By SAM LANCE
KANSAS CITY — Three-star small forward Antonio Munoz of Chicago Whitney Young High School has been a force for the Meanstreets Nike EYBL program this summer. The 6-foot-6, 180-pound guard has played with consistent energy, and most recently, he averaged 9.3 points on 60% field goal shooting to close his summer at Session 4.
The forward was also an efficient rebounder, grabbing four per game in Kansas City with one per game coming on the offensive glass.
“I’m very active on rebounds, defense,” Munoz said. “I play both sides of the ball. I rebound well and I pass well. So I feel like I have an all-around game. I’m still working on my shooting a little bit.”
While at Session 4, Munoz updated his recruitment with ZAGSBLOG.com, saying Loyola Chicago, San Diego, Oregon and Illinois are currently in contact most. Here is his breakdown of each program:
Loyola: “I really like the atmosphere of games. It’s a closed-in gym. It gets really loud. It gets sold out every game. And the relationship I have with the coach is good. I see the coaches being more player coaches. They’re younger, they know how to coach young kids. I feel like Loyola is a really good place for me.”
San Diego: “Right now I don’t much about them. I’ve just been staying in contact with the coach, talking about how my season’s been going. So there’s not much about San Diego that I really know.
On moving out to the West Coast: “I want to move. My dream is to move away for school. I want to go far away for school. I have no problem moving out there.”
Oregon: “Oregon is my dream school since I was little. I always watched them on TV and I’ve always watched anything they do. So that’s really my dream school. So obviously them talking to me, it feels great.” Hearing mainly from assistant Mike Mennenga.
Illinois: “I like the atmosphere there. It’s a bigger gym. I’ve played there and I love the court. It’s just the home school. That’s really the home school basically. A lot of people are there from the state, being in Illinois. I don’t know really just the hometown feeling. Coach [Brad] Underwood is a really cool guy. He’s hard on you. And he also understands whatever is going on in the game. So I feel like he’s a really good coach.”
Munoz has not reported offers from Oregon or San Diego, but does holds offers from several programs including Loyola, Illinois, Bryant, California, Eastern Illinois, Northern Illinois, and Tennessee State. The forward said Loyola and Illinois have been recruiting him for the longest period of time.
Munoz said he is particularly close with Loyola assistant Will Bailey.
“He’s one of my guys,” Munoz said. “That’s probably one of the strongest bonds that I have.”
As for visits, Munoz has unofficially seen schools in his area like Illinois, Loyola, Northwestern and Southern Illinois. He plans on taking his out of state official visits some time in August around the beginning of the school year.
Munoz is ranked the No. 187 player in the country per 247Sports, giving him three-star status. He believes his effort is what makes him unique.
“I’m really everywhere,” Munoz said. “I’m going to get rebounds, diving on the floor trying to get loose balls, everything. But I’ve also umped a lot in scoring. Normally I’m just a catch and rebound or like an energy guy. Now I feel like I’m getting actual — I’m really just getting a good bucket now and then.”
Meanstreets head coach Jerel McNeal on Munoz: “Antonio is one of the most underrated players in the class 2025! Pound for pound probably one the 10 best pure athletes in the class! He has done a great job over the last two years of working tirelessly and improving his handle and outside shooting, which paid off for him this spring! The things I love most about him are his toughness, competitiveness, his relentless motor and his defense. This will take him a long way and he will be a major get for a school in the class of 25.”
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