Class of 2027 four-star Elijah Paez has lined up a busy stretch of official visits after a summer that pushed his recruitment into a new tier.
Paez, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound wing from Brock, Texas, will start at Xavier on Sept. 13 before heading to Cal on Sept. 18, DePaul on Sept. 24 and UConn on Oct. 15.
His rise has been tied to a breakout run with Drive Nation at Peach Jam, where he helped power a roster short on depth and size all the way to the title game. Paez averaged 14 points, seven rebounds, two steals and 1.5 blocks during that run, and his impact was as much about activity and defense as it was about scoring.
At 6-foot-10 in wingspan, he emerged as a disruptive defensive presence and showed real touch around the basket, finishing in crafty and creative ways near the rim. That performance opened the door to a wave of offers that also includes UTEP, New Mexico State, Northeastern, Texas-Arlington, Louisiana Tech and others.
Paez recently announced that he will spend his senior season at Iowa United Prep after transferring from Brock High School.
The UConn offer stands out most on his list. The Huskies, who have won two national championships in the last four years and played in the title game in three of the last four years, made a strong impression as Paez’s stock kept climbing.
He said the coaching style of Dan Hurley feels familiar to him.
“Coach Hurley’s coaching style is what I’m used to,” Paez told ZAGSBLOG.
“Growing up, my father was always hard on me when it came to sports. He always put me in a ‘eat what you kill’ environment.
I’ve always been pushed to my limits and I’ve always found a way to succeed. Coach Hurley’s coaching style is in line with my upbringing.”
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