HONORED JERSEYS
The University of Illinois has honored its most decorated basketball players in school history by hanging a banner with their name and number from the rafters of State Farm Center. A total of 36 men’s players have earned a spot on this distinguished list.
Players selected to have their jerseys hung must have achieved any of the following criteria:
1) National Player of the Year
2) Enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame
3) Big Ten Player of the Year
4) Consensus First- or Second-Team All-American
5) Illinois All-Century Team Member
6) Individual whose pioneering efforts made a significant impact on Illinois and international basketball
#0 Terrence Shannon Jr. (G, 2023-24)
2024 All-American by four media outlets as a senior … Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player … NCAA All-Regional Team … First-Team All-Big Ten … Shattered Illinois single-season scoring record with 736 points …First Illini player to eclipse 700 points in a season, despite missing six games … Third in the NCAA in scoring at 23.0 ppg, the highest average by an Illini in 51 years … Set Big Ten Tournament scoring average record with 34.0 ppg, totaling 102 points over three games while leading Illinois to the title … Also broke Big Ten Tournament single-game scoring record with career-high 40 points in semifinal win over Nebraska.
#21 Kofi Cockburn (C, 2020-21-22)
2022 NCAA Consensus First-Team All-American as a junior … Illinois school record holder with 45 career double-doubles … Most career points (1,546) and career rebounds (861) in Illini history among three-year players … Ranks 12th on Illinois all-time scoring list and third in career rebounds … Only NCAA player to average 20+ points (20.9 ppg) and 10+ rebounds (10.6 rpg) in 2022, and first Illini player to do so in last 50 years … Unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten … 2021 NCAA Consensus Second-Team All-American as a sophomore … Big Ten All-Tournament Team … First-Team All-Big Ten … Led the nation with 78 dunks … 2020 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
#11 Ayo Dosunmu (G, 2019-20-21)
2021 USA Today National Player of the Year … Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year … NCAA Consensus First-Team All-American … Finalist for Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, and Oscar Robertson Trophy … Associated Press First-Team All-American, the first-ever Illini voted to first team by AP … Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player and All-Tournament Team … USBWA District V Player of the Year … Unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten … Illinois Athlete of the Year, just the fourth basketball player ever to repeat as the school’s top athlete award winner … First NCAA player since 2010 to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and five assists … Finished career ranked 12th on Illinois’ career scoring list with 1,504 points, and No. 2 among players after three years … First player ever to lead Illinois in scoring as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
#11 Dee Brown (G, 2003-04-05-06)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … 2006 Bob Cousy Award winner as a senior as nation’s top point guard … NCAA Consensus Second-Team All-American … Wooden Award All-America Team … Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winner as nation’s top player 6-0 and under … First-Team All-Big Ten selection, USBWA District V Player of the Year and NABC First-Team All-District selection … Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient … Sporting News National Player of the Year as a junior in 2005 … NCAA Consensus First-Team All-American … Wooden Award All-America Team … Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year … USBWA District V Player of the Year and NABC First-Team All-District … Winningest player in school history, playing in 114 wins during his career … Ranks fourth all-time at Illinois in scoring (1,812 points), second in career steals (231), and third in 3-pointers (299) and assists (674).
#5 Deron Williams (G, 2003-04-05)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … Won two gold medals with Team USA at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games … NCAA Consensus Second-Team All-American as a junior at Illinois in 2005 … Wooden Award All-America Team … Second-Team All-America selection by Sporting News and NABC… Third-Team All-American by the Associated Press … First-Team All-Big Ten selection by both media and coaches … USBWA All-District and NABC First-Team All-District selection … NCAA Chicago Regional Most Outstanding Player … NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team … Averaged 12.5 points and 6.8 assists in 2005 … First-Team All-Big Ten, USBWA All-District, NABC Second-Team All-District and Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection as a sophomore in 2004 … nly player in Big Ten history to lead the conference in assists in each of his first three seasons … Ranks 46th all-time at Illinois in scoring (1,111 points) and fourth in career assists (594).
