St. John’s Northwestern star Podziemski commits to Illinois
When Brandin Podziemski picked out a T-shirt at the University of Illinois bookstore last Saturday afternoon, that was the telltale sign of where he was heading to college.
While the St. John's Northwestern Academies senior hadn't officially declared his intentions to play basketball for the Illini yet, that was the first time out of all the schools that he has visited where he bought any gear. That was enough to indicate to his family where he was headed.
“He picked out a shirt and says, ‘I'm going to get this,' ” Podziemski's father, John, said.
“I asked if he was getting it because he was committing there and he goes, ‘I just want a workout shirt.' He wouldn't say it outright, but that's kind of when I knew.”
The 2021 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball picked Illinois, not just as a shirt but as a basketball program Tuesday afternoon, committing to the Illini from a group of five finalists that included Kentucky,
Miami (Florida), Vanderbilt and Wake Forest. There was no shortage of suitors for Podziemski, rated by 247 as a fourstar guard, including bluebloods Kentucky and Kansas.
Illinois, though, presented the complete package in his eyes.
“We've always talked about the end goal, which is the NBA,” John said. “The NBA isn't made up of all kids from bluebloods. The allure was there, but he's never been worried about anyone questioning him for not going to play for (Kentucky head coach) John Calipari or (Kansas head coach) Bill Self. He knew what's going to get him to that next level, and Illinois can do that.”
The recruitment not only from the Illini staff, led by head coach Brad Underwood, but from the players as well made a difference.
“To have the players reach out to you, that's big because it shows they acknowledge your game and want you,” John said. “Coaches are important, but it's the teammates that you're spending most of your time with. He was more impressed with the group effort and the family effect.”
Illinois' run to the Big Ten Tournament
championship and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament this year didn't hurt their cause, either, as Podziemski found himself watching a growing amount of their games and envisioning how he could fit.
Podziemski is coming off a season in which he averaged 35.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 4.0 steals per game while shooting 60% from the field and 43.4% from three-point range.
A 6-foot-6 left-hander, Podziemski finished his prep career with 2,154 points, becoming the first player in WIAA history to reach 2,000 points despite not playing on varsity until his sophomore season.
Podziemski's recruiting picked up significantly when Kentucky offered a scholarship on Oct. 14. Kansas offered the next day. Illinois offered in December and slowly emerged as the favorite.
Podziemski didn't finalize the decision until the final days before commitment, telling his family Tuesday morning.
The Muskego native becomes the third member of Illinois' 2021 class. 247 Sports rates him as the 72nd-best player in the country.