Fansided

Illinois basketball: 5 questions the Fighting Illini must answer in 2020

By Anthony Brown

CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 08: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates with fans following the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center on March 8, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 08: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates with fans following the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center on March 8, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Illinois basketball (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

2. If Dosunmu leaves, can Adam Miller fill his shoes or become even better?

Morgan Park Mustangs guard Adam Miller will be an interesting player to watch as the next man up in Dosunmu’s place. Miller is a local four-star recruit who is ranked No. 32 player in the nation, the No. 6 shooting guard and No. 2 player in Illinois. He was an integral part of the Mustang’s success as they finished the 2019-20 season 22-9 (6-2 Chicago Public Red South). He also earned a Chicago Sun-Times All-City First-team selection.

During Dosunmu’s career, he was known as a scorer. He could shoot the perimeter shot, run the fast break and convert opportunities for himself or his teammates, and drive to the basket and make plays there as well.

If he doesn’t return to Illinois and stays in the NBA Draft, the Morgan Park alumni will have finished his last season averaging close to 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. To go along with that stat line, he was named Illinois Athlete of the Year, First-team All-Big Ten (media), First-team All-Big Ten (AP) among other accolades.

Miller has the potential to fill Dosunmu shoes or become even better if he maintains a strong work ethic throughout the next two or three years. Dosunmu and Miller are similar in their ability to score and that will be good news for the Illinois backcourt and Underwood.

If Miller plays out of his mind in 2020 and earns Big Ten Freshman of the Year in addition to an All-Big Ten team selection, he’ll be on his way to surpassing Dosunmu.

Even if he doesn’t earn those accolades, during his time with the Illini, Miller has to show improvement every practice, every game and be a leader on and off the court for his teammates. He has to maintain a level of excellence throughout his career that not only benefits himself but the team as well.