Basketball
Former Illinois basketball star Trent Frazier hits milestone overseas
The former Illini has been electric to start off his career in Europe.
Former Illinois basketball guard Trent Frazier reached a major milestone on September 26th, appearing in his 150th game with Zenit Basketball Club in Russia. The club announced the achievement on X (@zenitbasket), writing:
“Trent Frazier hits 150 games for Zenit! The American guard becomes just the second foreign player in club history to reach this milestone.”
Frazier has played professionally since graduating from Illinois in 2022. He began his overseas career with FMP in Belgrade before joining Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2023.
Zenit competes in the VTB United League and is the defending Russian Cup champions. Since arriving, Frazier is a VTB League Supercup winner (2023) and a two-time Russian Cup Finals MVP (2023 & 2024).
In Zenit’s VTB Supercup semifinal yesterday, Frazier posted 22 points and five assists to lead his team into the final against CSKA in Belgrade.
His success overseas comes as no surprise to Illinois fans. Frazier played five seasons in Champaign, appearing in 157 games for the Illini. He earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors in 2018, made the All-Big Ten Second Team in 2022, and was twice selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team (2021, 2022).
Frazier was a cornerstone of Illinois’ resurgence, helping guide the program back to national prominence. In his final season, the Illini went 23–10 and captured a Big Ten regular-season title, a stark turnaround from their 14–18 and 12–21 records during his first two years. His impact on the program remains an enduring part of Illinois basketball history.
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