Top 2028 Brady Pettigrew Takes Deep Dives into Recruitment

Bolingbrook 2028 guard Brady Pettigrew Brady Pettigrew 6'3" | SG Bolingbrook | 2028 State #23 Nation IL has emerged as one of the truly elite talents in Illinois.  He showed flashes last high school season as a freshman and then elevated his game with big performances at camps, during the high school live period, and on the EYBL circuit.  Pettigrew jumped to the top spot in the 2028 class and might just be the top prospect regardless of class.  With his size, athleticism, length, and skill he has a complete game at the two guard spot.  With that his recruitment is beginning to explode.  We caught up with him to discuss a variety of topics in depth beginning with taking on the role of being the go to player for Bolingbrook after the transfer of their star from last season Davion Thompson.

“I took a bigger role, but I have great pieces around me.  Trey (Brost) has been in the gym all summer.  He has a bigger role and people don't see that.  His role stepped up too.  Our new transfer TJ (Williams).  They can take the load off me.  Knowing when we need a bucket I have to go get one.”

What areas has he seen the most growth in his game since the end of his freshman season?

“One on one being aggressive.  When someone is in front of me and going to kill them.  I would also say my leadership.  Obviously losing my brother (Thompson) and his leadership along with five other seniors I had to pick up my leadership role.  It is easy to be a leader when you are winning, but when you are losing we have to keep it together and I feel I have been doing a good job of that.”

Pettigrew performed well at two high profile camps in Nike Elite 100 and USA Basketball mini camp.  Those were big for Pettigrew proving he can compete with the best.

“It makes me a better player.  You are never going to get a weak switch because there is no one bad there.  You have to be on you're A game.  I had a good performance at Elite 100.  That was a big confidence boost knowing that if I can score against all these guys no one can stop me.  At USAB you go there to get better.  Every time I go there I am learning things from the coaches and am a big listener.  Every time you leave there you are going to be a better player and skills along with a better person.”

What is the latest with recruiting early in the process?

“Some big schools Notre Dame, Tennessee, Duke have all been in contact.  Obviously you respect every offer, but they want to build a relationship before they throw an offer your way.  That is important to me because I don't want an offer and know nothing about you.”

He mentioned four schools that are showing him the most interest to this point.

“Illinois, Missouri, Florida, and Kansas.”

We broke down all four programs beginning with in-state Illini.

“I like the way they play.  They let their main guys be their main guys.  I like their defensive effort.  I like how they are different than everyone else.  You can't really find another team like Illinois.  The coaching is really really good under Brad Underwood.  They have my guy Zach Hamer.  They are doing a great job recruiting me.  Everywhere I go I see Illinois.”

Mizzou has been a consistent presence for Pettigrew.

“That is one of the schools that has taken it to a different level.  They aren't as close as Illinois, but they are still at everything as well.  Everywhere I go I see gold and black.  They are watching my games and taking that extra step.”

Florida is coming off a national championship last season.

“That was a big offer for me.  They can't come out as much being so far, but they have done a good job building a relationship.  I got to know them before the offer.  It was a big confidence boost getting that offer.”

Kansas is one of the blue bloods of the sport.  What stands out about the Jayhawks?

“I would say the coaches and their personality.  I feel like everything about Kansas is bigger than basketball.  The players.  They have a great history as they are a winning program.  If you know me you know I hate to lose.  That is a big school on my list too.”

Duke has been involved as well with Pettigrew getting out to a visit in Durham.

“I checked out their campus.  I got to watch a practice, watch the players, tour the campus, and talk to Coach Jon Scheyer in his office.  It is a big culture shock.  It is every kids dream to check out Duke.  That is a big school that I have talking to me.  He said he has been watching me for a while and will be keeping an eye on me.  That was big.”

At Peach Jam Scheyer went off site to check out Pettigrew in a 15U game where literally no other coach was at the game.

“That was big to me.  Bigger than basketball with him going out of his way.  Knowing that he could be anywhere he wants to.  He is the Duke head coach.  I had a good performance.  I had like 20 and 8.  It was good for me to have a good show for him to watch and he saw more than just my offensive side.  With him being there that showed me that he really does care.”

BYU was in the house at Chicago Elite Classic specifically to see Pettigrew.  Brandon Dunson was also in to see him this fall.

“They came to one of the open runs and I got to chat it up with them.  What was big to me was they didn't try to satisfy me.  Oh well we have AJ Dybantsa.  They really talked about what they have to offer.  They talked about what they can do for me and didn't sugar coat it.  A lot of coaches will do that, but they kept it real with me.  Those are the coaches that want you to be successful.”

What is next when it comes to recruiting?

“I might go down and check out a couple schools, but I am going to wait until the season is over.  I want to focus on winning with my high school team.  I want to check out Florida, Kansas, go back to Duke, Tennessee, USC, back to Illinois, and Mizzou.”