Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[justsomedude]

Originally Posted by Indicchief

I would think there is a huge diff between a #10 BW class and a #10 JG class.

A little thing called fit and ball handlers.

There is also no way this class is better on paper than any of the 2009 - 2010 - 2011 classes. I could rate it higher than 2009 based on actually having a true big and point.

I suspect it may turn out better.

[BrooksTaylorFan]

Originally Posted by justsomedude

There is also no way this class is better on paper than any of the 2009 - 2010 - 2011 classes. I could rate it higher than 2009 based on actually having a true big and point.

I suspect it may turn out better.

You truly cannot rank a class until they are done with college. The 2010 class ranked very high, but one left early, one transferred, and the other is in jail. Not exactly a productive class regardless of how high it was ranked.

[Noday]

Originally Posted by justsomedude

There is also no way this class is better on paper than any of the 2009 - 2010 - 2011 classes. I could rate it higher than 2009 based on actually having a true big and point.

I suspect it may turn out better.

The '13 team classes are not done yet. Right now at this point we are 10 but if we don't add another quality recruit we will drop IMO. Other teams are not done adding recruits for their '13 class.

[Illini70math]

Originally Posted by Noday

The '13 team classes are not done yet. Right now at this point we are 10 but if we don't add another quality recruit we will drop IMO. Other teams are not done adding recruits for their '13 class.

Exactly. Calling this a top 10 class for 2013 is premature. We are likely to be passed up as the top players still on the board pick their schools. Depending on where Wiggens goes, he could definitely bump someone past us, for example. Ditto Parker. There are quite a few good players left.

[illiniparkie]

Originally Posted by DaytonIllini

I am not so sure on the bold. AAU is a quagmire of no defense, multiple games per day, poor coaching, and no structured offense. I think it severely underestimates the abilities of talented half-court players and tenacious perimeter defenders.

I think people say that Rivals and Scout get their rankings from AAU but coaches assess players at HS and AAU games.

From what I understand, not all AAU teams are poorly coached teams that don't emphasize defense. Meanstreets and the Wolves are supposedly well-coached teams based on comments from either Henricksen and/or the the Schmidt guys.

Austin Colbert looks like he will be deciding next week after his Villanova visit. And the following kids will be visiting us this weekend: Kendrick Nunn, Keita-Bates Diop, Michael Finke, Charles Mathews, Dominique Mathews, Hyron Edwards, D.J. Williams, Jaylon Tate, and Maverick Morgan.

http://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1427750

[Noday]

Twenty five of the top 100 prospects have not committed yet. 9 of the top 20 (per rivals) have not committed.

[DaytonIllini]

Originally Posted by illiniparkie

From what I understand, not all AAU teams are poorly coached teams that don't emphasize defense. Meanstreets and the Wolves are supposedly well-coached teams based on comments from either Henricksen and/or the the Schmidt guys.

Austin Colbert looks like he will be deciding next week after his Villanova visit. And the following kids will be visiting us this weekend: Kendrick Nunn, Keita-Bates Diop, Michael Finke, Charles Mathews, Dominique Mathews, Hyron Edwards, D.J. Williams, Jaylon Tate, and Maverick Morgan.

http://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1427750

Did Jaquan Lyle decide not to come?

[combes]

Lyle has postponed his visit saying that something has come up. Will come later during the season. I do not plan to hold my breath.

[Noday]

Originally Posted by Monte Carlo

While that may be true, all other things being equal, if one guy's athletic ability is significantly better than another's, then that player will be ranked higher. I have not watched either player play, but from everything I have heard, Wiggins is a much better athlete, which means he can physically do more things and thus be a better player. I liken it to comparing Jordan to Bird. I think Bird had the higher b-ball IQ, albeit not by much because both were awesome in that regards, but most people will tell you Jordan was a better player and it is largely because of the difference in athleticism. My main complaint, if that is what you want to call it, is I find it comical that Sonny is getting worked up over whether his son is number one or number 2. Really? If you are that high, who really cares. I also found it odd that he said the AAU stuff was overrated when I continually hear on here that AAU ball is where coaches find out more about the players than HS ball just because you are facing higher talent level on a more consistent basis.

What I meant was that JP is not displaying his full athletic ability because he chooses to sharpen his skills to be a player that leads his team to 4 state championship victories. He is a team player that focuses on being the ultimate team player. He has too many weapons on his Simeon team to try to take over games on his own. He had too many scorers on his aau team. He should have played on meanstreets or the wolves. He will blossom even more in college and utilize his athletic ability even more unless he plays for a stacked team like duke or MSU. He will blossom regardless but he probably won't be displaying his athletic ability on the same level at a school where he has great scoring teammates. Simeon, Duke and MSU focus heavily on team ball.

[Karl Welzein]

Lyle not coming is not surprising. May be nothing but it is very hard to get excited about a top Indiana kid being recruited by us.

[Chilliniwek]

Didn't Finke just visit?

[RyanK]

Originally Posted by Chilliniwek

Didn't Finke just visit?

Yeah, on Monday. It doesn't take much planning to drive 5 minutes.

[RichMahogany]

Ditto on your first paragraph, Big Jack.

Fingers crossed on the second.

