Illinois Basketball: Andre Curbelo biggest steal of 2020 recruiting class

Andre Curbelo could end up being the most underrated player in the class of 2020. Sealing his commitment early on was a huge win for the Illini.

With the uncertainty surrounding the looming Ayo Dosunmu NBA decision, Illinois Basketball fans can rest a little easier when it comes to the guard position should Dosunmu end up leaving. New York point guard Andre Curbelo will certainly help ease the possible loss of Dosunmu when he first plays in a game for the Fighting Illini.

The nifty point guard from Long Island Lutheran high school in New York plays with a pass-first style and seems to know where everyone is on the court without even looking. Curbelo’s style of play fits almost perfectly into what head coach Brad Underwood is trying to create in Champaign. Illini fans can dream of Curbelo throwing lobs to big man Kofi Cockburn down low and carving up Big Ten defenses with ease.

One of two top-50 recruits for the Illini in the 2020 class, Curbelo’s game is a tad different from other guards the Illini have but brings an aspect to the game that can only help Illinois in the long run.

Outside of his passing ability and quickness, the Puerto Rico native can also finish around the rim with a soft touch and is not too shy for the big moments. He led LuHi to a 10-point win over national powerhouse Sierra Canyon in his senior season and hit a game-winning floater against a tough Albany Academy team at the buzzer.

While Curbelo may not start right away for the Illini in 2020, he will surely be a huge piece off the bench and could possibly be the next starting point guard once Trent Frazier graduates after this coming season. Not many teams have the luxury of being able to bring a point guard of Curbelo’s caliber off the bench.

The Illinois roster is full of shooters and this will only feed into the game of Curbelo more and more as the season progresses. Look for him to be towards the top of the conference in assists per game by the time the season is over.

Even in a time of uncertainty for Illini fans, there are spots of light that could lessen the pain of a loss of Dosunmu or Kofi Cockburn. Andre Curbelo is certain to be a fan favorite and hard-nosed player for years to come in an Illini uniform.