Fighting Illini basketball has a rich tradition, boasting legendary players who have left an indelible mark on both college basketball and the NBA. From dominant big men to electrifying guards, the Fighting Illini have produced some of the game’s all-time greats.
Right now, Illinois leads the nation in rebounding margin (+11.3) and total rebounds per game (44.6). They aggressively attack the glass, using their physicality and size to dominate. Even guards like 6-foot-2 Kylan Boswell and 6-foot-1 Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn consistently outjump taller opponents, securing rebounds well beyond their height.
Here’s a look at the top 10 players in Illinois basketball history.
Who Are The Best Fighting Illini Basketball Players Of All Time?
From electrifying scorers and dominant big men to lockdown defenders and clutch performers, the Fighting Illini have produced some of the most memorable figures in college basketball history.
Whether they led Illinois to deep NCAA Tournament runs, shattered records, or went on to successful professional careers, these players have cemented their legacy in orange and blue.
10. Eddie Johnson
Eddie Johnson, one of the greatest shooters in basketball history, left Illinois as the program’s all-time leader in both scoring (1,692 points) and rebounds (831). He earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1981, following Second-Team recognition in 1980 and honorable mention in 1979, and was named team MVP in both 1980 and 1981.
A member of Illinois’ All-Century Team, Johnson cemented his legacy with one of the most memorable shots in school history—a game-winner in the final seconds that lifted fourth-ranked Illinois to a 57-55 victory over top-ranked Michigan State in 1979 at the Assembly Hall.
He played a key role in Illinois’ return to postseason play, leading the team to the 1980 NIT—its first tournament appearance since 1963—and the 1981 NCAA Tournament. Johnson went on to enjoy a 17-year NBA career, finishing as Illinois’ highest-scoring NBA player with 19,202 points, which ranked 22nd all-time at the time of his retirement.
He and his wife, Joy, now reside in Paradise Valley, Arizona, where he works as a television analyst for the Phoenix Suns.
9. Dave Downey
Dave Downey excelled as a leader both on the court and beyond, demonstrating excellence in academics and his professional career. A member of the Illinois All-Century basketball team, he set the program’s single-game scoring record with 53 points against Indiana in 1963—a record that still stands today.
That same year, he played a key role in Illinois’ Big Ten championship run, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors after receiving Second-Team recognition in 1961 and 1962. He was also named a First-Team All-American by the Helms Foundation in 1963.
A three-time team MVP, Downey was awarded Illinois’ Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1963. His career averages of 18.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game rank fourth and third, respectively, in school history. When he graduated, he held Illinois’ all-time records for career points (1,360) and rebounds (790).
Beyond basketball, Downey built a successful career in business and served on several leadership boards, including the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. He currently resides in Champaign.
8. Dwight Eddleman
Excelling in track, football, and basketball while earning an impressive 11 varsity letters, Dike Eddleman is widely regarded as the greatest athlete in Illinois history. In 1949, he was honored with the Big Ten Silver Basketball award.
Eddleman’s athletic achievements spanned multiple sports—he played as a punter in the 1947 Rose Bowl, tied for second in the high jump at the 1948 Olympics, and helped lead Illinois to the 1949 NCAA Final Four in basketball. He also captured an NCAA title in the high jump.
Eddleman earned First-Team All-America honors in 1949 after being named to the Second Team in 1948 and received First-Team All-Big Ten recognition in 1948, followed by Second-Team honors in 1949. Serving as team captain, he was also named team MVP while guiding Illinois to a Big Ten championship and Final Four appearance in 1949.
He went on to play four seasons in the NBA, earning All-Star selections in both 1951 and 1952.
A member of the National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame, Eddleman dedicated much of his later career to Illinois athletics, beginning in 1969 as the university’s chief fundraiser for the athletic department. He passed away in 2001 at the age of 78.
7. Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo played basketball at Illinois from 1960 to 1962 before launching a highly influential career in professional sports, serving as a coach, general manager, and team owner.
He was the former owner of several Arizona-based franchises, including the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Sandsharks, Arizona Rattlers, and Arizona Diamondbacks. In 1968, at just 28 years old, he became the youngest general manager in professional sports after being hired by the Suns.
Throughout his career, Colangelo has held leadership positions across the NBA, MLB, and various charitable and community organizations. He also served as Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
A four-time NBA Executive of the Year, he was recognized by the Arizona Republic as the most influential sports figure in Arizona for the 20th century and named one of Phoenix’s 15 most influential citizens of all time. In 2004, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Colangelo took on the role of Director of USA Basketball in 2005, playing a pivotal role in the U.S. National Team’s success, guiding them to Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. He retired from the position following the Tokyo Games.
6. Tal Brody
Tal Brody gained worldwide recognition as Israel’s “Mr. Basketball” and a global ambassador for goodwill, using the sport to foster international relationships. A standout player at Illinois, he earned First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1965 after securing a spot on the Second Team in 1964.
That same year, he was selected 12th overall in the NBA Draft but opted to play professionally in Israel for Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he led the team to victory in the 1977 FIBA European Champions Cup.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Brody excelled academically, earning Second-Team Academic All-American and First-Team Academic All-Big Ten honors in 1965. He finished his Illini career with 1,121 points, placing him among the program’s Top 50 all-time scorers. Named Israeli Sportsman of the Year in 1967, he was later inducted into the Israeli Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 1979, he became the first athlete to receive the Israel Prize, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his exceptional contributions to sports and society. His legacy was further cemented with inductions into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and the U.S. National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. Brody currently resides in Tel Aviv, Israel.
