Four-Star 2026 Guard Ethan Brown Commits to Illinois Basketball

Brown, a 6-foot-4 shooter from Rolla, Missouri, accepted a scholarship offer from the Illini on Wednesday

Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood leaves the court after the game against the Duquesne Dukes in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

The recruiting courtship for Ethan Brown didn't last long.

On Wednesday – two days after his official visit to Champaign and less than a month after he was first offered by Illinois – Brown revealed his commitment to the Illini.

100% COMMITTED!! What a dream come true! Thank you God, my family, my friends, and everyone else that helped me along this journey! Thank you to the Illinois coaching staff for believing in me! I-L-L🧡 #everydayguys pic.twitter.com/0ekOCZZdvq

— Ethan Brown (@EthanBrown2026) July 31, 2025

Brown, a four-star guard from Rolla, Missouri, announced his commitment on his X social media account. A 6-foot-4 combo guard and knockdown shooter who ranks as a top-150 player in his class according to 247Sports, Brown has the makeup (at least on the offensive side of the ball) that suits coach Brad Underwood's big-bodied, perimeter-shooting style.

Brown's playing time – and ultimately the value he delivers to the Illini – will be tied to his ability to defend and play the lead guard position. His floor seems to be as a situational shooter and deep rotation player, but if he proves he can stay in front of Big Ten guards and is able to run an offense from the 1, he could become a key cog for Underwood over time.

The first Illinois commit in the class of 2026, Brown isn't an incredibly splashy signing. But the Illini coaching staff saw something they like in him – Brown blew up at the recent P32 League Live Event in St. Louis attended by Underwood – went after him hard and sealed the deal.

Class of 2026 6’4” guard Ethan Brown out of Rolla Sr. High put his full game on display at the P32 League Live Event in St. Louis — with Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and several other high-level college coaches in attendance. pic.twitter.com/kAFd1vSABf

— Revocruit (@Revocruit) July 15, 2025

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