Illinois legend, not a current Illini roster piece
Brian Cook is a former Illinois forward who starred for the Illini in the 2002-03 season, when he led the team in scoring at 20.0 points per game and earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors, so if you’re looking for a current Illinois impact forward, this is a name from the program’s past, not its 2026 roster.[8][13] He stood out as a versatile inside-out big who rebounded consistently across his Illinois career and later carried that skill set into the NBA, making him a great example of a skilled, productive frontcourt player — but not an active fit for today’s team.[8][13]
