Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[PeoriaIllini1]

Originally Posted by DG1985

He has a chance to get there. Heck, he has a chance to go early this year. But if you want a reality check, ask yourself if he's better than JaJuan Johnson who was BTPOY, BTDPOY, AA, and was waived after one season and is in the D-League. Whatever the possibility is that he leaves early, it's so remote as to be worthless in terms of looking for open scholarships.

I tend to agree with you. I think he has a better chance of coming off the bench his Senior year than getting to the NBA when Groce gets more time to recruit elite athletic big men. I hope the best for Egwu as i do for everyone on the team. I also believe Groce will recruit athletic ballers like we had in the mid to late 80's. While we have had some since then they have not been group together like i just feel in my gut Groce will be able to do. Much like Ohio State has done over the past decade with NBA guys coming out nearly every season. I am excited about the quality group of players he has coming but I feel in my gut that Coach will market the Orange and Blue and make this a place that players like JP, Cliff, J Oak, D Jak and elite players will desire to play. He nearly pulled it off in just a few months this year. Given time he will. He had and has goals set for even better classes in the future to get us back to were we need to be.

[MPFlyinIllini]

Originally Posted by BrooksTaylorFan

Dan- Any word yet on the other four sending over their NLI's?

Maybe I'm Dan, maybe I'm not, either way
According to ChiHoops, the timing of the signings are:

http://chicagohoops.hoops247.com/ind...ning-day-plans

[Dan]

All 5 LOIs received

We have letters in from all 5 recruits in the #Illini Class of 2013. Coach Groce will address the media at 4 pm.

http://twitter.com/IlliniHoops

[Calvin]

Originally Posted by DG1985

He has a chance to get there. Heck, he has a chance to go early this year. But if you want a reality check, ask yourself if he's better than JaJuan Johnson who was BTPOY, BTDPOY, AA, and was waived after one season and is in the D-League. Whatever the possibility is that he leaves early, it's so remote as to be worthless in terms of looking for open scholarships.

No reality check needed. I said he has some chance to get there, and I think he does. Never suggested he's ready now --not sure where you're even getting that.

[Botb9]

Originally Posted by Big Jack

Been waiting for someone to paint this picture.. Schloraships are not guaranteed with the BB program so Shaw, Langford and Ibby are not guaranteed that their scholarships will be renewed. Typically it is just done, but as was mentioned by someone earlier in the thread it will soon be a fact that BB will offer players a 4yr scholarship that can not be taken away unless the players gets into trouble..

I have seen this first hand in softball and baseball.. the coach will get as many verbals as he can get then.. turn to the bench warmers and tell them it is time to move on that they will not renew their scholarship.. It is a fact of life.. not saying it is right but it is an option Groce has in his favor..

So if Finke commits we take him, if Austin or Lyle commits we take them and then we wait and see.. IMO if O'Mara contacts us again they don't take him but if Cliff calls then I think we have seen the end of these players.. If I either of them I would be packing now because they will be further down the bench next year. Groce will play his guys as trys to build this program up.. I say he might just take 4 this year if the cards fall in place.

Thanks for mentioning this. I thought of this as well but didn't know if the four-year scholarship thing had started yet.

My question is what happens to the players whose scholarships are revoked? Because the school does this, aren't the players allowed to transfer without worry? Or are they allowed to stay at school but not be a part of the team?

[Botb9]

Originally Posted by Dan

All 5 LOIs received

BOOM!

[SIUC]

Hopefully KBD wants to come to IL and then Groce can focus on a top PG and land him. We also need a talented big, but hopefully KBD starts the dominos

[Dan]

Official release-

Groce Lands Highly Regarded Quintet in First Recruiting Class

Colbert, Hill, Morgan, Nunn and Tate all Sign with Fighting Illini

"This is an exciting day for our program as we welcome Austin, Malcolm, Maverick, Kendrick and Jaylon to the Fighting Illini family," Groce said. "One of the top goals we had in this first year here was to sign a five-player class that fits our needs at every position, and I couldn't be more pleased with our results. These are five outstanding young men who have tremendous character, come from great families, and of course excel on the basketball floor.

"A great deal of credit goes to our assistant coaches, who have worked tirelessly on the recruiting trail," Groce continued. "We were able to identify and successfully recruit these five players who share our vision and will help us be successful. Coach Walker, Coach Ford, and Coach Parham have all hit the ground running and played equally large roles in putting this class together."

http://www.fightingillini.com/sports...111412aac.html

[Indicchief]

Groce should be able to solve this nation's economic and employment problems too.

[Calvin]

Originally Posted by Botb9

Thanks for mentioning this. I thought of this as well but didn't know if the four-year scholarship thing had started yet.

My question is what happens to the players whose scholarships are revoked? Because the school does this, aren't the players allowed to transfer without worry? Or are they allowed to stay at school but not be a part of the team?

http://www.slate.com/articles/sports...y_reason_.html

Article is a pretty scathing piece on how the NCAA is handling it, but it does mention that "the majority" of BIG schools are giving the 4 year guarantee. Don't know if that includes us.

As far as your question, I believe that if the scholarship is not renewed, they can go anywhere. If they want to leave, the school has leverage. It's pretty unbalanced, but what else is new?

