in the history of the program as well.

Bezhanishvili averaged 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and shot 54.2% from the field for an Illinois team that you could tell had the foundation to turn the corner and start winning games.

At the end of the day, Bezhanishvili could have been higher, but he lacked the shooting, and his team only won 12 games as a freshman. He still had one of the most memorable freshman campaigns for the Orange and Blue.

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24-7 overall, Big Ten Tournament title, #1 seed, Round of 32

Plenty of players have come through the Illinois basketball program that I thought would be good, but ended up flopping. During Andre Curbelo’s freshman campaign, I thought he was going…

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Publish date : 2026-04-29 12:07:00

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