What has Trent Frazier Been Up to?

Trent Frazier became one of the most beloved Illini in recent years. What has he been up to since?

I think that whenever we look back at how Illinois has come since that day in 2017 when John Groce lost to Rutgers on a buzzer beater, one of the first people that come to mind is Trent Frazier.  Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn were the stars of the resurgence, no question about that. However, without players like Trent Frazier who set the foundation, it is hard to imagine what the Illini would be. Frazier played 5 years at Illinois. Though he entered as a pure shot maker, fans fell in love with his passion and defensive prowess. To be honest, his loyalty and pride for the program when we had to undergo being a double digit seed in the big ten tournament was what endeared Trent to fans.

As Underwood tried to implement his handprint on the program, many players felt taken aback. Trent Frazier, however, rode out the course. Frazier is the 5th leading scorer in program history. Words cannot explain the significance that Trent Frazier has had on the program

Since graduation.

Trent signed a deal with FMP Meridian in a Serbian basketball league. Trent has played exceptionally well in a featured role. He is currently averaging 20.2 points 5.9 assists  while shooting 45 percent from 3. He has continued his impact on winning as his team currently holds a 13-3 team record. Below, you can see how his scoring abilities has translated to the professional ranks.

.@BCFMP point guard @trentfrazier scored 2⃣1⃣ out of his 45 points IN THE 4TH QUARTER. 🤯

This was definitely one of the best single-game performances ever seen in #ABALiga. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/72fwvqQXbm

— AdmiralBet ABA League (@ABA_League) January 3, 2023

What is next?

I think eventually Trent Frazier will find his way on a summer league roster. He clearly has the ability to score coupled with a strong defensive IQ. Though he is limited in size and vertical athleticism, Trent’s IQ and quickness will help him as he tries to land in the NBA. Trent was asked to play a different role at Illinois which really put his ability to score on the back-burner at times. Showing his microwave scoring ability that he did so well in his first two years will certainly appeal him to NBA teams.

If Trent can show that he can score efficiently while also playing strong defense, there is no reason that he cannot vie for a roster spot later in his career. I would draw a comparison to what Malcolm Hill did to land on the Chicago Bulls. That path includes a number of years overseas, finding a way on a G-league or summer league roster and cashing in on an opportunity when someone gets hurt.

Regardless of where Trent Frazier ends up, I am confident he will at least have a successful overseas career. His work ethic and ability to adapt his game were a staple in his time at Illinois, and will no doubt benefit him in his young professional career.