CHAMPAIGN — Here's a little context for Illinois coach Brad Underwood calling graduate transfer center Adonis De La Rosa "an old man."
De La Rosa turned 24 years old on Oct. 20, less than a month before his first season at Illinois officially started. Six days after De La Rosa's birthday, former Illini Malcolm Hill — now two seasons removed from his senior year — turned 23.
Hill, of course, was young for his age. He was a 17-year-old freshman when he arrived in Champaign in 2013. But De La Rosa epitomizes the idea of veteran presence for this Illinois team that is underclassmen-heavy with six freshmen and three sophomores.