5. Kenny Battle
After two standout seasons at Illinois, where he became the face of the Flyin’ Illini, Battle was honored as a member of the Illini All-Century Team in 2005. He averaged 16.1 points per game during his time in Champaign, amassing 1,112 points—adding to the 1,000-plus points he scored in two seasons at Northern Illinois. This achievement made him one of the rare players to surpass 1,000 career points at two different schools.
Battle earned Third-Team All-Big Ten recognition in 1988 and was named to the Second Team in 1989, the same year he helped lead Illinois to a Final Four appearance.
Selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, Battle went on to play four seasons in the NBA, making stops with the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, and Golden State Warriors. He received Honorable Mention All-America honors at both Northern Illinois and Illinois and was later inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1986, he was recognized as the NABC National Dunker of the Year.
4. Nick Anderson
Nick Anderson was a key force behind the legendary Flying Illini’s run to the 1989 NCAA Final Four, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors that season. Averaging 17 points per game during his Illinois career, he cemented his place in program history with a memorable 35-foot buzzer-beater against Indiana—one of the most iconic moments in Fighting Illini basketball.
After his junior season, Anderson declared for the NBA Draft and was selected 11th overall by the Orlando Magic, becoming the franchise’s first-ever draft pick. He went on to play 13 seasons in the NBA, finishing with a career scoring average of 14.4 points per game.
3. Don Freeman
Don Freeman was one of the most prolific scorers in Illinois basketball history, finishing his Fighting Illini career as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,449 points. His career scoring average of 20.1 points per game remains the third-highest in school history, and he also averaged 10.3 rebounds per game, ranking third on Illinois’ all-time list.
In 1966, Freeman earned First-Team All-America honors after setting school records for points in a season (668) and scoring average (27.8 points per game)—a record that still stands more than 50 years later. He was named First-Team All-Big Ten that same year after earning Third-Team honors in 1965. In recognition of his legacy, he was named to the Illinois All-Century Team in 2005.
After his stellar college career, Freeman played eight seasons in the ABA and one in the NBA. He scored 11,544 points in the ABA, ranking seventh all-time, and was a five-time ABA All-Star. In 1975, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 10.8 points per game before retiring. Across his professional career, he averaged 18.9 points per game.
2. Kendall Gill
Kendall Gill will always be remembered as a dynamic member of the 1989 Flyin’ Illini squad that soared to the Final Four. As a senior in 1990, he earned consensus Second-Team All-America honors, including First-Team recognition from UPI, and was named First-Team All-Big Ten.
Gill led the Big Ten in scoring that season, averaging exactly 20.0 points per game—the first Illinois player in 16 years to reach that mark. He also made his mark on defense, ranking third in school history with 218 career steals.
Following his standout collegiate career, Gill was selected fifth overall in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Over 15 NBA seasons with seven teams, he tallied 12,914 points, averaging 13.4 points per game, and led the league in steals in 1999. Now based in suburban Chicago, Gill works as a basketball television analyst for the Bulls.
1. Dee Brown
Dee Brown, arguably the most beloved player in Fighting Illini basketball history, was named the 2005 Sporting News National Player of the Year. Known as “The One-Man Fastbreak,” he earned consensus All-American honors twice—first-team in 2005 and second-team in 2006. That same year, he was awarded the Big Ten Silver Basketball and named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, playing a pivotal role in Illinois’ Big Ten championship and NCAA national title game appearance.
A four-time All-Big Ten selection, Brown finished third in voting for the 2005 Wooden Award and claimed the 2006 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard. With 114 wins, he remains the winningest player in Illinois history. After his collegiate career, Brown played professionally for a decade, including two seasons in the NBA.
Honorable Mentions
Terrence Shannon Jr.
Terrence Shannon Jr. is the youngest athlete in this list and one that can be included in the Hall Of Fame of Fighting Illini Basketball players in the future. He currently plays basketball for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Terrence played college basketball at Texas Tech before transferring to Illinois in 2022.
After his first season at Illinois, Shannon declared for the 2023 NBA Draft but later withdrew and returned for a second season. He was a frontrunner for National Player of the Year before being suspended for six games but resumed play after a preliminary injunction. Following the season and a not guilty verdict, Illinois honored Shannon’s jersey, unveiling it in a ceremony on February 15, 2025.
Shannon set several records at Illinois, including the most points in a Big Ten Tournament game (40) and multiple single-season records for scoring, free throws, and advanced metrics. He also tied the school record for most three-pointers in a game (8).
Final Thoughts
The Fighting Illini have built a legacy of greatness, producing some of the most exciting players in college basketball history. Illinois will continue to be a powerhouse in the Big Ten and beyond. With a rich history and a bright future, there’s never been a better time to follow Illinois basketball.
As the Illini take the court each season, their impact extends beyond the game—especially for fans looking to add excitement through sports betting.
Since sports betting is legal in Illinois, if you’re backing Illinois to dominate the boards or betting on a key player to light up the scoreboard, there are plenty of ways to get in on the action.
Ready to place your bets? Check out the latest odds on Illinois basketball and make every game even more thrilling.
