The University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame honors the greatest student-athletes, coaches, and administrators in the university’s history. This year, eight new athletes joined the list of legends, including four who were part of the College of LAS — football player Howard Griffith, football player Brandon Lloyd, golfer Darren A. Points, and men's basketball player Ayo Dosunmu.
Ahead of the induction ceremony, Dosunmu shared some memories from his time on campus as well.
Ayo Dosunmu
Majoring in communication, Dosunmu entered his freshman year in 2019. His junior year was particularly remarkable, as he received numerous recognitions, including the 2021 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He was also named Dike Eddleman Male Athlete of the Year for U of I in 2020 and 2021.
Dosunmu was the first U of I player in history to lead the team in scoring in their freshman, sophomore, and junior years. After that, he was selected by the Chicago Bulls to play in the NBA.
“The only thing that could have been better is a national championship,” Dosunmu said. “Besides that, I think my legacy is pretty well cemented. Now I can just continue to give back to the community.”
Dosunmu had said before that he chose the U of I because it was the best place for him to focus on his studies and basketball while representing his home state.
“If I could see my freshman self now, and I can look back and just see him working and training, I would tell him to keep going, because all those hours … 5 a.m. workouts, waking up, the ups and downs from the winning and losing in the program — all of those things,” Dosunmu said. “...I would just be telling him to keep going because the work shows. It’s going to pay off.”
His No. 11 jersey is displayed in the rafters of State Farm Center. Thirty-six highly accomplished men’s basketball players in total have received this honor.
Now, he has the additional honor of being inducted into the U of I’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He said he was working out when he got the call.
“I was honored,” Dosunmu said. “It’s something I can’t take for granted, because this is a dream.”
When asked which of the game-winning shots he scored in his sophomore year was most memorable, Dosunmu answered without hesitation, “Michigan.”
“If I’m not mistaken, it was an early game,” he recounted. “Coach would always get on us early, like, ‘Early games, you all got to be ready to play.’”
Dosunmu said he’s had other game-winners where the crowd did not match the energy. But that Michigan game on Jan. 25, 2020, had a special environment. The Associated Press wrote of the moment, “Dosunmu took advantage of his 5-inch height edge on [Zavier] Simpson, sinking a contested jumper from the free throw line with 0.5 seconds remaining to give No. 21 Illinois a 64-62 victory over Michigan on Saturday. The Illini extended their winning streak to six and moved into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten for the moment.”
“That game-winner definitely was my favorite, by far,” he said.
Dosunmu emphasized the importance of giving back to the community he credited with playing a role in getting him to where he is today.
“Champaign has a special place in my heart because it helped change my life,” he said. “It’s a huge part of my life, the relationship that I’ve built here.”
Howard Griffith
Griffith majored in speech communication, arriving at the U of I in 1987. The highlight of his time at the university was in a game against Southern Illinois University on Sept. 22, 1990. Rushing for eight touchdowns, he led the U of I to a landslide victory, 56-21, and set a new NCAA record.
After graduating in 1990, Griffith entered the NFL. He won the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos in both 1998 and 1999 — scoring two touchdowns at the latter.
Griffith was nicknamed “the Human Plow” for his blocking ability. With 48 points and eight touchdowns, his NCAA records have only been tied once.
In 2007, when the Big Ten Network formed, Griffith came onboard to work as an analyst and studio host. There, he remains a lead in-studio analyst to this day. On the Illinois Inquirer, Griffith said he never thought of being in the hall of fame growing up. “I was just trying to get an opportunity. … It means a lot to be here.”
Brandon Lloyd
Lloyd was Illinois’ leading wide receiver during his time at the U of I. Majoring in speech communication, he started his college career in 1999. After missing his sophomore season for a leg injury, Lloyd made the history books in his final two years.
In 2001, when Illinois won the Big Ten title, Lloyd earned second-team all-Big Ten honors. He earned this honor again in 2002.
By the end of his time at the U of I, he was second for the most receiving yards with 2,835 and touchdown catches with 21. He was also third in all-time receptions with 160.
In 2002, he entered the NFL Draft and was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers. Lloyd played 11 seasons in the NFL. In 2010, he was the NFL receiving leader with 1,448 yards. Lloyd said on the Illini Inquirer, “There’s just so much excellence that is here. It’s just wonderful to be celebrated along with them and included in the company. It kind of cements how proud I am to be an Illini.”
Darren Andrew (D.A.) Points
Points majored in speech communication as well. He played for the U of I’s golf team in 1998 and 1999, earning all-Big Ten honors for both years. He helped lead Illinois to a 15th place finish in the NCAA Championships, which was U of I’s best placement since 1950. That year, he won three collegiate tournaments. Points remains in the U of I’s top 15 for career stroke average with 72.57.
He joined the Tour in 2005 and proceeded to score three PGA Tour victories, in 2011, 2013, and 2017. He once ranked as high as No. 45 in the world rankings. Points told Central Illinois Proud, “I never imagined that was in the cards for me. I’m so grateful and I have a really cool class I’m going in with. Some guys won’t have any idea who I am, but I know who they all are because I am such a big fan.”
