Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[illini73]

Originally Posted by Foo G

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.

Height in college basketball does not hold that much weight anymore IMO. There has been way to many successful short players in college basketball for this to be as big a deal as it had been 10+ years ago.

Quickness and ball-handling can get you by taller slower players every time where they can finish with mid-range shots or pass off to open players.

[Foo G]

If a position fills and they still feel they have other needs, they would probably pull the other offer(s) at that position within the same (and possibly subsequent) class.
If they still feel they have roster flexibility and want to get the best remaining players, the offer(s) would probably stay on the table.

[Foo G]

Originally Posted by illini73

Height in college basketball does not hold that much weight anymore IMO. There has been way to many successful short players in college basketball for this to be as big a deal as it had been 10+ years ago.

Quickness and ball-handling can get you by taller slower players every time where they can finish with mid-range shots or pass off to open players.

I'm not saying that someone his size can't or won't be effective, but if he were 6'1", he'd have everybody drooling all over him.

[MrQuist]

Originally Posted by Foo G

If a position fills and they still feel they have other needs, they would probably pull the other offer(s) at that position within the same (and possibly subsequent) class.
If they still feel they have roster flexibility and want to get the best remaining players, the offer(s) would probably stay on the table.

So, it is first come first served, at a particular position. That makes sense. So if a PG committed, he could tell another PG that the offer was gone, depending on the circumstances. Or maybe, it is first come first served, and once somebody accepts, all the other offers are re-evaluated, and the prospects are told whether or not the offer is still open.

[Foo G]

Hypothetically, if they get commitments from Semi Ojeleye [SF] and The Penguin (Kendrick Nunn) [SG] next week, they might tell Sterling Brown [2/3] that his position has been filled and they can no longer afford to offer him a scholarship unless something changed down the road.

I don't know anything for sure; it's mainly just speculation on my part.
The goal should ultimately be to attain quality depth with position and class balance throughout the roster.
To do that, you probably have to retract some offers along the way as you get commitments.

[CAHALL15]

Originally Posted by illini73

Height in college basketball does not hold that much weight anymore IMO. There has been way to many successful short players in college basketball for this to be as big a deal as it had been 10+ years ago.

Quickness and ball-handling can get you by taller slower players every time where they can finish with mid-range shots or pass off to open players.

Agreed. Jameer Nelson was about 5'10" and isiah thomas from washington was under 6ft as well and both are NBA players.

I still think this year is telling for transfers. I know mike shaw wants to play and ibby has worked hard but he should not have been offered by bruce to begin with, in my opinion. The other guy to watch for is devin langford. He can do alot of things, but is not elite at any of them. He is not super athletic or a great shooter so i wonder where he fits in groce's system.

[Indicchief]

My feel is if the 2012 set can win sufficient and the 2013 set Play very well, that should create 2-3 transfers in 2014. That should give us enough room in 2014+.

[mdonsbach]

Taking 5 in 2013

[UofIChE06]

Originally Posted by mdonsbach

Taking 5 in 2013

1. Malcolm Hill
2. Maverick Morgan
3. DJack/Ennis/etc
4. Semi/Henry
5. Another of the above/XRM/Nunn/Currington

[Kramer116]

Originally Posted by Indicchief

My feel is if the 2012 set can win sufficient and the 2013 set Play very well, that should create 2-3 transfers in 2014. That should give us enough room in 2014+.

I would not be surprised if we did not see 2 transfers during this upcoming season or after it. Even though Groce actually played 9-10 guys at Ohio, not everyone is going to be able to play. It is just how college basketball is nowadays.

Originally Posted by mdonsbach

Taking 5 in 2013

#illini John Groce said staff still plans on signing five prospects for the Class of 2013.

With Hill and Morgan in the fold already, if we sign 5 as planned, we will add a PG, another PG/combo, and an athletic PF type who is a face up type imo.

Here is to another 8,000 posts in the future! Go Illini.

[job71188]

Originally Posted by UofIChE06

1. Malcolm Hill
2. Maverick Morgan
3. DJack/Ennis/etc
4. Semi/Henry
5. Another of the above/XRM/Nunn/Currington

My prediction:
1. Malcom Hill
2. Maverick Morgan
3. DJack
4. Sterling Brown
5. Austin Colbert

[JIllini79]

Hill
Morgan
DJack
Brown
Semi

[JIllini79]

If they take 5 in 2013, doesn't that leave us with 1 scholarship for 2014 if no one transfers?

[Larken24]

Originally Posted by JIllini79

If they take 5 in 2013, doesn't that leave us with 1 scholarship for 2014 if no one transfers?

