CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois head coach Brad Underwood announced Thursday the signing of Lucas Morillo to a Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement. Morillo will join the Fighting Illini program as a freshman in 2026-27.
Morillo is a 6-foot-7, 215-pound guard from Mount Vernon, New York. He is a four-star recruit and the No. 20 player nationally in the class of 2026 by Rivals, No. 50 by 247Sports Composite, and No. 73 by ESPN. He is the No. 3-ranked point guard by Rivals and the No. 6 shooting guard by 247Sports Composite. Rivals ranks Morillo as the No. 1 player in Massachusetts, while 247Sports lists him at No. 2 in the state.
Morillo attends The Newman School in Boston, where he helped lead the Cardinals to a program record 31 wins and the school's first New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AAA Championship last season. Playing for coach Jackson Johnson, Morillo averaged 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists as a junior and was named Player of the Year by the New England Basketball Journal.
He played AAU with the New York City Rocks, averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on the Nike EYBL circuit. He also played up at the 19U level with the Dominican Republic, averaging 20 points, nine rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game in the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup.
"Lucas has great positional size;Â he is a multi-positional guard who may be most comfortable at the point but has the size, skill, and ability to play other spots as well," Underwood said. "He is an elite passer, has a high basketball IQ, and elevates his teammates in many ways. Lucas was also one of the best rebounding perimeter players I watched on the circuit; we love his toughness and competitive drive."
Morillo is the third player in the 2026 class to sign with the Fighting Illini, joining Ethan Brown and Landon Davis.
