Best NBA players from the University of Illinois

To date, some 35 players from the University of Illinois have gone on to play in the NBA. One of those players, Andy Phillip, is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.


Deron Williams
Wikimedia Commons
Phillip played in the early days of the NBA, and led the league in assists per game from 1950 to 1952. Phillip is not on this list though, because he only averaged 9.1 points per game. To make this list a player had to average at least 13.0 points per game in the NBA.

Two of the players on this list, including the top player, have played for my favorite NBA team, the New Jersey Nets. One of those players is active, and we Nets fans are very happy to have him on the team, as he is one of the best point guards in the NBA today.

Best NBA Players from the University of Illinois

1. Deron Williams(notes) - 17.2 points per game

Deron Williams averaged 11.0 points and 5.9 points per game at the University of Illinois from 2003 to 2005. He led the Fighting Illini to the 2005 NCAA Championship game, which they lost to the University of North Carolina. Williams was then taken with the third overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz.


After playing the better part of six seasons with the Jazz, Deron was traded to my favorite NBA team, the New Jersey Nets, on February 23, 2011, for two first round draft picks, and Derrick Favors(notes) and Devin Harris(notes). Over his first six seasons, Deron Williams has career averages of 17.2 points and 9.2 assists per game. Deron's 9.2 assists per game average is the sixth best in NBA history.

If there is a season in 2011-12, Nets fans like myself are confident Deron Williams will lead us to the playoffs, and maybe even to our first NBA Championship. If there is no season, Deron will play this year in Turkey for $5 million.

2. Eddie Johnson - 16.0

Eddie Johnson averaged 14.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game at Illinois from 1978 to 1981. He was then taken with the 29th overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft by the Kansas City Kings. Johnson played 17 years in the NBA, and averaged 16.0 points per game. Despite scoring 19,202 points in the NBA, Johnson was never selected as an all-star. He was NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1989.

3. Don Ohl - 15.9

Don Ohl averaged 19.6 points per game as a senior at Illinois in 1958. He was then taken with the 36th overall pick in the 1958 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Warriors. Ohl never played for the Warriors, and did not play in the NBA until 1960. He then played 10 years in the NBA, and averaged 15.9 points per game. Don Ohl was a five time all-star.

4. Nick Anderson - 14.4

Nick Anderson averaged 17.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game at Illinois over two seasons in 1988 and 1989. He was then taken with the 11th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. Anderson played 13 years in the NBA, and averaged 14.4 points per game.

5. Red Kerr - 13.8

Red Kerr averaged 18.6 points per game at the University of Illinois from 1952 to 1954. He was then taken with the sixth overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft by the Syracuse Nationals. Red Kerr played 12 years in the NBA, and averaged 13.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Kerr was a three time all-star, and won a championship with the Nationals in 1955.

6. Ken Norman - 13.5

Ken Norman averaged 15.1 points (20.7 as a senior) and 6.9 rebounds (9.8 as a senior) at Illinois from 1985 to 1987. He was then taken with the 19th overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Ken Norman played 10 years in the NBA, and averaged 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

7. Kendall Gill - 13.4

Kendall Gill averaged 12.0 points (20.0 as a senior) per game at the University of Illinois from 1987 to 1990. He was then taken with the 5th overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Gill played 15 years in the NBA, and averaged 13.4 points per game.

Kendall Gill played almost six seasons with my favorite NBA team, the New Jersey Nets. On April 3, 1999, Kendall had 11 steals in a game for us vs the Miami Heat. That is tied with Larry Kenon for most steals all-time in an NBA game.

8. Derek Harper - 13.3

Derek Harper averaged 10.9 points and 4.7 assists per game at Illinois from 1981 to 1983. He was then taken with the 11th overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Harper played 16 years in the NBA, and averaged 13.3 points and 5.5 assists per game.