Orlando Antigua will return to Champaign as an assistant coach, the team announced Sunday night. Brad Underwood's former assistant will return to the State Farm Center sideline this season following the departure of assistant coach Chester Frazier.
Antigua was an assistant at the University of Illinois from 2017-21, where he scouted big names such as Andre Curbelo and former Big Ten Rookie of the Year Kofi Cockburn. He primarily worked with the team's big men, coaching Cockburn and Illini freshman single-game scoring record Giorgi Bezhanishvili and helping them develop.
Antigua will leave Champaign in 2021 to join John Calipari as an assistant at Kentucky. He held the position from 2009 to 2014, acquiring players Karl-Anthony Towns, Nerlens Noel and Archie Goodwin, who went on to success in the NBA.
During his most recent tenure at Kentucky, Antigua was also responsible for the recruitment of freshman standout Reid Shepard. Five-stars aren't everything, with Antigua prioritizing four-stars Ugonna Onyenso and Adu Tierro in 2022.
Upon returning to Illinois, Antigua will work alongside fellow assistant Tim Anderson as another experienced recruiter for the program. Additionally, he has had success working with Illinois' big men in the past and will be a strong mentor for upcoming prospects Mores Johnson, Jason Jaxtis and transferred Carey Booth. The Illini still have three scholarship spots left, so Antigua will likely begin recruiting soon to fill out his roster.
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