Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[saltygrapes]

Originally Posted by Joel Goodson

If we land a Hoosier, why can't we land another? (it's a new day)

KBD wants to be an Illini (I think)

Alexander is a pipe dream, but I'm guessing Jackson-Lyle-Henry-Hill-KBD will get his attention.

All Groce has to do is make it happen. ;-)

I don't think anything will pull Alexander's attention away from his Kentucky offer.

[fan17]

With 3 schollys available for 13 and only 1 for 14, does JG hold one of the 13? Good chance that there will be a transfer and open up another one for 14, but I think that he wants 3 for 14.

[Joel Goodson]

Originally Posted by saltygrapes

I don't think anything will pull Alexander's attention away from his Kentucky offer.

Izzo might, but I'm not betting against the squid.

O'Mara's on the rise, has a good skill set and seems interested. Hope he hits 6' 10". 'Cause if things break for us, all we need is another good 5 (doesn't have to be a world beater) and we're back in the game.

[saltygrapes]

Originally Posted by Kramer116

IIRC, they actually have posted this was false (when it was initially reported a week or two ago). I wonder why Hamilton would want to head to Florida.

You know it's really funny, 3 years ago we were making posts about the '13 class the same way we are making posts about the '15 class right now.

Jabari Parker was clearly a top-10 guy, because he was already 6-6 and had an elite floor game. He needed to "athleticize" somewhat to keep that lofty ranking and he did that and more. Even if he hadn't, his elite floor game would have kept him a 5* player all on its own.

Hamilton looked to be a top-30 guy but you could see the questions. Even when Illinois offered, you wondered: Could he stay in shape? Could he rebound? Could he improve his mobility? He was far from a sure thing. Funny thing is Tommy's skillset was perfect for a Weber big man. He could shoot, set screens, and was a great passer.

Alex Foster looked to be a top-75 guy, but he had even more questions. He was a tweener even as an 8th grader. He was a 6-6 kid playing on the block. His floor game was terrible, but he had a great frame. He overpowered kids at that level. He just needed to grow to project to college. He didn't. Right now he's a 6-7, undersized PF with still a mediocre floor game. If Foster had grown to 6-9 or 6-10, he would be a top-50 player with his refined around-the-basket game. But his problem is he is a 4 in a 3's body, and even to play the 3 he would have to be quicker.

Even if you have guys that look like elite prospects at the time, you have to be sure... what if Foster had grown to 6'9 and developed his floor game better? He'd be a top-40 guy. What if Hamilton got in top-notch shape and continued to improve? He'd be a top-40 guy. That's the thing though, Jabari Parker was the only sure thing in that trio.

That's why the only guys who have 2015 offers have already refined floor games. Even if they don't grow, they still project as high-major players for their current position. For example, even if Charles Matthews doesn't grow another inch, he has the handle, playmaking and shotmaking ability to be a combo guard already at the college level. DJ Williams already has the stroke to be an effective 2/3 guy in college even if he never grows. And so on...

[saltygrapes]

Originally Posted by fan17

With 3 schollys available for 13 and only 1 for 14, does JG hold one of the 13? Good chance that there will be a transfer and open up another one for 14, but I think that he wants 3 for 14.

If they take 2 more in '13, they'll have 2 in '14, and one would have to open up to take a 3-man class.

If they just take 1 more in '13, they'll have 3 open in '14 anyway.

[Joel Goodson]

Originally Posted by fan17

With 3 schollys available for 13 and only 1 for 14, does JG hold one of the 13? Good chance that there will be a transfer and open up another one for 14, but I think that he wants 3 for 14.

I DKS (Don't Know Squat). That said, I agree. Groce will hold one of the '13 rides. 4 in '13, 3 in '14 (i.e., 1 transfer).

[BrooksTaylorFan]

Originally Posted by Joel Goodson

I DKS (Don't Know Squat). That said, I agree. Groce will hold one of the '13 rides. 4 in '13, 3 in '14 (i.e., 1 transfer).

It will all just depend on who our next two commits are. If Groce can land Jackson and KBD, he can use the last two on want instead of need.

[justsomedude]

Originally Posted by saltygrapes

If they take 2 more in '13, they'll have 2 in '14, and one would have to open up to take a 3-man class.

If they just take 1 more in '13, they'll have 3 open in '14 anyway.

I know I've posted this before, but Illinois has seen 11 or 12 players leave prior to utilizing all their eligibility in the last 5 seasons. In addition with the last several seasons seeing near or over 450 transfers, 20 or so early entries and another 50 - 100 who leave school for disciplinary or personal reasons, the average college basketball team is losing 1.5 scholarship players per year. Based on these averages, 3 would open up by 2014 simply through attrition. Since 5 or 6 of our rides will be tied up with guys who first play in 2013, I doubt it will be quite that high, but I think if you're Groce you have to recruit as though at minimum one, and likely two additional rides will open by 2014.

