Brad Underwood keeps stacking reasons for Illinois basketball fans to feel good about the program’s future, and the latest buzz could make the 2027 class even louder.
Illinois already sits at No. 4 in the 2027 class with two players signed, but a new report from Jeremy Werner of 247Sports has added a twist: five-star guard Brady Pettigrew may have the option to reclassify into 2027. Pettigrew was already scheduled for an official visit to Illinois on October 2, and now the possibility of him joining that class makes the picture look even more loaded.
Werner noted the recruiting update in his Illini Inquirer AM post on August 25, 2026, which also included other Illinois-related items. For the Illini, though, Pettigrew is the headliner. If the local prospect ends up in Champaign and lands in the 2027 class, Illinois would be adding another five-star name to a recent run that has already changed the program’s recruiting profile.
The list of recent classes tells the story. Illinois brought in five-star Will Riley in the class of 2024, along with NBA players Morez Johnson Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis.
In 2025, the program added Keaton Wagler, who became the No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft. Then came Quentin Coleman, another five-star, in the class of 2026.
That kind of track record matters when a player like Pettigrew is weighing options. Over the last three recruiting cycles, Illinois has shown it can turn elite talent into real momentum, and that gives Underwood’s program a strong pitch if Pettigrew decides to make the move.
The roster outlook is what makes the possibility even more eye-catching. After the 2026-27 season, Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis all might be gone.
There’s also uncertainty around David Mirkovic and Stefan Vaaks, with the belief here being a 50-50 chance both head to the NBA. Quentin Coleman is another question mark, with a 30% chance he returns instead of leaving for the league.
If Pettigrew reclassifies and chooses Illinois, the fit would be immediate. He would be starting right away, and the projected lineup would look dangerous: Vaaks, Pettigrew, Lucas Morillo, Mirkovic, and either a big man Illinois lands in the transfer portal or another five-star option. The program is already targeting several major names, and Underwood’s staff should be able to find another frontcourt piece.
That’s the bigger takeaway here. Illinois has built real recruiting juice, and the possibility of adding Pettigrew only reinforces how far the program has come under Underwood. The floor feels higher now, and the ceiling keeps getting more interesting.
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The burden now shifts to the rest of the room, where Collin Dixon and Hudson Clement become even more central to how Illinois fills out the rotation. Beyond them, the Illini are going to need younger and less experienced receivers to absorb meaningful reps sooner than planned, which makes the coming months especially important for development and depth. Even before the season arrives, this is the kind of injury cluster that can quietly reshape a passing game. [Read more 🡒]