CHICAGO (June 4, 2026) – The UIC men's basketball program welcomed another talented Chicagoland athlete to its 2026-27 roster on Thursday, as head coach Rob Ehsan announced the signing of freshman guard Rocco Pagliocca (Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson). Pagliocca is the eighth newcomer, and fifth freshman, who has committed to suit up for UIC next season, joining redshirt junior guards Gabe Cupps and Asa Thomas, and redshirt junior forward Lucas Scroggins, along with a quartet of fellow freshmen in forwards Dikembe Shaw and DJ Hudson, and guards Elijah Garrett and Mohamed Ndao.
 
"Rocco is a very good shooter who can stretch the floor and create opportunities for his teammates, but what really stood out to us throughout the recruiting process was his feel for the game and his approach every day," Ehsan said. "He plays with a high basketball IQ, competes and values all of the little things that contribute to team success. Just as importantly, Rocco is a tremendous fit for the culture we continue to build at UIC, and we're looking forward to welcoming him to campus later this month."
 
Pagliocca, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard, earned Illinois Class 4A all-state special mention, second-team all-area, and All-North Suburban Conference honors this past season after averaging 17.5 points, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game at Stevenson High School, helping the Patriots to a 21-11 record, a regional title and a berth in the Class 4A sectional semifinals. During his career at Stevenson, Pagliocca was a three-time all-area and all-conference selection, a three-year team captain and a member of four regional championship teams (the first boys' player in school history to be part of four regional titles) while becoming the sixth Patriots' player to top 1,200 career points.
 
Along with his success at the high school level, Pagliocca honed his skills on the AAU circuit with the Illinois Wolves. The sport also runs in his family, as his father, Jeff, is the general manager for the WNBA's Chicago Sky.
 
UIC is coming off a 19-win season and a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference, capped off by 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 MVC Tournament championship game. UIC also posted its highest overall KenPom rating since 2004 (No. 110) and highest defensive efficiency mark since 2008 (No. 91), along with its highest-ever NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) ranking at No. 115. What's more, during Ehsan's first two years at UIC, 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.

Details on season ticket packages for the 2026-27 Flames' men's basketball campaign will be available in the coming weeks. Further information will be forthcoming via the UIC Athletics Ticket Office, which can be reached by phone (312.413.8421) or e-mail (athleticsticketing@uic.edu).
 
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).