[Dan]

Glynn Watson Discusses Illinois Visit http://t.co/aXuTPnb5

http://twitter.com/ChicagoHoops

[illiniparkie]

Scout updated 2014 Rankings

4. Jahlil Okafor, C
6. Cliff Alexander, C
8. Trey Lyles, PF
9. Kevon Looney, PF
15. JaQuan Lyle, PG
30. Keita Bates-Diop, PF
41. Grayson Allen, SG
46. Paul White, PF
50. Kevin Zabo, PG
52. Trevon Bluiett, SF
57. Larry Austin, PG

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75...pid=88&yr=2014

[Foo G]

Originally Posted by IlliniJim20

That makes two guys Whitney Young has lost, in addition to the graduating players.

Who else did they lose?

[Larken24]

Originally Posted by saltygrapes

I don't think anything will pull Alexander's attention away from his Kentucky offer.

Anything except the NCAA

[Foo G]

Just watched a Tyler Ulis video on YouTube. (Sorry if it's already been posted.)
I still think this kid would be a great backup PG option for us, especially with a big time scoring threat like Jackson.

[Indicchief]

Originally Posted by Foo G

Just watched a Tyler Ulis video on YouTube. (Sorry if it's already been posted.)
I still think this kid would be a great backup PG option for us, especially with a big time scoring threat like Jackson.

Why can they not play together?

[illiniparkie]

Alex Kline ‏@TheRecruitScoop
Illinois has offered 2015 Rockwall (TX) big man Elijah Thomas, he says.

https://twitter.com/TheRecruitScoop

[jhayton]

Originally Posted by Foo G

Who else did they lose?

Can't remember if he went to WY, but Schilling transferred. Thought it was WY, but I can't remember for sure.

[jhayton]

Originally Posted by Indicchief

Why can they not play together?

Taking either one off the ball would limit their effectiveness, IMO.

[justsomedude]

Originally Posted by jhayton

Can't remember if he went to WY, but Schilling transferred. Thought it was WY, but I can't remember for sure.

I though it was De LaSalle.

[saltygrapes]

Originally Posted by illiniparkie

Alex Kline ‏@TheRecruitScoop
Illinois has offered 2015 Rockwall (TX) big man Elijah Thomas, he says.

Good offer IMO... Thomas looks like a top-50 kid for that class right now (ESPN has him top-10 right now which is a bit lofty IMO), he's highly rated and not going to commit any time soon though so I think any risk involved in giving big men early offers is minimalized, and the guy has potential and upside that's off-the-charts.

Illinois has innumerable high-major guards in 2015 but practically no big men to this point so these early offers to out-of-state big men aren't surprising.

[Foo G]

Originally Posted by jhayton

Can't remember if he went to WY, but Schilling transferred. Thought it was WY, but I can't remember for sure.

Schilling and Foster both transferred from De La Salle.

[IlliniJim20]

Originally Posted by Foo G

Who else did they lose?

Their shooting guard, Kingsley (?) Not a star, but a good solid player, best shooter. Getting low D1 looks (MAC) so he can play.

Their depth will be suspect. They have Okafor, White, Reynolds (over rated imho) then ?????

[MrQuist]

Originally Posted by BrooksTaylorFan

It will all just depend on who our next two commits are. If Groce can land Jackson and KBD, he can use the last two on want instead of need.

These last couple of posts seem to contradict the notion that once Groce puts an offer on the table it is available to the kid until the scholly is filled. Once he gets a couple 2013 commits would he tell the other kids he offered there is no more room even if there is an open scholly because he is now going to save one for 2014? Or maybe tell that to non-elite kids but leave the offer open for guys like Jackson or Ennis? Just asking the question because I sure don't know the answer.

[Foo G]

Originally Posted by Indicchief

Why can they not play together?

Originally Posted by jhayton

Taking either one off the ball would limit their effectiveness, IMO.

I think they could play together at times, although not with both in the starting lineup.
Ulis could come off the bench with Jackson potentially moving to the off guard.
They both look like they can shoot it pretty good and are solid off the dribble.
Ulis would probably have trouble getting shots off against bigger opponents, but DJ would probably draw some help and get TU some better looks than he would without DJ in the game.
A lot of what I've read is that Ulis may not receive many high level D1 offers because of his size.
He'd be a steal as a 2nd or 3rd PG if some of our other offers don't work out.
He's not someone that is going to get to the rim and finish, but he would force defenders to help stop penetration, leaving open shooters.
IMO, his quickness, ball-handling, and court vision more than make up for his lack of height.

[justsomedude]

Originally Posted by MrQuist

These last couple of posts seem to contradict the notion that once Groce puts an offer on the table it is available to the kid until the scholly is filled. Once he gets a couple 2013 commits would he tell the other kids he offered there is no more room even if there is an open scholly because he is now going to save one for 2014? Or maybe tell that to non-elite kids but leave the offer open for guys like Jackson or Ennis? Just asking the question because I sure don't know the answer.

Well, I think all the PG's are first come first server (except Jackson/Ennis who I'm sure he would take). Other than that, I doubt he would remove an offer from the wings (Nunn/Brown) or the 4 men (Semi/Colbert/Henry). It wouldn't shock me if Brown was told he was in a first come first serve with KBD, but I doubt it.

[Illinoy]

Originally Posted by Foo G

Schilling and Foster both transferred from De La Salle.

Schilling transferred to Findlay Prep in Nevada and Foster went to Seton Academy in the south burbs (alma mater of DJ Cooper).