#4 Luther Head (G, 2002-03-04-05)
NCAA Consensus Second-Team All-American as a senior in 2005 … Second-Team All-America selection by the Associated Press, USBWA and NABC … First-Team All-Big Ten selection by both media and coaches … USBWA All-District and NABC First-Team All-District selection … Earned three accolades during the postseason: Big Ten All-Tournament Team, NCAA Chicago Regional All-Tournament Team and NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team … ed the Illini in scoring, averaging 15.9 points … ed the Big Ten in 3-pointers, setting an Illini school record with 116 treys on the season … Ranks 27th all-time at Illinois in scoring (1,295 points), ninth in career 3-pointers (209) and 11th in career steals (158).
#34 Brian Cook (F, 2000-01-02-03)
All-Century Team member … 2003 Big Ten Player of the Year and Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball Winner … First-Team All-Big Ten pick in 2003 after earning Second-Team honors in 2001 and 2002 … 2000 Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year … Third-Team All-American in 2003 … Ranks sixth on the Illini all-time scoring list with 1,748 points and eighth on the career rebounding list with 815 … Led the Big Ten in scoring in 2003 with an average of 20.0 points per game … Set the Illini single-season free throw record in 2002 by making 96-110 for 87.3% … Played in 98 wins over his Illini career, ninth-most in school history.
#30 Frank Williams (G, 2000-01-02)
All-Century Team member … Earned Wooden Award All-America Team honors in 2001 and was honorable mention in 2002 … Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Silver Basketball Award winner in 2001 … First-Team All-Big Ten in 2001 and 2002 … Ranks 20th on the Illini career scoring list with 1,440 points, a career 14.3 scoring average … Ranks 10th in school history in career assists with 432 and fourth in career steals with 212 … Holds the Illini record with most free-throw attempts in a game with 24 … Illini team MVP in 2001 and 2002 after helping Illinois to shares of the Big Ten title each season.
#25 Deon Thomas (F/C, 1991-92-93-94)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … All-Century Team member … Illinois’ all-time leading scorer with 2,129 points, and fourth all-time leading rebounder with 846 … Averaged 18.0 points per game over his career and was a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection in 1992, 1993 and 1994, after earning Third-Team honors in 1991 … Holds Illini records for most field goals in a career (803) and most free throws in a game with 19 … Ranks second in school history with 177 blocks ... Illini team MVP in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
#13 Kendall Gill (G, 1987-88-89-90)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … All-Century Team member … Earned First-Team All-America honors in 1990 after leading the Big Ten in scoring at 20.0 points per game … First-team All-Big Ten in 1990 and honorable mention in 1989 … Helped the Flying Illini to the 1989 Final Four … Ranks 22nd on the Illini career scoring list with 1,409 points… Third on the Illini career steals list with 218 … First-round NBA draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets … Also spent time with Seattle, New Jersey, Miami, Minnesota, Chicago and Milwaukee … Helped Illini to the NCAA Tournament each of his four seasons.
#25 Nick Anderson (F, 1988-89)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … All-Century Team member … First-Team All-Big Ten in 1989 and Second-Team in 1988 … Honorable-Mention All-American in 1988 and 1989 … Illini Co-MVP in 1988 and team’s MVP in 1989 … No. 11 draft pick by the Orlando Magic played 13 years in the NBA … Seventh on the Illini career shooting list at 55.3% … Ranks 38th on the Illini career scoring list with 1,172 points, averaging 17.0 points over his two seasons … Averaged 18.0 points and 7.9 rebounds in 1989, helping the Flyin’ Illini to the Final Four … Was named the Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player on the way to the Final Four … Made one of the most famous shots in Illini history with 35-footer at the buzzer to defeat No. 3 Indiana at Bloomington in 1989.
#33 Kenny Battle (F, 1988-89)
All-Century Team member … The “King of the 360” was arguably the best dunker in Illini basketball history … Transferred to Illinois from Northern Illinois after his sophomore season and still ranks 45th on the career scoring chart with 1,112 points and 16.1 average … Stands fifth on the Illini career shooting list at 59.1 percent from the field … Honorable-Mention All-American in 1988 and 1989 … Earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1988 and Second Team in 1989 … Put the “Flyin’” into the Flyin’ Illini on the way to the 1989 Final Four … NBA first-round draft pick by the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and played four years in the league.
