The start of a new school year means another year of Illinois Athletics, with the fall sports season ending a summer drought of not watching the Illini in action. But, for those who know where to look, Illini action never ended.
Former Illini are scattered around the professional sports world, making a livelihood over the summer seasons. So, for those interested in former Illini greats and a recap of the last few months, here’s the top summer Illini.
Rajeev Ram
With the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer, it’s only fair to recognize an Illini who performed on the world stage. Ram became the oldest Olympian tennis medalist in 116 years, earning a silver in doubles competition.
Ram will hang it up next to another silver medal from 2016 after losing a close final to Australia in Paris. It was a hard-earned medal, as the Americans took down a lethal duo in Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal on their way to second place. Ram set the tone for Illini competing globally in what is likely his final Olympics.
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Jordyn Poulter
An Olympic setter, Poulter is still working her way back from major knee surgery in 2022, but that hasn’t stopped her from contributing at the highest level. The United States hasn’t faced much competition on its way to the semifinal match, with Poulter patrolling the net, searching for her Olympic gold.
Thomas Detry
Rounding out former Illini Olympic standouts, the 31-year-old competed until the very end in Paris. Out of 60 golfers representing different countries, Detry finished T-9 and 12 under after round 4, seven strokes behind American champion Scottie Scheffler.
The finish continues a hot stretch for Detry, who has improved greatly in the last two years. Seeing how he stacked up against Olympic competition should give him confidence to continue his Major Championships success of late.
Michael Massey
The Kansas City Royals second baseman has been a bit of a surprise in 2024 after two mediocre years in the majors. Massey has shot up to career highs, with a batting average hovering around .265 and an OPS in the mid-700s. Most importantly, Massey is up to a 1.2 WAR on the year, proving his value to a team surging for its first playoff berth since the 2015 World Series.
Terrence Shannon Jr.
Rounding out this list is the most recent Illini, their basketball star from the Elite Eight roster last year. Shannon got limited action in the summer league, but his dominance led to him becoming a Timberwolves fan favorite on social media. He was even dubbed “steal of the draft” by multiple media outlets, including Sports Illustrated.
In his three full games, against the Pelicans, the Pacers and the 76ers, Shannon averaged 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, while adding 3 steals and 5 blocks across the contests. His athleticism was on full display immediately and looked poised to help a roster that already made the Western Conference Finals in 2024.
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