CHICAGO (April 7, 2026) – The UIC men's basketball program announced Tuesday it has received a National Letter of Intent from Elijah Garrett, a 6-foot-2 guard from Beaumont, Texas, to join the Flames for the 2026-27 season. Garrett is the second freshman on next year's UIC roster, joining Crown Point, Ind., forward Dikembe Shaw, who signed with the Flames back in November.
 
"Elijah is a competitor in every sense of the word," said UIC head coach Rob Ehsan. "He brings a relentless, tenacious edge on the defensive end, while on offense, he gets downhill and into the paint with a really good feel for the game. What stands out is his ability to put pressure on defenses, draw fouls and consistently get to the free throw line. He plays with toughness and purpose and that's exactly the identity we want in our program."
 
Garrett, who committed to UIC over offers from Oregon State, Sam Houston State and Lamar among others, played in 145 games during his prep career at West Brook High School, averaging 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game. As a senior in 2025-26, Garrett registered a career-high 21.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game as West Brook reached the Texas Class 5A state title game, following on the heels of a strong junior campaign that saw him log 19.5 points, a career-high 4.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game while leading West Brook to the 5A state championship.
 
Garrett was a two-time Texas 5A all-state selection and was named the 2025 Texas 5A Player of the Year (by both the state's coaches and Max Preps), as well as earning MVP honors in the 5A state championship game. In addition, Garrett was a two-time all-region and three-time all-district honoree, as well as the 2023 District 16 Newcomer of the Year and 2025 District MVP.
 
Garrett and Shaw will join a UIC program that is coming off a 19-win season, including a trip to the 2026 NIT (National Invitation Tournament), the school's first berth in that elite event since 2003, and the Flames' first-ever appearance in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game. UIC also posted its highest KenPom rating since 2004 at No. 110, its highest-ever NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) ranking at No. 115 and, within the past two years, the Flames have collected eight Quad 1 & 2 wins, the second-most in the MVC, as well as six wins over teams ranked in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll (four against top-10 squads).
 
UIC is expected to return numerous key contributors next season, including 2026 All-MVC Freshman Team guard Andy Johnson and two other rising young standouts who developed significantly during their freshman years in guard Rashund Washington Jr. and forward Jayce Nathaniel. The Flames will also benefit from critical veteran leadership through a pair of senior starters in guard Ahmad Henderson II and guard/forward Mekhi Lowery.
 
For more information on UIC men's basketball, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_mbb and @uicflames).