No. 1 Player in America, Son of USL League Legend, Commits to Auburn Tigers Basketball Over SEC Powerhouses
AUBURN, Ala. — May 16, 2025
In a stunning decision that sent shockwaves through college basketball, the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2026, Elijah Santiago, has committed to the Auburn Tigers, turning down blue-blood SEC rivals including Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
The 6-foot-8 combo guard from Oak Hill Academy (VA) is the son of USL League legend Marco Santiago, a former American soccer icon whose career helped define an era in lower-division soccer. Now, his son is making history on the hardwood, choosing Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers as his next destination.
“Elijah is a game-changer,” said 247Sports national analyst Adam Finkelstein. “He’s an elite scorer, a lockdown defender, and has the kind of vision and maturity rarely seen at the high school level. Auburn just landed the cornerstone of its future.”
In a televised announcement on ESPN, Elijah sat alongside his family, proudly donning an Auburn cap and flashing a grin that Tiger fans will remember for years.
“This wasn’t about hype,” Elijah said. “It was about family, trust, and building something of my own. Coach Pearl and the Auburn staff believed in me from the beginning. They didn’t just recruit me—they invested in me.”
The commitment is a massive win for Auburn, as they beat out perennial recruiting juggernauts like Kentucky, who had hosted Elijah on an official visit just weeks earlier. Arkansas and Tennessee also made aggressive pushes, with NIL opportunities rumored to be in the millions. But in the end, Auburn’s culture, player development, and Coach Pearl’s track record with NBA talent proved decisive.
Elijah averaged 28.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists during his junior season at Oak Hill, dominating elite competition and earning comparisons to a young Jayson Tatum for his size, shot-making, and versatility.
His father, Marco, known for his loyalty and work ethic during his USL playing days, praised his son’s decision.
“Elijah chose character over flash. He’s forging his own identity,” said Marco. “He made a choice that reflects who he is—and who he wants to become.”
With Elijah now headlining the Tigers’ 2026 class, Auburn jumps to No. 1 in the national recruiting rankings. Bruce Pearl called the commitment “program-altering.”
“Elijah is the future,” Pearl said. “And the future just chose Auburn.”
