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In the summer, recruiting is the name of the game. College basketball programs invest resources into developing their current players and ensuring the squad is fully prepared come November, but coaching staffs are at least as active, if not more so, in recruiting activities.
And with Peach Jam – Nike EYBL’s end-of-season championship tournament – taking place this past week, it was a busy few days in the high school hoops world. Many Illini targets were playing at Peach Jam, including one who reportedly is on the verge of setting a visit date with Illinois. Meanwhile, another high-priority target earned distinguished honors.
Illinois basketball July 2026 recruiting update
2027 four-star Isaiah Santos to schedule Illinois visit?
Per Dushawn London of 247Sports, four-star forward Isaiah Santos is “locking in” a date for a visit to Illinois, along with Houston and Vanderbilt. He already has visits to Colorado, Minnesota and Texas Tech lined up.
Santos, a Texas native and the No. 78 player in his class (per 247Sports’ composite rankings), is a powerful, ultra-explosive forward whom the Illini offered in June. Although he isn’t the typical Illinois target – he’s a 6-foot-5 non-shooter (at least for the time being) – Santos would be a unique and potentially highly effective fit for the Illini.
In-state 2028 target Brady Pettigrew named first-ever EYBL 16U MVP
Pettigrew, an in-state recruit from Bolingbrook, recently took an unofficial visit to Illinois and, by all accounts, is a priority target for Underwood and his staff. 247Sports’ composite rankings list Pettigrew as a five-star prospect and the No. 15 overall player in his class. He currently holds at least 33 Division I offers.
Today's best reads
- 3 Key Takeaways From Illinois Basketball's Summer Highlights
- Illinois Enters Race for Versatile 2028 Five-Star Benjamin Berrouet: How He'd Fit
- 3 Intriguing Illinois Lineups for 2026-27 – and What Makes Each So Dangerous
- Building Illinois' Best Starting Five of the Brad Underwood Era
- Illinois Basketball Extends Offer to Under-the-Radar 2027 Forward Ed Stasys
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/illinois as Illinois Recruiting: 2027 Target to Schedule Visit, 2028 Prospect Makes EYBL History.
