Illinois basketball is looking to snag some of the best young talent in the game, and we have entered the mix for a talented guard.
Brad Underwood hasn’t been bashful when it comes to recruiting and the changes. He took the transfer portal head-on and has done a great job. He also has the Illini competitive when it comes to NIL and everything that brings.
Landing players like Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley isn’t easy. Both are going to be first round NBA Draft picks, and Underwood was able to snag both in the class of 2024. That is the type of recruiting that will pay dividends.
A couple of weeks ago, Underwood also entered the fray for another big-time guard. Anderson Diaz took to social media to announce that he had received a scholarship offer from Illinois.
Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Illinois! pic.twitter.com/rg1ohBK6Cn
— Anderson Diaz (@top1shifty) May 19, 2025
Diaz is a 6-foot, 155-pound point guard from Lawrence Woodmere Academy in New York. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 45 player in the class of 2027. He is also the No. 10 point guard in the country and the No. 2 player coming out of New York.
Illinois is one of the first handful of teams to take an interest in Diaz. He has roughly six scholarship offers on the table right now, with Cincinnati, St. John’s, and UCLA being a few of the big contenders.
Anderson Diaz’s recruitment took off after a big summer of AAU basketball
I love the mentality of Diaz on the court. This kid is extremely smart and has a game plan when he gets the ball. His ability to get through defenses and into scoring position is incredible. He also has great touch around the hoop.
When I watch Diaz on the court, his game reminds me a lot of someone like Jalen Brunson. He can pick apart a defense with his brain. That is what I want on the Illinois roster.
Diaz’s recruiting really started to pick up some steam this offseason, too. He plays his AAU ball for the NY Ren. Diaz should be playing in a lower level of the EYBL because he is just entering his junior year in high school, but he is playing at the highest level already.
NY Ren went 10-1 this AAU season, and Diaz was able to average 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1.8 assists per game. Those are impressive numbers considering he is playing against players who are older than him.
Illinois getting in the mix for an East Coast point guard is a great idea. Orlando Antigua has always had success plucking players from the East Coast. Let’s see if Illinois can make some waves and really get into this recruitment.