Like every college basketball player, Chester Frazier has a dream to play professionally, and he’s not worried about his salary.

But the aspiring coach said there is a high liklihood that he will be with Illinois next season in some capacity, and coach Bruce Weber is in favor of having Frazier around the program in a coaching role.

Weber said he is trying to clarify what position would work to bring Frazier back, but a student assistant’s job is the most likely.

“I’m leaning toward that right now,” Frazier said of working at Illinois, given the chance. “I feel I have a couple of years left in my legs and love to compete and play. If I had the opportunity to go somewhere and play, even for the smallest amount of dollars, I would definitely try. But my heart is in basketball, so whatever I do I’ll be involved in the game. Coming back here would be a great opportunity.”

Said Weber: “One way or another we’ll try to work it out so he could stay on.”

Frazier clearly has an attachment to the team’s younger players. And he became the unofficial player coach last summer when Weber challenged him to take charge during workouts.

“I could come in and help people in practice, be that voice on the bench,” he said. “The young guys still look up to me so I would still be in their ears a lot, especially Demetri (McCamey) and Jeff (Jordan).”

Frazier has developed a tight relationship with Weber in recent years, especially since the death of his father in 2007. He acknowledged the two have similar personalities and Weber has talked about their similarities.

“Overall he’s a good guy to play for and I’m happy I came and got a chance to know him,” Frazier said, “not just basketball but on a personal level. He’s been a positive male figure in my life since my dad died.”

“I guess I relate to him and how he plays,” Weber said. “He’s become a really good person and grown up a lot.”