#33 Ken Norman (F, 1985-86-87)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … All-Century Team member … “Snake” earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in both 1986 and 1987 … Consensus Second-Team All-American in 1987 … Was an NBA first-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1987 and saw action in L.A., Milwaukee and Atlanta … Ranks 23rd on the Illini career scoring list with 1,393 points … Best season was in 1987 when he averaged 19.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game …. Shot 60.9% from the field during his three-year Illini career, second best in school history … Set Illini single-season record by making 64.1% of his shots in 1986 (now ranks third).
#25 Bruce Douglas (G, 1983-84-85-86)
All-Century Team member … Finished his career as the Big Ten’s all-time leader in assists (765) and steals (324), now ranking third in assists and second in steals … Was the UPI Big Ten Co-Player of the Year in 1984 after helping the Illini to a share of the Big Ten title … Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 1986 … Fourth in school history in minutes played at 4,373, including all 60 minutes in a four-overtime win over Michigan in 1984 … Has four of the 10 best assist average seasons in Illinois history, and four of the top-five steals average seasons … Still ranks 30th on the Illini career scoring list with 1,261 points … Helped the Illini to four-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and an average of 12.3 Big Ten wins per season during his career … Earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1984, Second-Team recognition in 1985 and 1986, and Honorable Mention in 1983 … Third-Team All-American in 1984.
#12 Derek Harper (G, 1981-82-83)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … All-Century Team member … First-Team All-Big Ten in 1983 after earning Honorable-Mention honors in both 1981 and ’82 … Second-Team All-American in 1983 … First-round draft pick by the Dallas Mavericks enjoyed a 16-year NBA career … Ranks 11th on the Illini career assists list with 419 and seventh on the career steals list with 178 … Averaged 4.7 assists per game for his career … Knocked down game-winning 3-pointer against Minnesota in final regular-season game of 1983 to send Illini to the NCAA Tournament … Led the Illini with 15.4 points per game as a junior in 1983 … Team co-captain and MVP in 1983.
#33 Eddie Johnson (F, 1978-79-80-81)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … All-Century Team member … Finished his Illini career as Illinois’ all-time leading scorer, currently ranked ninth with 1,692 points … Earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1981, Second-Team honors in 1980 and Honorable Mention in 1979 … Team MVP in 1980 and 1981 … Holds the Illini record for field goals in one season with 266 (1980) … Enjoyed a long pro career following his days at Illinois, and still stands as the Illini’s all-time leading scorer in the NBA with a total of 19,202 points … Hit the game-winning shot for the fourth-ranked Illini against No. 1 Michigan State as Illinois posted a 57-55 win on Jan. 11, 1979 at the Assembly Hall … Led Illini to the 1980 NIT, Illinois’ first post-season appearance since 1963, and to the 1981 NCAA Tournament.
#12 Nick Weatherspoon (F, 1971-72-73)
All-Century Team member … “Spoon” finished his career as Illinois’ all-time leading scorer with 1,481 points, which still ranks 16th on the Illini career list … His 20.9 career scoring average is best in Illini history … Averaged 25.0 points per game in 1973 to earn First-Team All-America honors … Honorable-Mention All-American and All-Big Ten in 1972 … Also finished his career with the highest rebounding average in Illinois history at 11.3 boards per game … Team MVP in 1972 and 1973 … First-round draft pick by the Washington Bullets of the NBA.
#24 Jim Dawson (G, 1965-66-67)
Earned the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball Trophy in 1967 as the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player … Led the Illini in scoring as a senior with an average of 21.7 points, the sixth-best single-season mark in school history … Second-Team Academic All-American … Named University of Illinois Athlete of the Year in 1967 … Scored 976 career points.
#15 Don Freeman (F, 1964-65-66)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … All-Century Team member … Finished his Illini career as Illinois’ all-time leading scorer with 1,449 points (now ranks 19th) and 20.1 career scoring average, third-best in school history … Earned First-Team All-America honors in 1966 after setting school records for points in a season (668) and scoring average at 27.8 points per game … Earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1966 after being named to the Third-Team in 1965.
