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Illinois' Quentin Coleman Leaps to No. 6 on Latest NBA Draft Big Board
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- Illinois' Quentin Coleman Leaps to No. 6 on Latest NBA Draft Big Board
The buzz surrounding Illinois freshman guard Quentin Coleman continues to grow just two games into his collegiate career.
A big-time recruit, Coleman has been tasked with filling the shoes of last year's Big Ten Freshman of the Year Keaton Wagler, who departed for the NBA after just one season at Illinois and was selected fifth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. It's a tall task, but expert consensus seems to suggest he is up for the task.
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Coleman comes in at No. 6 overall according to Jeremy Woo of ESPN 's latest 2027 NBA draft top 100 big board rankings. This represents a sizeable leap from No. 36 overall on Woo's board from earlier in the summer.
Illinois Freshman Guard Ranks Sixth on NBA Draft Big Board
A native of O'Fallon, Illinois that attended Principia School in St. Louis, MO, Coleman signed on with the Illini in April of this year, becoming their top ranked signee at No. 14 in the country for the 2026 class. He was one of two top 100 signings alongside Lucas Morillo (No. 52) of The Newman School in Boston, MA.
With a combination of size and scoring, Coleman is expected to assume much of the two-way guard minutes left by Wagler. At 6-foot-4, head coach Brad Underwood envisions the freshman in a role that involves crashing the glass and playing strong, disruptive defensive while filling up the stat sheet on a night-to-night basis.
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"Q's a guy that wouldn't shock me, at some point, if he has a triple-double," Underwood said of Coleman. "He's a guy that can score it. He's learning to become a great player, in terms of making others better around him. Rebounds the basketball, ultra-competitive – I mean, a fighter. He has one speed, and it's full speed."
"He can fill a stat sheet, and he does it in a lot of ways. He's a very, very good shooter. He's a hard downhill driver. And he's unafraid as a freshman, which is really nice to see… We actually want him to be a little more aggressive on the defensive side, in terms of risk-taking, and try to go get some steals. But he's got a great motor."
Nov 2, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Fairleigh Dickinson Knights guard Raysean Johnson (13) tries to pull the ball from Illinois Fighting Illini guard Quentin Coleman (11) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
This is an assessment that was shared by Woo in the ESPN article , who called Coleman a "disruptive defender, outstanding rebounder and improving perimeter scorer."
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As for his incredible rise from the last ranking, Woo points to strong interest from NBA scouts throughout the spring and summer raising his stock to reach the level of clear one-and-done guard prospects Jordan Smith Jr. of Arkansas and Caleb Holt of Arizona.
The next step, Woo explains, is becoming a more confident ball handler and shot creator to increase the on-ball looks he gets throughout the season. But as a solid shooter and an already willing passer, it shouldn't be hard to find these opportunities in Underwood's offense, especially as they await the return of star David Mirkovic.
Through two games, Coleman is averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals. In his first game, he notched a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double with 6 assists and 3 steals. As he continues to get comfortable and familiarize himself with this level of play, we could see Coleman's name get thrown around more and more in the national draft discourse.
