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Two Illini basketball greats, Ayo Dosunmu and James Augustine, will be inducted into the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class, the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced today.
Without question the most important recruit at the beginning of the Brad Underwood era, the Chicago-native Dosunmu played three seasons at Illinois, leading the Illini back to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 for the first time since 2013. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the second-round of the 2021 NBA Draft, Dosunmu is currently starting and starring for the Minnesota Timberwolves, which hope to eliminate the Denver Nuggets in Game Six of the Western Conference first round series later tonight. *Note: Apparently Dosunmu is going to miss Game Six with a calf injury.
A four-year starter at Illinois, Augustine was a famed member of the 2004-05 Illinois team that went 37-2 and lost in the National Championship Game to North Carolina. Augustine finished his career as the all-time Illini leader in rebounds (1,023) and career field goal percentage (61.7%), in addition to tying teammate Dee Brown with the most wins (114) in program history. Augustine was also the first ever Illini player to score 1,000 points and grabs 1,000 rebounds during his career.
Joining Dosunmu and Augustine in the eight-member Hall of Class are former football players Howard Griffith and Brandon Lloyd, women's basketball player Tauja Catchings, golfer D.A. Points, women's soccer player Ella Massar and two-time Olympian Jordyn Poulter.
This year's inductees will be recognized Friday, September 11th, at State Farm Center as part of a gala celebrating the 10th year of the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame.
The announcement of Dosunmu and Augustine into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame serves as a perfect segue for something I was planning to do with the site.
As I have been an llinois basketball fan for 30 years now, beginning with the 1996-97 season, I am going to be revealing my 30 favorite Illini basketball players of all time.
Will Ayo and Auggie make my list?
Stay tuned for that during the next month.
In the meantime, below are highlights of my favorite Illini games from Dosunmu and Augustine.
Without question the most important recruit at the beginning of the Brad Underwood era, the Chicago-native Dosunmu played three seasons at Illinois, leading the Illini back to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 for the first time since 2013. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the second-round of the 2021 NBA Draft, Dosunmu is currently starting and starring for the Minnesota Timberwolves, which hope to eliminate the Denver Nuggets in Game Six of the Western Conference first round series later tonight. *Note: Apparently Dosunmu is going to miss Game Six with a calf injury.
A four-year starter at Illinois, Augustine was a famed member of the 2004-05 Illinois team that went 37-2 and lost in the National Championship Game to North Carolina. Augustine finished his career as the all-time Illini leader in rebounds (1,023) and career field goal percentage (61.7%), in addition to tying teammate Dee Brown with the most wins (114) in program history. Augustine was also the first ever Illini player to score 1,000 points and grabs 1,000 rebounds during his career.
Joining Dosunmu and Augustine in the eight-member Hall of Class are former football players Howard Griffith and Brandon Lloyd, women's basketball player Tauja Catchings, golfer D.A. Points, women's soccer player Ella Massar and two-time Olympian Jordyn Poulter.
This year's inductees will be recognized Friday, September 11th, at State Farm Center as part of a gala celebrating the 10th year of the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame.
The announcement of Dosunmu and Augustine into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame serves as a perfect segue for something I was planning to do with the site.
As I have been an llinois basketball fan for 30 years now, beginning with the 1996-97 season, I am going to be revealing my 30 favorite Illini basketball players of all time.
Will Ayo and Auggie make my list?
Stay tuned for that during the next month.
In the meantime, below are highlights of my favorite Illini games from Dosunmu and Augustine.
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