#12 Tal Brody (G, 1963-64-65)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … First-team All-American by Helms and second-team All-American by Sporting News and Converse as a senior in 1965 … Also a second-team Academic All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1965 … Scored 1,121 points during his UI career, still ranking 43rd on the school’s all-time scoring list … No. 12 pick in the NBA Draft, but chose to instead play professionally in Israel … Enjoyed a standout career overseas, highlighted by Israel’s title in the 1977 European Cup.
#35 Duane “Skip” Thoren (C, 1963-64-65)
All-Century Team member … Eamed First-Team All-Big Ten in 1965 and Second-Team in 1964 … Was First-Team All-American in 1965 and Honorable-Mention in 1964 … Ranks 39th on the Illini career scoring chart with 1,164 points, averaging 15.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game over his three-year career … Averaged 20.3 points and 13.8 rebounds as a junior and 22.2 points and 14.5 rebounds as a senior … Holds the top two spots on the Illini rebounding lists for season average (14.5 and 13.8) and total rebounds in a season (349 and 331) … Set the Illini single-game rebound record with 24 against UCLA on Dec. 28, 1963 … His 1965 scoring average of 22.2 points ranks as the fourth-best season in Illini history.
#40 Dave Downey (F, 1961-62-63)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … All-Century Team member … Set the Illinois single-game scoring record with 53 points at Indiana on Feb. 16, 1963 … Helped lead the Illini to the 1963 Big Ten title … His 18.9 career scoring average ranks fourth in school history … His 11.0 career rebounding average ranks third in UI history, and his 790 career boards is 10th on the career list … Was Second-Team All-Big Ten pick in 1961 and 1962 and First-Team in 1963 … Earned First-Team All-America honors in 1963 after being Honorable Mention in 1962 … Was a three-time Illini team MVP .. Earned the 1963 Big Ten Medal of Honor for excellence in both academics and athletics.
#23 Jerry Colangelo (G, 1960-61-62)
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 … Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … Two-time Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten selection at Illinois in 1961 and 1962 … Illini team captain as a senior … Managing Director of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team that won three-straight Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
#30 Mannie Jackson (G, 1958-59-60)
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017 … Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … One of the first two African-American starters and letterwinners in school history … Honorable mention All-American by Converse and Illini team captain as a senior in 1960 … Finished his career ranked fifth on the UI’s all-time scoring list with 922 points, averaging double figures all three years … Played professionally with the Harlem Globetrotters after college … Purchased the Globetrotters in 1993 and revived the legendary organization as one of America’s favorite teams.
#35 Govoner Vaughn (f, 1958-59-60)
One of the first two African-American starters and letterwinners in school history … Honorable mention All-American by Converse and Illini team MVP as a senior in 1960 … Totaled 1,001 points during his UI career … Played professionally with the Harlem Globetrotters after college and still works for the organization.
#22 John “Red” Kerr (C, 1952-53-54)
Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame member … All-Century Team member … Earned the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball Trophy in 1954 as the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player … Team MVP and captain in 1954 … Played for Syracuse in the NBA from 1955-63, for Philadelphia in 1964 and 1965 and at Baltimore in 1966 … Was Second-Team All-Big Ten in 1952 and 1953, and First-Team in 1954 … Earned Honorable-Mention All-America honors in 1952 and 1953, and Second-Team All-America honors in 1954 … Named to the 1952 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team … Finished his Illini career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,299 points (now ranks 26th) and 18.6 scoring average … Averaged 25.3 points per game in 1954, second-best scoring season in school history.
#37 Rod Fletcher (G, 1950-51-52)
NCAA Consensus First-Team All-American in 1952 … Also a First-Team All-Big Ten selection as a senior … 1952 Illinois team MVP and team captain … Helped lead the Illini to back-to-back Big Ten championships and NCAA Final Four appearances in 1951 and 1952 … Second-Team All-Big Ten as a junior.
#11 Don Sunderlage (G, 1949-50-51)
Won the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball Trophy in 1951 as the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player … Team captain helped lead the Illini to the 1951 Big Ten championship and NCAA Final Four appearance … Led the Big Ten in scoring as a senior, averaging 17.4 points … Named University of Illinois Athlete of the Year in 1951 … First-round NBA draft pick and 1954 All-Star.
