Morgan Park’s Adam Miller makes it official, signs with Illinois

Illinois landed its prime target in the Class of 2020 in November, when Morgan Park’s Adam Miller gave an oral commitment. But he didn’t make it official.

With so many Illinois basketball recruiting whirlwinds and runner-up finishes the last two decades, Illini fans were anxiously waiting -— and slightly nervous — for five months.

But Miller, a high-scoring 6-3 guard, signed his letter of intent late Wednesday afternoon, joining a recruiting class that is ranked No. 15 in the country by 247Sports and No. 16 by Rivals.

“I watch them all the time; those are my brothers,” Miller said in an interview in January with the Chicago Sun-Times when asked how closely he’s following Illinois basketball. “Da’Monte [Williams] was, like, my hero when I was growing up in Peoria. So it’s hard watching because I want to be out there helping them. I can’t wait until I can.”

The trio of Miller, ballyhooed New York point guard Andre Curbelo and promising 6-10 Coleman Hawkins of Prolific Prep in California helps keep the positive momentum flowing for coach Brad Underwood and Illinois basketball.

Fresh off rejuvenating the program with a 21-10 record this past season, Underwood follows up a breakthrough season with a recruiting haul that is among the best in the Big Ten.

Miller, a consensus top-35 prospect nationally, has been a prime target of Illinois for years. Former coach John Groce and his staff were on him before he even entered high school. When Underwood and his staff took over in March 2017, Illinois immediately made Miller a recruiting priority.

He becomes the second consecutive Morgan Park top-30 national recruit to sign with Illinois after Ayo Dosunmu.

More important, Miller brings something Underwood and the program desperately need: shooting. Miller is a space-the-floor shooter with unlimited range who is capable of sliding over and playing some point guard.

The addition of Miller, who averaged 23.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists, gives Illinois the best combination in any recruiting class since Bruce Weber’s haul of Jereme Richmond and Meyers Leonard, top-30 prospects in the Class of 2010.