CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball head coach Brad Underwood announced Sunday the signing of prep All-American Quentin Coleman to a Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement, adding one of the nation’s top guards in the Class of 2026.
Coleman, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard from St. Louis, capped a decorated high school career at Principia School, where he led his team to back-to-back Missouri Class 3 state championships and a combined 60-3 record. He earned first-team MaxPreps All-American honors and was named a second-team Naismith All-American as a senior.
A consensus five-star recruit, Coleman is ranked among the nation’s top prospects by multiple recruiting services. He also shined on the grassroots circuit with Bradley Beal Elite, helping capture the prestigious Peach Jam 17U title.
“Quentin is one of the most competitive players I watched in the Class of 2026,” Underwood said. “He is an elite competitor, so it’s no surprise that winning is in his DNA. He understands how to elevate both himself and his teammates and has proven that at every level.”
Coleman’s senior season further cemented his reputation as a dynamic two-way player. He averaged 23.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.7 steals per game while shooting 64% from the field and 50% from three-point range. He posted four 30-point performances, including a 50-point outburst in the state championship game — the second-highest scoring total in Missouri title game history.
His accolades include 2025-26 Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year, St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Player of the Year, and a second consecutive Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 3 Player of the Year honor. Following the season, he was selected to compete in the Jordan Brand Classic.
As a junior, Coleman averaged 19.4 points per game and led Principia to its first state championship with a 31-1 record, earning all-state recognition and his first Class 3 Player of the Year award.
Coleman becomes the fifth member of Illinois’ 2026 recruiting class, joining earlier signees Ethan Brown, Landon Davis, Lucas Morillo and Zavier Zens as the Illini continue to build for the future.