Illinois basketball has something special happening in Champaign when it comes to recruiting.
Brad Underwood pulled in four first round NBA Draft picks over the last few years. The class of 2026 has a five-star entering the picture. The class of 2027 is ranked in the top five nationally thus far. And then you have the 2028 class.
Nothing has happened in this not-so-distant recruiting class. Illinois has plenty of lines in the water, and one of those lines is for massive five-star recruit Brady Pettigrew.
On Monday, the Overtime social media account posted a video of Pettigrew playing what looks like some type of organized game. This organized game wasn’t just against his peers, though.
In the clip, Pettigrew is seen stealing the ball and having a breakaway dunk. That isn’t the part that is surprising. The fact that the steal was from NBA star Paolo Banchero is what stands out.
What makes this clip even spicier is the fact that after the play, Pettigrew lets the NBA star know what just happened by yelling, “Yeah, Paolo!”
17 YEAR OLD Brady Pettigrew got a steal on Paolo Banchero and let him hear it 🤣 pic.twitter.com/mgWAqgM7hJ
— Overtime (@overtime) July 27, 2026
Banchero is a really good player in the NBA, too. He just finished up his fourth year in the NBA, and he has won the NBA Rookie of the Year award and was an All-Star. Through his four years in The Association, Banchero has averaged 22.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.
With that being said, getting a steal and then dunking in front of Banchero is a pretty big deal. The energy that Pettigrew brings to the clip is exactly what teams would want on the court for the one year he is in the college ranks, too.
Brad Underwood continues to line up great guards for the Illinois basketball team
Pettigrew is a recruit who is wanted by everyone in the country. Blue bloods have started to flood him with scholarship offers, so his stock is only rising. As a five-star and the No. 15 player in the country, he is going to have his choice of any team he wants.
Illinois is right in the running, though. He has already visited Champaign. The Illini need to put all resources into his recruitment because Pettigrew can be our next great guard.
Underwood has already had Ayo Dosunmu come through the doors. We then brought in Kasparas Jakucionis. Keaton Wagler soon followed. Quentin Coleman is ready to take over in 2026-27. Pettigrew can then be the 2028-29 leader of the Orange and Blue.
I think Pettigrew is going to be a one-and-done. He is a future star at whatever level he plays. It is going to take a lot of money to land him, but if the Illini can pull this recruitment off, there is no telling what this program can accomplish.
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