Question is, would any of our 2013 members be one and dones?

[Kramer116]

Originally Posted by JIllini79

If they take 5 in 2013, doesn't that leave us with 1 scholarship for 2014 if no one transfers?

Technically.

[redriver]

Originally Posted by CAHALL15

Agreed. Jameer Nelson was about 5'10" and isiah thomas from washington was under 6ft as well and both are NBA players.

I still think this year is telling for transfers. I know mike shaw wants to play and ibby has worked hard but he should not have been offered by bruce to begin with, in my opinion. The other guy to watch for is devin langford. He can do alot of things, but is not elite at any of them. He is not super athletic or a great shooter so i wonder where he fits in groce's system.

Super athletes make good gymnasts I suppose. Not necessarily good basketball players. I have to ask just who on the roster is a great shooter? Paul, DJ, Henry have not shown any consistency, and don't rate that label, imho. Considering the lack of eliteness by any of the current players, I would really like to keep anyone who has good fundamental basketball skills. That would be Langford from what I saw in h.s., and what has been said about practices. If Paul, DJ, and Bertrand have not improved their handle and passing a lot, he may be the second best playmaker on the team. I know that might not be saying a whole lot. I'm really hoping to see a more rounded game from several players. Forget about where he is from, let's see what he can do.

[Dan]

John Groce talks recruiting on the Tay and J Show 8/14/2012.


"Three 5-day periods [the July evaluation periods] and it was a blur.. In two of those three 5-day periods I went 5 events in 5 days."

"We've been here 4 months. We had to hit the ground running and figure out what made sense from a recruiting perspective of who we could get involved with, especially in the '13 and '14 classes. Reception's been very good."

"I'm confident we're going find a guy that fits our system and style of play at the point, as well as a couple other positions that we're recruiting."

"Our intent at this point is to sign five players in the fall."

"We've got two commitments and three more to get."

"We're working on scheduling official visits and home visits and doing all those things that'll hopefully bring a couple of these guys to closure and get them in the fold."


Starts 27:30-
http://tayandj.podbean.com/2012/08/1...ch-john-groce/

[Dan]

Paul Klee on WDWS 8/13/2014.


"You're going to have Demetrius Jackson on campus the early part of September, which will be a very important visit for the program. I think the most important recruiting visit in several years."

"They want to get those elite guys on campus. That's when John Groce is at his best. He excels on the campus visit. And that's when you have a chance to lock up some players that Illinois hasn't gotten for a long time."


Starts 26:50-
http://www.illinihq.com/audio/2012-0...e-8-13-12.html

[cali illini]

Can't wait to see what happens in the next couple of months!!

[FeelYourPaign]

Oh Man !!
Getting very excited. . . and very nervous.
For right now, when the hope is high and the success is unproven, it is actually easier to go back to the BW era. Nothing expected, nothing achieved. Easy.

But, obviously I want to be elite and I think JG gives us that chance.
But now I care again. This is so hard.
Let's have a BIG, BIG SIGNING. That's what I need.

[touper]

Originally Posted by Dan

Paul Klee on WDWS 8/13/2014.


"You're going to have Demetrius Jackson on campus the early part of September, which will be a very important visit for the program. I think the most important recruiting visit in several years."

"They want to get those elite guys on campus. That's when John Groce is at his best. He excels on the campus visit. And that's when you have a chance to lock up some players that Illinois hasn't gotten for a long time."


Starts 26:50-
http://www.illinihq.com/audio/2012-0...e-8-13-12.html

These are not quotes I envisioned reading 6 months ago. At my absolute low as an illini fan, I had forgotten what it is like to genuinely be excited about our program. A painful coaching search and 4 months later we are somehow in the conversation for elite level players! Well Done.

Coffee is for closers, Coach. Go get 'em.

[touper]

As an aside, Klee is not one to drink the kool-aid and he has been awfully positive about Groce and the staff in general of late. I think we may have something here.

[Foo G]

Originally Posted by UofIChE06

1. Malcolm Hill
2. Maverick Morgan
3. DJack/Ennis/etc
4. Semi/Henry
5. Another of the above/XRM/Nunn/Currington

Who's Currington?

[NxtLvelIllini7]

If we get Jackson soon, I bet we get Nunn.

[bradford_illini]

+1

Also Klee was only media that wanted Groce... Others wanted Frank Martin/Brad Stephens/anyone but a "MAC" coach etc.... I for one hope Klee is right...

Originally Posted by touper

As an aside, Klee is not one to drink the kool-aid and he has been awfully positive about Groce and the staff in general of late. I think we may have something here.