Notes: European infusion a boon for Illinois

CHAMPAIGN Trent Meacham played a decade in Europe after his Illinois basketball career with stops in Austria, Germany, France and Italy.

That makes the Centennial grad and former Illini guard something of a subject matter expert when it comes to the type of experience current Illinois players Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic gained playing in Spain and Montenegro, respectively.

Jakucionis arrived at Illinois this summer after playing for European power FC Barcelona last season.

While the Illini freshman primarily played for Barcas second team, he got some playing time with the clubs top team in both ACB and Eurloeague action.

Ivisic played the past three seasons for SC Derby in the Adriatic League.

Both of those guys have been playing against grown men, so I think theyre better prepared, Meacham said before Illinois 86-80 win against No.

20 Wisconsin on Tuesday night at State Farm Center.

Its a different style.

The spacing, the passing, the creativity really comes out in European players.

Those guys really have it, and its different than what weve had.

Wee never had a center that could do all the things that Ivisic does.

He can pick-and-pop.

He can play in the post.

Hes great in the short roll in making reads and he can pass it.

Now, I dont know if hes an NBA player or not, but, man, is he awfully skilled and he thinks the game.

Kasparas sees the game, I think, differently, and hes got great size.

That Jakucionis and Ivisic form one of Illinois primary ball-screen action duos stands out to Meacham as an advantage for the Illini.

Its fun to watch them, Meacham said.

Those two are really the pillars of the team from what I see especially offensively.

...

Having those guys at your 1 and 5 positions, its fun to watch unfold and gives a very different look than weve had since I remember.

Meacham got an up-close look at this years Illinois team during fall practices.

He came away impressed.

This is maybe I dont want to say maybe this is the most talented team weve ever had I think, Meacham said.

He redshirted during Dee Browns senior season after transferring from Dayton and played for the Big Ten runner-up Illini in his final season.

Not to say its the best team, Meacham continued.

Not to say we have the best player weve ever had in our program on the court now.

But when you look at the roster the top nine or 10 guys theres a number of those guys that could play in the NBA.

The latest ESPN draft boad would agree.

Jakucionis is ranked as the eighth-best prospect in the 2025 NBA draft.

Fellow freshman Will Riley is currently slotted in the No.

12 spot, while Ivisic went from unranked to No.

42 after his strong start to the season.

While Meacham was clear on Jakucionis and Ivisic being the cornerstones of the Illinois offense, hes also high on Kylan Boswells importance to the Illini this season.

When Ive seen us struggle offensively, KJ has to do too much, Meacham said.

I think in todays game you need multiple playmakers.

You need multiple guys you can put the ball in their hands that can break pressure, that can play out of ball screens, that can make plays for themselves and their teammates.

Boswell, like Meacham, is a Champaign native who returned home after starting his college career elsewhere.

Its a special thing, Meacham said.

Yes, theres pressure there, but hes got a great family and hes obviously got a great coaching staff.

Its fun to see him here.

Ive always been someone who thinks sometimes we put too much pressure on recruiting the state or recruiting local kids.

Theres not many local kids.

I dont think it matters.

If you can play, I think fans will love you, but it is special when you have a Champaign kid here playing for the Illini.

While Boswell hasnt shot the ball efficiently in the first month-plus of the season, the Arizona transfer has emerged as one of the top two-way guards in the Big Ten given his ability to get to the basket offensively and operate as a shutdown perimeter defender.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound guard is a big enough threat Northwestern ran plays in last Friday nights overtime win by the Wildcats against the Illini in in Evanston to specifically to get Boswell off the ball.

My teammates know Im going to guard the best player the majority of the time, Boswell said.

I take a lot of pride in that.

If a coach has to run plays to get me off the ball, Im doing my job.

Landing Brooks Barnhizer as a defensive assignment against Northwestern was a different kind of challenge for Boswell given the Wildcats guard is a a powerfully-built 6-6.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood didnt hesitate to give Boswell that matchup.

Kylan is exceptionally strong, Underwood said.

Hes a young man that can squat the building.

Hes got as strong legs as there is.

Hes got a great base.

He did a great job of not allowing Barnhzier depth in terms of getting at the rim.

Barnhizer played in a lot of ball screens, and Kylan is exceptional at getting over them because of his physicality.

Hes got quickness to guard quickness.

Hes got physical strength to guard size.

Hes really thick through the chest and really strong so he can take a hit when people want to booty ball.

No Illinois player might possess the physical strength of Morez Johnson Jr.

Its part of why the freshman forward has been one of the top rebounders in the country so far this season.

Johnson ranks second on the Illini behind Ivisic averaging 6.5 rebounds ...

in just 13 minutes per game.

Its the rate at which Johnson rebounds thats worth noting.

The 6-9 forward has an offensive rebounding percentage of 20.9 percent and a defensive rebounding percentage of 31.7 percent.

Those would rank fourth and tied for ninth in the nation, respectively, per Bart Torvik, if he played enough to qualify.

Hes 260 pounds, Underwood said.

Hes a freak athlete.

Hes got great quickness for a guy that big.

He anticipates.

I think one of the great things that Morez does is not just play hard, but competes.

Theres a big difference.

Were talking about that in our program right now.

You can play hard and not get the rebound.

Youve got to compete to get the rebound.

Morez does that at a high rate.

He had an incredibly day (Sunday).

He got every rebound, and anybody who was in his way, including his own teammate, felt his wrath.

Thats the way its got to be.

Hes an incredible competitor..

This article has been shared from the original article on newsgazette, here is the link to the original article.