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by Calvin

As far as your question, I believe that if the scholarship is not renewed, they can go anywhere. If they want to leave, the school has leverage. It's pretty unbalanced, but what else is new?

Even worse, a college player can lose their scholarship and still be required to sit out a year upon transferring. Yet should a player not get a release from their current school, they are not eligible to receive a scholarship from another D1 school for a year.

Heads I win, tails you lose.

[Dan]

John Groce's 4:00pm CT teleconference will NOT be streamed. Hopefully Rob McColley will post it immediately at the conclusion as he usually does.

@UndercovrIllini It's just a teleconference with media, so no stream. We're unable to do one with team in Hawaii already.

http://twitter.com/IlliniHoops

[bhinda8]

"Tate is a 6-2 point guard from Chicago who teamed with Nunn to help lead Simeon to the IHSA state title last season. The three-star recruit saw his stock soar this summer and fall in open gym workouts."

I misinterpreted this as soared in the summer and fell in open gym workouts at first.

[cali illini]

Originally Posted by bhinda8

I misinterpreted this as soared in the summer and fell in open gym workouts at first.

I believe they are refering to summer and fall as in " the Seasons"..

[Dan]

#Illini coach Groce: Really, really proud of our staff. Entire staff does a great job, not just three assistants.

Groce: For them to do what they did in seven months, it's astonishing. Staff deserves all the credit. Proud of them.

Groce: Illinois is a special place. Academically it's among best in country. Basketball tradition is a bonus, too.

Groce: Always easier to recruit with environment at Illinois.

http://twitter.com/MarcusJ_NG

Groce - Really proud of his staff with regard to this class. For them to do what they did in 7 months is astonishing

Groce-Illinois is a special place

GRoce - Great tradition at Illinois, Illinois is a great environment. The staff added the relationship piece

http://twitter.com/Sturdy32

[Dan]

Groce: Recruited to the system, always try to do that. Objective was to get a guy at each position.

Groce: All five guys fit aggressive, attacking style of play.

Groce: Malcolm was one of first calls he made, got him on campus quickly and wanted to stick with Illini.

Groce: It meant something for Hill to play for his state school.

http://twitter.com/MarcusJ_NG

We recruit to our system. One of our primary objectives was to get a guy at each position that fit our aggressive mold.

Hill was one of the first calls he made when he got the job. Appreciated that Malcolm wanted to play for his state school.

http://twitter.com/Sturdy32

[Dan]

Groce: This class will always have a special place, along with Rayvonte Rice and Sam McLaurin.

http://twitter.com/MarcusJ_NG

You want them to want to be here

Starting to see carryover as they are recruiting the underclassmen

First class will have a special place for Groce, along with Ray and Sam

http://twitter.com/Sturdy32

[Dan]

Groce: Those guys show they see the vision without having seen the evidence of what staff is trying to do.

Groce: Excited about Nunn. Had relationship with him at Ohio. First guy brought in after Hill.

http://twitter.com/MarcusJ_NG

Great character and great families, understand what it means to be a student athlete

Excited about Nunn, other than Malcolm because he was committed, was first kid they brought in

http://twitter.com/Sturdy32

[Dan]

Groce: Simeon program's winning tradition speaks for itself and you hope that gets guys' attention.

Groce: Simeon coach Smith was terrific to deal with. Resume speaks for itself. Bright, does a great job with kids.

http://twitter.com/MarcusJ_NG

Nunn - tough, winner, athletic...where he has played at Simeon that speaks for itself

Talking abou tRob Smtih - "He's great. Coaching resume speaks for itself. Really cares about his kids."

http://twitter.com/Sturdy32

[Big Jack]

Originally Posted by Botb9

Thanks for mentioning this. I thought of this as well but didn't know if the four-year scholarship thing had started yet.

My question is what happens to the players whose scholarships are revoked? Because the school does this, aren't the players allowed to transfer without worry? Or are they allowed to stay at school but not be a part of the team?

I don't know the legal answer to that one.. It is my belief that if the atheletic scholoarship is taken away that they student would have to obtain an academic scholarship or pay there own way.. I am also not aware of what would happen on the eligibility.. The few players I have seen this happen to dropped a division and were immediately available..

Not a great solution but heavens these guys have to know the writing is on the wall. We need a feeder program with UIC.. or UIS...

[IlliniWC]

Really like how Groce presents himself here - lots to love as a leader, giving all the credit to the rest of staff, well articulated points, complimentary, a great representative of the program overall.

[-josh-]

Originally Posted by IlliniWC

Really like how Groce presents himself here - lots to love as a leader, giving all the credit to the rest of staff, well articulated points, complimentary, a great representative of the program overall.

I agree, good assistants want to work for a coach who will give them credit and help them advance in their careers. Smart, subtle move by Groce short and long term speaking.

[Dan]

Belleville East SG Malcolm Hill is officially signed for Illinois http://pic.twitter.com/lIzbTrqJ



http://twitter.com/scott_chihoops

[ChiCityHoops34]

Standing ovation for coach groce. We gave the keys to the right guy

[HsvIllini]

Originally Posted by ChiCityHoops34

Standing ovation for coach groce. We gave the keys to the right guy

Agreed!