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Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini writer and KeynoteUSA Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He will provide information every morning about Brad Underwood’s team and college basketball in general:
Terrence Shannon Jr. joined a rather exclusive group on Wednesday when he was selected 27th overall in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. That gives Illinois 17 first-round picks in its history. (Brandin Podziemski is listed in the official record book.)
Today’s second-rounder most likely won’t be added to the total list of draft picks, which includes 75 former Illini, but check again in a year. That number could increase quickly. Will Riley, Kasparas Jakucionis, Tomislav Ivisic and Kylan Boswell have all appeared in several (and very early) 2025 mocks.
Here’s a look at Illinois’ history of first-round draft picks:
Illini’s first first round pick
Don Sunderlage went No. 9 overall to the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1951 NBA Draft after leading Illinois to a Big Ten title and two Final Four appearances in three seasons. The Warriors traded Sunderlage to the Milwaukee Hawks before he could play in Philadelphia, and he ended up playing one season for the Hawks (where he was an All-Star) and another for the Minneapolis Lakers.
Illini’s top first-round pick
That honor goes to Deron Williams, who was drafted No. 3 overall in 2005 by the Utah Jazz (Kendall Gill came close to being drafted No. 5 in 1990). Williams played 12 seasons in the NBA with the Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a three-time All-Star and made the All-NBA Second Team twice with the Jazz.
Most common first round destination
Two former Illini ended up being drafted by the Syracuse Nationals (which eventually became the Philadelphia 76ers). Johnny “Red” Kerr was drafted #6 overall in 1954 by the Nationals. Three years later, George Bon Salle was drafted No. 7 overall out of Syracuse, but ended up playing in Italy and in the National Industrial Basketball League with the Denver Truckers before a brief stint with the Chicago Packers (now the Washington Wizards ). Kerr ended up playing nine seasons for the Nationals (and two more once they became the 76ers) and won an NBA title in his rookie year. He finished his playing career with one season with the Baltimore Bullets before moving on to coach the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns.
Scott Richey is a journalist who covers college basketball at The News-Gazette. His email is srichey@news-gazette.com and you can follow him on Twitter (@srrichey).
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