[beaboutillini74]

Originally Posted by Karl Welzein

Lyle not coming is not surprising. May be nothing but it is very hard to get excited about a top Indiana kid being recruited by us.

I don't think it is a big deal that he isn't coming. I believe it was on Thursday that he said something on twitter about needing to get to ISU today. He probably knows someone tha goes there and wants to party with them or something like that. Who knows it could be a girl that invited him. If thats the case I know where I would have gone at his age. He can visit anytime.

[Dan]

The known list of hoops visitors this weekend-

2013
SG Malcolm Hill (commit)
PF Maverick Morgan (commit)
SG Kendrick Nunn (commit)
PG Jaylon Tate (commit)

2014
F Keita-Bates Diop
PF Michael Finke

2015
PG Hyron Edwards
SG Charles Mathews
F D.J. Williams

[Illinois5]

Kendrick Nunn article on front of rivals page.

http://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1427750

Illini high
It's a big weekend at the University of Illinois. It's homecoming weekend for the Illini and on top of the football team being in town new hoops coach John Groce will take the floor for the first time with his team in a exhibition game Saturday.
Not surprisingly, the Illini staff has chosen to use this weekend as a big recruiting opportunity. To start with, commitments Jaylon Tate and Rivals150 big man Maverick Morgan will be on hand.

John Groce, left, has done a great job of luring prospects to Illinois. Also in town on an unofficial visit will be four-star shooting guard and future Illini Kendrick Nunn. While it's always good to have commits on campus and they'll be given plenty of attention, the group of underclassmen expected is quite impressive.
The group of visitors features several key Illini recruits and at or near the top of the list is the No. 21 junior in the nation Keita Bates-Diop from nearby Normal (Ill.) University. Another Rivals150 junior expected on campus is Champaign power forward Michael Finke.
The weekends visitors are rounded out by class of 2015 five-star Charles Matthews and his older brother Dominique Matthews, along with 2015 four-stars Hyron Edwards and D.J. Williams.

[-josh-]

Originally Posted by Dan

Are these the known hoops visitors this weekend? -

2013
SG Malcolm Hill (commit)
PF Maverick Morgan (commit)
SG Kendrick Nunn (commit)
PG Jaylon Tate (commit)

2014
F Keita-Bates Diop
PF Michael Finke
SG Dominique Mathews

2015
PG Hyron Edwards
SG Charles Mathews
F D.J. Williams

I'd be extremely happy if all we landed were those 6 kids from the 2014-2015 classes. I'd probably let John Groce have my season football tickets even!

[Juice]

Originally Posted by Illinois5

Kendrick Nunn article on front of rivals page.

http://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1427750

[Indicchief]

Originally Posted by -josh-

I'd be extremely happy if all we landed were those 6 kids from the 2014-2015 classes. I'd probably let John Groce have my season football tickets even!

Your cupS of coffee would be more meaningful

[Monte Carlo]

Originally Posted by Noday

What I meant was that JP is not displaying his full athletic ability because he chooses to sharpen his skills to be a player that leads his team to 4 state championship victories. He is a team player that focuses on being the ultimate team player. He has too many weapons on his Simeon team to try to take over games on his own. He had too many scorers on his aau team. He should have played on meanstreets or the wolves. He will blossom even more in college and utilize his athletic ability even more unless he plays for a stacked team like duke or MSU. He will blossom regardless but he probably won't be displaying his athletic ability on the same level at a school where he has great scoring teammates. Simeon, Duke and MSU focus heavily on team ball.

I am not sure I completely buy that. You can choose to believe that, but I don't think a kid "puts away" his athletic ability because he is part of a team concept. I can agree that maybe he doesn't display his full arsenal of offensive weapons when there are other teammates that he can get involved, but the athleticism is something that is always there, whether it's displaying it on defense or rebounding or running the floor or whatever. Bottom line is everything I have heard is that JP is a great basketball player but not a great athlete, while Wiggins is both. You can play for stacked teams and still be athletic without having to be the center of attention. Illinois has had some of those examples in the form of Kenny Battle and Roger Powell among others. While they were one of many good players on both teams there was never any doubt that both guys were great athletes because too many other aspects of the game showcase that athletic ability other than scoring. That being said, great athlete or no, I would love for Jabari to suit up for the Orange & Blue and make those around him a better player. And that doesn't mean Jabari isn't a good athlete, just means the "experts" seem to think he isn't on the level of Wiggins in that regard.

[BrooksTaylorFan]

Originally Posted by combes

Lyle has postponed his visit saying that something has come up. Will come later during the season. I do not plan to hold my breath.

Just curious where you got that from? Link?

[illinibob]

Deron is on Jimmy Fallon right this minute.

[ILLINIambassador82]

Originally Posted by illinibob

Deron is on Jimmy Fallon right this minute.

Did you notice he had an orange colored jacket with a blue flower on his lapel? A coincidence? I think not.

[Chilliniwek]

Originally Posted by RyanK

Yeah, on Monday. It doesn't take much planning to drive 5 minutes.

I thought the same thing after I posted, but it's a good sign!

[justsomedude]

Originally Posted by BrooksTaylorFan

Just curious where you got that from? Link?

Its on rivals.