Depth was a concern for the 2025-26 campaign, but the Illinois basketball team is addressing this issue.
Over the past week, the Illini have added not one but two players to help bolster the roster in 2025. Keaton Wagler was the first addition to the program. He is a four-star recruit.
The second addition came on Wednesday night, as Illinois landed a top 100 recruit in Brandon Lee. He is a solid shooting guard who should be able to see big minutes early on.
With a new addition comes an adjustment to the lineup for the 2025-26 campaign. I didn’t include Will Riley and Kasparas Jakucionis in this lineup because both players are projected to be selected in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Starter: Ty Rodgers (SR)
It is hard to predict who is going to be on the team with an entire offseason still coming up, but with the way things are shaking out, I think Ty Rodgers will come back for his senior season.
Rodgers has played some good basketball over the past couple of years, and Brad Underwood has started to develop him into a do-it-all type of player. Since Underwood slotted Rodgers into the starting point guard spot last season, I think he rides with him there until he is done in Champaign. So, I have Rodgers starting at the No. 1 guard spot.
Backup: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (JR)
I hope that Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is still around after the 2024-25 campaign. He would provide some quality depth for the program while still receiving 20 or more minutes per game.
Gibbs-Lawhorn should be a primary backup at the No. 1 guard spot. We don’t have much in the way of experienced point guards, so Gibbs-Lawhorn will be crucial. He will likely see time at multiple positions as well.
Backup: Keaton Wagler (FR)
It is more likely than not that Keaton Wagler gets dripped into playing time in year one. With more talent in tow, Illinois doesn’t have to throw Wagler to the wolves.
Wagler is a four-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 150 player in the class of 2025. He was a great addition to the program. Wagler also mentioned that Illinois wants to use him as a point guard. At 6-foot-6, this kid would make a dangerous No. 1 guard. I have him as a deeper bench guy in year one.
