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Illinois Basketball: Decision day nears for Illini target Andre Curbelo

By Rees Woodcock

LADERA RANCH, CA - JULY 19: NY Jayhawks guard Andre Curbelo brings the ball up the court during the adidas Gauntlet Finale on July 19, 2018 at the Ladera Sports Center in Ladera Ranch, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LADERA RANCH, CA - JULY 19: NY Jayhawks guard Andre Curbelo brings the ball up the court during the adidas Gauntlet Finale on July 19, 2018 at the Ladera Sports Center in Ladera Ranch, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Tuesday night was extremely exciting for the Illinois basketball team and the fanbase.

Andrew Slater of The Athletic announced on Twitter that Andre Curbelo will be making his commitment this Friday, November 1 at 10:30 AM ET. He will be choosing between Miami (FL) and Illinois. This would be a huge commitment for both programs.

Curbelo is a 6-foot, 155-pound point guard from Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, New York. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 55 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 9 point guard in the nation. He is also the best player to come out of Puerto Rico, where he is originally from.

This is a huge decision for Curbelo. Each program has its own benefits, but let’s take a look at the depth of each team at the No. 1 guard position.


Miami has a great point guard on the roster right now. Chris Lykes is back for his junior year after averaging 16.2 points, 3.2 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Those are good numbers. He is only a junior, though. That means he could return next season and start at the No. 1 guard role. Most likely, he will depart for the NBA after this season.

Honestly, the Hurricanes are in a similar position as the Illini. Illinois has a great No. 1 guard on the team right now in Ayo Dosunmu. But, after this upcoming season, Ayo will also depart for the NBA. His backup, Andres Feliz, is a senior and will be gone too. So, both teams will, most likely, have plenty of playing time for Curbelo when he enters the program.

But, I think the Illini will have the team that is best suited to win now with Curbelo. He would start at the No. 1 guard spot with Trent Frazier at the No.2, Adam Miller at the No. 3 (fingers crossed), Giorgi Bezhanishvili at the No. 4 and Kofi Cockburn at the No. 5. That is a lineup that can win the Big Ten.

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This is a huge decision for both Miami and Illinois. Curbelo is going to provide one of these teams with one of the best point guards in the nation. Let’s just hope we get to see him wearing Orange and Blue.

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