West Coast 4-star recruit is the complete package for Illinois' Brad Underwood

The class of 2026 is wide open for the Illinois basketball team, as we try to land some serious talent.

There are numerous lines in the water right now for the Illini, and surely, there will be some big fish that come biting.

One of the more interesting recruits who is now on Illinois’ radar is Maximo Adams. Last Saturday, Adams took to social media to announce that he had received a scholarship offer from the Illini.

Adams is a 6-foot-6, 200-pound small forward from Sierra Canyon High School in California. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 41 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 17 small forward in the country and the No. 6 player coming out of California.

Illinois is by no means Adams’ first offer. In addition to the Orange and Blue, he has roughly 17 other programs vying for his commitment.

The aggression, the drive, the versatility, it is everything Illinois basketball needs and more

Brad Underwood has always liked a good small forward or wing who can drive to the basket. He wants a slasher that can cause chaos. Different versions of the Illini have had this player. Ty Rodgers and Quincy Guerrier are two that come to mind off the top of the head.

Adams brings that flair to the table. He is extremely aggressive with the basketball. Adams isn’t afraid of contact, and that is what Illinois needs in its offense.

I like the energy that Adams plays with, too. The Illini can lack energy at times, and Adams would inject his personality and charisma into the game. That is what I love about watching him play.

This is a great offer by the Illini. Getting a foot in the door on the Adams’ recruitment is huge. Now let’s see if we can get invited in and potentially make some serious headway.