Illinois Basketball: Illini offer class of 2022 SG AJ Storr

The Illinois basketball program became the latest to offer talented Las Vegas standout, AJ Storr, from the 2022 class.

Storr, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound shooting guard, is currently listed as Nevada’s No. 2 overall player and is a three-star recruit. Storr attends high school athletics powerhouse, Bishop Gorman, and is a member of the 2022 class.

Including Illinois, Storr has received interest from Austin Peay, Chicago State, and IUPUI. Despite the lack of schools, Storr’s stock is beginning to rise, as he recently spoke to The Spartan Wire about a potential career in East Lansing come graduation.

"“They’re showing interest and the coaches there just said they want to try to get eyes on me and see me play in person before they offer but they said they’re keeping tabs on me,” Storr said in an interview with Rivals reporter, Krysten Peek."

With the new-found interest from schools, Storr is actually new to the West Coast area. He was originally a Kankakee, Illinois, resident before choosing to reclassify and make a permanent move to Nevada in order to ensure playing time and improve both on and off of the court.

Thus far, the decision to transfer is looking like the right one in the long-run, as Storr continued non-school competition as a member of the 16U and 17U travel levels. This past summer, Storr showcased his talents while participating in tournaments and playing a key role on the Hoopsters Willis 17U team.

In an interview with Scott Burgess of Prep Hoops Report, Storr was excited to gain recognition around the national circuit as one of the country’s rising prospects.

"“That was a great experience. I got to play a lot of good teams over the summer and actually competing with them which gave me some confidence,” Storr said."

Storr’s decision to reclassify, in his mind, was an easy one. He hopes to build for the future as more offers come his way.

"”I really reclassified to go back to my right grade because I just turned 17 on August 26,” Storr explained. “I went out of state to get more exposure and play against some of the best high school players in the country.”"

Storr is happy with Bishop Gorman so far and feels that his offseason experiences have benefited him greatly, which will hopefully carry over to future on-court success.

How would AJ Storr fit in Champaign?

Storr would give the Orange and Blue another electrifying presence for years to come. Not only does he have the height, but he can knock down clutch buckets and play a key role on the defensive end.

A do-it-all type player is what Brad Underwood strives for, and Storr could give him the effort he would need on a nightly basis.

Though he has two years left, it will be interesting to see how his recruiting heats up and if the Illini can remain in the running for Storr. Only time will tell, as the recruiting serge rolls on.