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Illinois basketball enters the 2026-27 season with one of the most talented rosters in the country, but its most important player might end up being someone who has yet to play a minute in a regular-season college basketball game.
Freshman guard Quentin Coleman gave Illini fans plenty to be excited about in Saturday’s 105-96 exhibition victory over Cincinnati, stuffing the stat sheet with 14 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
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And while his scoring ability has never been in question, it was everything else Coleman brought to the table that made his performance so impressive.
A five-star freshman, Coleman was known as an elite shooter coming out of high school, having shot an absurd 50 percent from beyond the arc during his senior season. But against Cincinnati, he showed that he’s much more than just a spot-up shooter.
He consistently got downhill, attacked the paint and created opportunities for his teammates. His ability to penetrate the defense and make the right play was particularly encouraging. His eight assists demonstrated he can be just as dangerous as a facilitator.
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Throw in seven rebounds from a 6-foot-4 guard, and Coleman was seemingly determined to make an appearance in every column of the box score.
But perhaps the most exciting aspect of Coleman’s game is his relentless motor.
Earlier this school year, Coleman was spotted playing pickup basketball at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) in Champaign alongside Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell.
Typically, when Division I basketball players compete against regular college students, they aren’t exactly giving 100 percent effort. After all, there’s not much to prove against a schoolmate who has a chemistry exam the next morning.
Apparently, no one informed Coleman.
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At the ARC, Coleman was flying around the court, attacking the basket, crashing the glass and absolutely dominating the competition. While most players of his caliber might treat pickup basketball as an…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-quentin-coleman-could-illinois-155927275.html
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Publish date : 2026-10-21 15:59:00
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