Illinois’ 2020 recruiting class finished as 17th nationally and third in the Big Ten. While Adam Miller enters as the top recruit (No. 33 in the country, per 247Sports), Andre Curbelo may be the player most ready to make an impact. Let’s break down what makes the Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, native so special.

Basic information

Curbelo was born in Puerto Rico and attended Long Island Lutheran High School in New York. He’s listed at 6’0” and 170 pounds. He is ranked as the eighth-best point guard in the 2020 class and comes in as a four-star recruit. He’s seen his stock rise demonstrably over the last two years, entering the 247Sports database in 2018 at No. 134 before climbing to No. 44 in the final rankings.

Passing

Curbelo’s best skill is easily his passing. Head coach Brad Underwood referred to him as a great “pass ahead” guy, and that’s evident in his play. Illinois wants to play faster this season, and Curbelo will help in that regard. He’s constantly making quick outlets to guys running in transition.

https://twitter.com/BrandonSimberg/status/1299792136045559821

Curbelo snags the rebound here, pushes the ball himself, keeps his dribble low to avoid defenders and makes the pass for the assist.

In the half-court, Curbelo is a brilliant passer. Despite being undersized, he sees the floor really well. He likes to drive baseline and hit corner shooters. Curbelo does a great job of looking off defenders to free teammates. He has good touch on his passes, hitting teammates in the right spots.

In the second clip, Curbelo uses his dribble to get into the paint. He waits for the big man to contest his shot before dropping off the perfect pass to a big.

Ball-Handling

Curbelo has a really tight handle. He is not overly quick but makes up for it with a terrific change of pace moves. He’s super manipulative in pick-and-roll and understands how to read the opposing big in coverage.

https://twitter.com/BrandonSimberg/status/1299527426452656128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

This move embodies Curbelo’s handle. He adjusts speeds a few times, turns his back to the defender to make it look like he’s using the screen then accelerates to the rim for a finish.

Finishing

Curbelo is more of a “pass first” type of player, but he still has a knack for scoring, with his go-to being runners and floaters around the paint. He can finish off either foot, which is impressive for a high school senior.

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https://twitter.com/BrandonSimberg/status/1299530000278999041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Curbelo can finish around the rim, but Big Ten physicality will be an adjustment. He’s also right-hand dominant and tends to go up with his right when it would be easier to score with his left hand. One of his biggest weaknesses is his tendency to leave his feet and then become unsure if he should pass or shoot.

Shooting

Curbelo is a solid, yet unspectacular shooter. He hit a few catch-and-shoot threes in the games I watched. He will pull a three when defenders go under on ball screens, which he may see a lot of at the next level. His form is good on his catch-and-shoot shots, though his shooting weakness is clearly his pull-up jumper. He’s hesitant to use it, preferring to drive the ball into the paint even if there are defenders there. The few pull-ups he did take, he was often off-balance.

Defense

Given his lack of height and elite athleticism, defense will always be an uphill battle for Curbelo. That being said, I find him to be intelligent on that end. He makes good rotations and knows how to stay in front of his man. He’s good at opening his hips when sliding.

Overview/Fit

Curbelo’s fit in the rotation and playing next to junior Ayo Dosunmu will be interesting. He’s already the clear best ball-handler and passer on the team, but both he and Dosunmu need the ball to score. I think Curbelo can help alleviate pressure for Dosunmu and create open looks, which should improve Dosunmu’s 3-point percentage. If Curbelo can hit catch-and-shoot threes off of Dosunmu, then the pairing should work.

There’s a good chance Curbelo starts but it’s not guaranteed. Dosunmu has one of the three guard spots locked, and you would assume senior Trent Frazier takes another one. Senior Da’Monte Williams also spent time at guard last season, but he has the ability to play small-ball four. If Illinois elects to go with a bigger lineup, though, Curbelo will be forced to battle with the senior for that third spot. Freshman Adam Miller is also in the mix and he’s theoretically a better shooter, which could give him an edge.

Curbelo can also give a huge boost running the offense when Dosunmu sits, and crunch-time lineups could alter given the opponent. Frazier and Williams have an unmistakable edge over Curbelo on the defensive end.

Curbelo strikes me as a guy who will spend multiple seasons in Champaign, as his lack of elite burst and size may limit his NBA chances. He reminds me of Villanova star guard Collin Gillespie, albeit a few inches shorter. Regardless, Curbelo is a special, brilliant player. If given four full seasons, there’s a good chance he cracks into the top ten on the Illinois all-time assist leaderboard. He’s the best true point guard the Illini have had in quite some time, and he should be a massive addition from day one.

@BrandonSimberg

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Editor’s note: The current version of this article incorrectly spells Andre Curbelo as “Curbello” in Twitter references. The Daily Illini regrets this error.