Brad Underwood is calling him the surprise of the Illini basketball preseason.

And that’s a good thing for Da’Monte Williams, who has recovered from major knee surgery.

“It’s comfortable for him. He’s a great passer,” Underwood said at Illinois basketball media day Wednesday. “The game is played at a pace for Da’Monte already that is casual.”

Williams missed most of his senior season at Peoria Manual when he tore the ACL in his knee last December.

“I feel good, I haven’t felt this good in so long,” said Williams. “Even though the ACL has a lot of pain, you just have to keep fighting through it.”

Williams, a 6-3 freshman guard, is the son of fomer Illinois star Frank Williams.