Illinois Basketball: Illini add 2020 walk-on guard Edgar Padilla Jr.

The Illinois basketball team confirmed Monday they have made a new addition to their roster.

6-foot-1 guard Edgar Padilla Jr. will be joining the Illinois Fighting Illini for the 2020-2021 season as a preferred walk-on.

Padilla Jr., who attended high school at San Ignacio de Loyola in San Juan, Puerto Rico, played for the Puerto Rico junior national team in 2019, where he averaged 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per contest.

The Puerto Rico native had committed to play for Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini back in March, but with a now full 13-man roster, he will be added to the team as a preferred walk-on.

Padilla Jr. is the son of former UMass point guard, Edgar Padilla, who led his team to a 1996 Final Four appearance his junior year.  The elder Padilla also competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics, where he averaged 4.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.

According to WCIA, Padilla Jr.’s father has a life-long friendship with Illinois assistant coach Orlando Antigua.  This friendship was likely a major factor towards not only Padilla Jr.’s decision, but the Illini coaching staff’s decision to take him in as a preferred walk-on, as well.

The incoming freshman guard has expressed his excitement on social media for joining what should be a stacked Illinois team. 247sports has reported that Padilla Jr. moved onto campus earlier this month and has been participating in team activities.

Padilla Jr. will be joining teammate Andre Curbelo as the second Puerto Rico native guard on the Illini roster. An Illinois backcourt that was already deep just got deeper.