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Let's continue with my countdown of my 30 favorite Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball players of my fandom, spanning from the 1996-97 season until present day. Here are numbers 30-17.
Following the loss of Eric Gordon to Indiana as part of the 2007 Illinois men's basketball recruiting class, Illinois fans were obviously upset at Kelvin Sampson and worried about the talent that was coming in under Head Coach Bruce Weber.
For restless Illinois fans, the 2010 recruiting class of Jereme Richmond, Meyers Leonard and Crandall Head was supposed to be the game-changer, though we all know how that went.
Even when Illinois brought in a solid 2009 class of D.J. Richardson, Tyler Griffey, Joseph Bertrand and Brandon Paul, my 16th favorite Illini of my 30-year fandom, fans were looking ahead to 2010.
Of course, the 2009 class would be far greater than the disappointing 2010 class with Richmond lasting only one year, Head transferring by the midway point of his sophomore year, and Leonard declaring for the NBA Draft after his sophomore year, which would be Weber's last season in Champaign.
To me, I greatly respected the 2009 class, with Paul becoming the best player of that group. In fact, three of the four players from the class are in my favorite 30 Illini of all time, with Bertrand a close omission.
From Warren High School in Gurnee, Paul lost his last high school game to his future Illini teammate Richmond, who hit an improbable halfcourt shot after the Warren star put his team up one point at the free throw line.
For restless Illinois fans, the 2010 recruiting class of Jereme Richmond, Meyers Leonard and Crandall Head was supposed to be the game-changer, though we all know how that went.
Even when Illinois brought in a solid 2009 class of D.J. Richardson, Tyler Griffey, Joseph Bertrand and Brandon Paul, my 16th favorite Illini of my 30-year fandom, fans were looking ahead to 2010.
Of course, the 2009 class would be far greater than the disappointing 2010 class with Richmond lasting only one year, Head transferring by the midway point of his sophomore year, and Leonard declaring for the NBA Draft after his sophomore year, which would be Weber's last season in Champaign.
To me, I greatly respected the 2009 class, with Paul becoming the best player of that group. In fact, three of the four players from the class are in my favorite 30 Illini of all time, with Bertrand a close omission.
From Warren High School in Gurnee, Paul lost his last high school game to his future Illini teammate Richmond, who hit an improbable halfcourt shot after the Warren star put his team up one point at the free throw line.
With Paul, Richmond and a bunch of other touted recruits heading to Champaign, Illinois looked like it would be a team to reckon with again in college basketball.
Of course, that would not prove to be the case, though no fault of Paul, Richardson, Griffey and Bertrand.
Like Richardson, Paul was an instant starter at Illinois. Rocking a faux hawk as a freshman, Paul showed a lot of potential on a team that would just miss the NCAA Tournament. Paul especially impressed during an improbable comeback at Clemson that season, scoring 20 points. A versatile guard who could shoot from three, get to the rim and bring activity on defense, Paul had underrated star potential in my book.
As a sophomore, Paul transitioned to a sixth-man role, finishing fourth in scoring on the team at 9.0 points per game, as Illinois inserted Richmond into the three spot and slid previous Big Ten freshman of the year Richardson to the two. Of course, Illinois would not live up to its potential that season, with Richmond essentially suspended for the NCAA Tournament for conduct detrimental to the team and then declaring for the NBA Draft, during which he would not be selected.
With better team chemistry, at least at the start of Paul's junior season, Illinois got off to a hot start before things cratered during the Big Ten Season. Illinois would miss the 2012 NCAA Tournament and Weber would be fired, with the lone bright spot of that season being Paul's performance against Ohio State on January 10, 2012. En route to a career-high 43 points, Paul would outscore Ohio State 15-8 in the game's final 2:40. He also hit 8-of-10 threes that night during one of the greatest individual performances by an Illini that I had seen. In fact, I had flashbacks of Paul this past season when Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler scored 46 points at Purdue.
With Jon Groce hired before his senior season, Paul got off to a hot start, winning MVP of the Maui Invitational after Illinois defeated Butler in the tourney title game. Paul would also have a big game during a huge road win at Gonzaga and hit the game-winning shot against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament. Paul would leave it all on the court during his final game as an Illini, scoring a team-high 18 points during a near upset of #2 seed Miami (FL).
By the end of his career, Paul would finish as the eighth-highest scorer in program history with 1,654 points. While BP3 wasn't CP3, he was a damn good college basketball player, a rock for the Illini during four tumultuous seasons, someone Illinois fans could count on to play hard and with character.
As was the case with Richardson, Griffey and Bertrand, Paul will always have my respect for sticking with the Illini through thick and thin, representing the University the right way, and getting Illinois back to the NCAA Tournament before a long drought was in store for the program.
Even better, Paul persevered and eventually made it to the NBA, playing 64 games with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2016-17 season!
Of course, that would not prove to be the case, though no fault of Paul, Richardson, Griffey and Bertrand.
Like Richardson, Paul was an instant starter at Illinois. Rocking a faux hawk as a freshman, Paul showed a lot of potential on a team that would just miss the NCAA Tournament. Paul especially impressed during an improbable comeback at Clemson that season, scoring 20 points. A versatile guard who could shoot from three, get to the rim and bring activity on defense, Paul had underrated star potential in my book.
As a sophomore, Paul transitioned to a sixth-man role, finishing fourth in scoring on the team at 9.0 points per game, as Illinois inserted Richmond into the three spot and slid previous Big Ten freshman of the year Richardson to the two. Of course, Illinois would not live up to its potential that season, with Richmond essentially suspended for the NCAA Tournament for conduct detrimental to the team and then declaring for the NBA Draft, during which he would not be selected.
With better team chemistry, at least at the start of Paul's junior season, Illinois got off to a hot start before things cratered during the Big Ten Season. Illinois would miss the 2012 NCAA Tournament and Weber would be fired, with the lone bright spot of that season being Paul's performance against Ohio State on January 10, 2012. En route to a career-high 43 points, Paul would outscore Ohio State 15-8 in the game's final 2:40. He also hit 8-of-10 threes that night during one of the greatest individual performances by an Illini that I had seen. In fact, I had flashbacks of Paul this past season when Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler scored 46 points at Purdue.
With Jon Groce hired before his senior season, Paul got off to a hot start, winning MVP of the Maui Invitational after Illinois defeated Butler in the tourney title game. Paul would also have a big game during a huge road win at Gonzaga and hit the game-winning shot against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament. Paul would leave it all on the court during his final game as an Illini, scoring a team-high 18 points during a near upset of #2 seed Miami (FL).
By the end of his career, Paul would finish as the eighth-highest scorer in program history with 1,654 points. While BP3 wasn't CP3, he was a damn good college basketball player, a rock for the Illini during four tumultuous seasons, someone Illinois fans could count on to play hard and with character.
As was the case with Richardson, Griffey and Bertrand, Paul will always have my respect for sticking with the Illini through thick and thin, representing the University the right way, and getting Illinois back to the NCAA Tournament before a long drought was in store for the program.
Even better, Paul persevered and eventually made it to the NBA, playing 64 games with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2016-17 season!
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