#33 Bill Erickson (G, 1947-48-49-50)
NCAA Consensus Second-Team All-American in 1949 … First-Team All-Big Ten pick as well … Helped lead Illinois to the 1949 Big Ten championship and school’s first NCAA Final Four appearance … Team captain as a senior in 1950 … Honorable Mention All-American and Second-Team All-Big Ten in 1950.
#40 Dwight “Dike” Eddleman (F, 1947-48-49)
All-Century Team member … The greatest athlete in University of Illinois history after earning 11 letters in basketball, football and track during his Illini career … Helped lead the Illini to the 1949 Big Ten title and NCAA Final Four appearance … Earned the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball Trophy as the league’s MVP in 1949 … Team MVP and captain in 1949 … First-Team All-Big Ten in 1948 and Second-Team in 1949 … Second-Team All-American in 1948 and First-Team All-American in 1949 … Played in the NCAA Final Four in basketball, Rose Bowl in football and finished tied for second in the high jump at the 1948 Olympics.
#14 Walt Kirk (G, 1944-45-47)
NCAA Consensus First-Team All-American in 1945 … First-Team All-Big Ten … Illinois’ team MVP and leading scorer, averaging 10.6 points … Named University of Illinois Athlete of the Year … At the conclusion of the school year, entered the service before returning to Illinois for his senior season of 1947 … Went on to play in the NBA for three years.
#25 Gene Vance (G, 1942-43-47)
All-Century Team member … Whiz Kid member lettered in 1942, 1943 and 1947 … After Illinois won the 1943 Big Ten championship with a perfect 12-0 record, Vance, along with his Whiz Kid teammates, chose to enter the armed forces for WWII instead of participating in that season’s NCAA Tournament … Three-time Honorable-Mention All-American … First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 1942 and 1943 and Second-Team in 1947 … Played for Chicago, Tri-Cities and Milwaukee in the NBA from 1948-1952 … Served as Illinois’ Director of Athletics from 1967-72.
#47 Andy Phillip (F, 1942-43-47)
Only Fighting Illini to earn a spot in the National Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, was inducted in 1961 … All-Century Team member … Illinois’ most acclaimed basketball player … Leader of the famed Whiz Kids … The Sporting News National Player of the Year in 1943 … Shot an amazing 54 field-goal attempts against Chicago in his final game, scoring a career-high 40 points on March 1, 1943 … Earned First-Team All-America honors in 1942, 1943 and 1947 … First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 1942 and Second-Team in 1943 … Named Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player in 1943 … Team MVP in 1942 and 1943 … Helped Illini win Big Ten titles in 1942 and 1943 … Played for Chicago, Philadelphia, Fort Wayne and Boston in the NBA from 1948-58.
#19 Bill Hapac (F, 1938-39-40)
Illinois’ first Consensus All-American as recognized by the NCAA, earning First-Team honors as a senior in 1940 … Also became the first-ever recipient of the University of Illinois Athlete of the Year award in 1940 … Set the then-Big Ten single-game scoring record on Feb. 10, 1940 with 34 points vs. Minnesota, a point total unheard of at that time … Also a three-year letterwinner on the Illini baseball team.
#1 Chuck Carney (F, 1920-21-22)
All-Century Team member … Earned First-Team All-America honors in 1920 and 1922 … Helms Foundation National Player of the Year in 1922 … First-Team All-Big Ten choice in 1920 and 1922 … One of the greatest athletes in UI history, he also earned consensus All-America honors as an end for Bob Zuppke’s football squad in 1920 … Set the Western Conference basketball scoring record that stood for 22 years … Lettered in basketball from 1920-22 … Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966.
#1 Ray Woods (G, 1915-16-17)
All-Century Team member … First-Team All-America pick by Helms in 1915, 1916 and 1917 … Helms Foundation National Player of the Year in 1917 … Earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1915 and 1916 … Illini team captain in 1916 … Brother, Ralf, also earned All-Big Ten honors from 1915-17 … Helped the 1915 squad to National Championship honors by the Helms Foundation with a perfect 16-0 record.
