CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois head coach Mike Small announced Wednesday (Nov. 9) the signing of three incoming freshmen – Max Herendeen (Bellevue, Wash.), Adam Hunt (Columbia, S.C.), and Ethan Wilson (St. Albert, Alberta, Canada) – to the Fighting Illini men's golf roster. The trio will join the Illini next fall as freshmen for the 2023-24 season.

MAX HERENDEEN | BELLEVUE, WASH. | BISHOP BLANCHET HIGH SCHOOL

HERENDEEN'S HIGHLIGHTS: Herendeen, ranked No. 23 in the AJGA rankings, was recently named to the 2022 AJGA Rolex All-American second team. He is a senior standout at Bishop Blanchet High School where he led the team to the 2022 WIAA State Championship. Herendeen is the 2022 Washington Golf Junior Player of the Year, and a four-time honoree as the Metro Player of the Year, a four-time all-metro first team selection, and a four-time all-district first team performer. He won the 2022 Junior PGA Championship in August at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Palos Park, Ill., carding rounds of 68-66-70-68 to claim the prestigious title by five strokes with a 72-hole tally of 272 (-16). Including his win at Cog Hill, Herendeen has recorded seven top-25 finishes in 11 AJGA starts over the last year, also capturing a tie for second at the AJGA Junior at Canebrake Club last April.  

QUOTING HERENDEEN: "I chose Illinois to get better under Coach Small, and to be in an environment that loves to win."              

SMALL'S TAKE: "Max brings a résumé full of big-time accomplishments along with a mega-load of potential. As the reigning national PGA Junior champion, he's proven that he can compete successfully on the big stage, and couple that with his love for the game and his deep desire to compete; we can't wait to get Max on campus and chase championships with him next fall."

HUNT'S HIGHLIGHTS:  Hunt comes to Illinois from Columbia, S.C., where he was a five-year letterwinner at A.C. Flora High School. Hunt earned five all-region accolades, was a two-time All-Upper State performer and a three-time All-South Carolina honoree. He helped the Falcons to the 2021 and 2022 state championships, and earned medalist honors at the 2022 South Carolina 4A Upper State Championship. In addition, Hunt has recorded notable finishes with a third-place showing at the 2022 SCGA Junior Championship, and a semifinalist run at the 2022 SCGA Junior Match Play Championship. 

QUOTING HUNT: "Illinois is a great opportunity for me to get away from home and get used to a different lifestyle. The facilities at Illinois are extraordinary, and Coach Small and Coach Bardgett will give me the best chance to succeed at a high level."

SMALL'S TAKE: "Adam brings a lot of junior golf experience and success with him to college. He's recovered fully from a back injury that sidelined him for a while, and he starting to play some solid golf. Adam is loaded with talent and potential, and when he begins to mix it up with the grinding and competitive nature of this program, his growth and development will surely continue."

WILSON'S HIGHLIGHTS: Wilson joins the Illini program after a breakout stint as a member of the Canadian Junior National Team over the past year. In June, Wilson helped lead Team Canada to the team championship at the 2022 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup at Hakusan Village Golf Club in Ichishi, Japan. He tied for eighth individually with a 54-hole score of 209 (-7), helping secure the two-stroke victory over host Japan for Team Canada's first Junior World Cup title. Additionally, Wilson tied for eighth (third among amateurs) at the 2021 Alberta Open. He also placed 12^th at the 2021 Alberta Junior Championship, finished second at the 2021 Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) National Championship, and won medalist honors at the 2021 Edmonton Junior Championship.

QUOTING WILSON: "The coaching at Illinois is the best of the best, coupled with the history of the program – the PGA Tour players and the alumni. The campus is incredible, the golf facilities are some of the best in the nation, and it is the perfect university for me."              

SMALL'S TAKE: "Ethan's rapid growth and development caught our attention this summer, and we firmly believe that he has the tools to play this game at a very high level. Being a member of the Canadian Junior National Team shows his regard in Canada, and we feel that with his athleticism and his strong competitive nature, he will fit in perfectly here at Illinois."