Trent Frazier is back for one more with the Fighting Illini
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (BVM) — Trent Frazier is entering his fifth year at the University of Illinois and will be making his return to the Illini basketball team. Frazier and the team are coming off an impressive season and hope to defend their Big Ten Conference Championship this year. Their run of success was in large part due to the on-the-court contributions of Frazier as well as his off-court leadership.
Frazier committed to the Fighting Illini during his senior year in high school and joined the team as a freshman for the 2017-18 season. Frazier demonstrated his impact immediately, posting 12.5 points per game and 3.1 assists per game in his first year with the team.
The Fighting Illini were in a transition period after the departure of longtime head coach John Groce, and the arrival of former Stephen F. Austin and Oklahoma State coach, Brad Underwood. This transition meant there were many question marks for where the team was headed in the near future, but the turnaround that followed did not disappoint.
The Frazier-Underwood era has afforded the Illini a 40-38 record during their four years together, with the past two years enjoying great success as a program. This success includes two top-four finishes in the Big Ten and two AP Top 25 squads, including a No. 2 mark in the nation.
Frazier’s passion for basketball and excellence on the court started far before he was making highlight plays for the Fighting Illini. He’s originally from Wellington, Florida, where he attended Wellington High School as a student athlete.
While there, he helped lift his squad to a state championship during his sophomore campaign, averaging 12.9 points, 7.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Altogether, Frazier had an impressive high school career with the Wellington program. Winning multiple accolades during his time at Wellington, he was recognized as a four-star recruit on a national level.
Interestingly, Frazier’s play-style transition had him alter his game from a pass-first sophomore guard on varsity, to a team-leading scorer by his senior year. By the time of graduation, Frazier had captured the all-time points record at Wellington High School with 1,742 points spanning across three varsity seasons. Such a resume had him poised to make a difference for a rebuilding Illini team.
During the 2020-21 season, the Illini benefited from the addition of freshmen guards Andre Curbelo and Adam Miller. While Curbelo is sure to make a jump in year No. 2, Miller will be suiting up for the LSU Tigers after transferring during the offseason. Still, Frazier has stepped up admirably as a leader for young players such as Curbelo, and is sure to continue that this season.
With Ayo Dosunmu headed to the NBA it will be interesting to see what players will make a bigger impact and if Frazier can be the leader the Illini need.
In 2018, when Dosunmu joined the Illini, Frazier’s opportunities to blossom on the court were bound to be minimized, but he remained a presence on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. His abilities are evident through his ability to lead the Illini in made 3-pointers each year on the squad. Additionally, Frazier’s lockdown-defense capabilities led him to receive Big Ten all-defense honors last season.
The team’s 24-7 finish marked the best season for the Illini since their 2004-05 national championship appearance. It’s going to take a lot for the squad to mirror that success this upcoming season, but it’s possible with the right players stepping up.
Frazier has a chance to top 10 PPG for the fourth time in his career this season if he can provide the same kind of production he has been over the past few years. He’s going to have to be back to full form to provide that boost for his squad this upcoming season and make a deeper NCAA Tournament run than last year’s upsetting loss to Loyola Chicago. Luckily, Frazier will have the help of returning big man, Kofi Cockburn, and defensive stud, Da’monte Williams, this season.
Look out for Trent Frazier as he makes a return to orange and blue for one last run this year. The season tips-off on Oct. 23 when the Illini host the St. Francis Bulldogs at the State Farm Center.
