Illinois adds one of the top scorers in the country to the 2021-22 list. Fourth Wisconsin Wag Brandin Podziemski, who averaged 35.1 points per game and shot 43.4 percent of three as a senior, announced his commitment to the Illini on Tuesday. He plans to sign his national intent on Wednesday, the first day of the spring signing period.
According to 247Sports, Podziemski is a four-star prospect and the overall prospect no. 72 in the class of 2021. The Delafield (Wisc.) St. John’s Northwestern Academic 6-foot, 195-pound shooting guard, the Illini preferred scholarship offers from Kentucky, Kansas, Miami, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Arizona State, DePaul, Marquette, Kansas State and Nebraska, among others.
Podziemski is the Illini’s third commitment in the 2021 class and joins Indiana Guard Luke Goode and Florida wing RJ Melendez, which are both top-100 prospects in the 247Sports rankings. Goode signed with Illinois in November and Melendez committed himself to Illinois in February and is expected to record his national intent on Wednesday.
Podziemski became the 44th boy in Wisconsin history to score 2,000 points and did so, despite not playing freshness as a first-year player. According to MaxPreps, he was a three-point shooter with a career-high 40.0 percent, averaging 3.7 during his high school career three points per game. As a senior, Podziemski also averaged ten rebounds, 5.6 assists, 4.0 steals and 1.4 blockers per game and is named the Associated Press’ basketball player of the year in Wisconsin and has also been named Mr.
Quote: “I’m going to the University of Illinois,” Podziemski told Eric Bossi, 247Sports. “The most important thing is that it’s the pace in the program. Also the relationships I was able to build with not only the coaches, but also all the players who are already there and those who come with my class to play right away. a big key. ‘
What it means: Illinois keeps up with future talent on the wings to finally replace the loss of consensus of the first-team All-American guard Ayo Dosunmu and possibly the losses of first-year starter Adam Miller, who entered the transfer portal, and senior stalwart Da’Monte Williams, who has yet to announce whether he is eligible for an extra year. Podziemski improves Illini’s long-term length and shoots on the perimeter around dynamic point guard Andre Curbelo, who is the reigning Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year starting his second season. Podziemski is a dynamic goal scorer who can make the turn as a first-year student and later in his career can be one of the team’s best scorers. He models his game to Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro. This is a very good late addition to an Illini team that needs a new wave of talent.