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CHAMPAIGN — AJ Redd never really expected to be waxing poetic about his circuitous route to Senior Night at the State Farm Center. Who can blame him? Just a couple of years ago, his role on the team involved doing laundry for the likes of Terrance Shannon Jr.
Redd played high school basketball for St. Ignatius College Prep and, of course, loved ball. But it wasn’t enough to play at a high-caliber program. So he took a bet on Illinois, thanks to a connection with former assistant Illini coach Tim Anderson.
After a year as a student manager, Redd made a jump to the active roster. Three years later? As a herd of media surrounded Redd, Illini assistant coach Camryn Crocker passed by upstairs and couldn’t help but look down at him with a smile.
“It’s been a crazy journey for me. I was rebounding for guys doing laundry, and the next thing I know, I’m practicing next to NBA guys, so it’s been an awesome journey,” Redd said.
It’s a feel-good story that really puts modern college basketball in perspective. Redd has been a part of the program long enough to have several March Madness runs, a Big Ten tournament championship, an elite eight appearance, and has stuck around with Illinois all four years.
While even he would tell you he’s far from the most important piece in the program, it’s a fact that he’s been a part of more success and winning than pretty much any other player that’s come and gone to Champaign in the last four seasons.
Obviously, Redd hasn’t seen the court almost at all. After four seasons at a program like Illinois, Redd hasn’t lost sight of reality. But still, he has to process the end of an era in his life. Unlike many of his teammates, pro basketball won’t be much of an option.
“For me, it’s a stopping point where I’m content with my journey, and the successes that I’ve been able to have playing basketball and being able to play at a level like this is a dream come true. And it’s always fun when you’ve been winning,” Redd explained.
As for what’s next? Redd really won’t be able to deviate much from the Illinois FamILLy. After a summer internship at Madison Industries, a company owned by a proud alum and someone who is heavily invested in Illini Athletics, Redd will start working as a Financial Analyst in the fall.
“That’s unselfishness, that’s putting everyone else ahead of himself… he understands who we are, he understands the culture, he understands what we are about, and he talks about it,” Underwood said. “He’s just too smart, and you know what he stands for.”
Redd was known to do 4:30 a.m. workouts with Shannon Jr.; without Redd, or a guy like him in the building, it’s hard to imagine the moments when Redd checks into a real game, and the Orange Krush goes nuts to be as satisfying as they’ve been.
“I came to Illinois with limited expectations of what my role would be in the program,” Redd said. “I sorta went out on a limb… I wanted to get my foot in the door with hopes of eventually being on the team, so it worked pretty quickly, which I wasn’t expecting.”