Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[ChiCityHoops34]

Originally Posted by PeoriaChief

Been hearing this for years on top of years. Wait til the big boys get intimately involved in Charles Matthews, DJ Williams, etc. at that point you might see these recruitments also go the way of Shaun Livingston, Jon Scheyer, Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis, Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, Cliff Alexander...

yes the big boys will get involved but as of now we are sitting great with them. One class can change the whole perception of Chicago 5*s not coming to Illinois and make it "cool" again. At this time the stars are aligning for this class to be the '15 class.

[Illiniwek06]

Originally Posted by IlliniJim20

I don't think anyone is really saying dont go after the big names in '14, just have a realistic view. The guys in question are #1/2 (Okafor) and #4 (Alexander) nationally. No matter who our coach is, the blue bloods will be involved. Considering Groce has onl Byrne here a short time, it mitigates any "home court" advantage. Go after them of course, but understand the odds are against us.

The odds are better with '15 class. I don't think people will accept losing these top prospects, that is all they are saying IMO

Also, there are many more scholarships available for 2015 in comparison to 2014.

[ChiCityHoops34]

Haha Kendrick is awesome on twitter. I think he may be our lead recruiter

[dansaint]

Originally Posted by First2Ten

I heard Nick Nolte can recruit the big time players

and damn Al Bundy trying to dig up dirt on him.

[hooraybeer]

Originally Posted by ChiCityHoops34

Haha Kendrick is awesome on twitter. I think he may be our lead recruiter

+1.. said "i need you on my team" to CA

[IlliniEX2011]

Going on a tangent, but I've noticed listening to 670 the Score in Chicago, there is a dramatic lean towards NW, Loyola, UIC and DePaul (and even Chicago State) by the only guy who really talks CBB (I forget his name). They also do the DePaul home games on the station, but when the Illini play I have to stream from a radio website. I was listening the other day and after interviewing the DePaul and UIC coaches, Mike Thomas jumped in and gave a great interview about hiring Groce. It made me wonder 1) why Illini games aren't broadcast in Chicago and 2) If this interview meant that Thomas was aware of the problem and was trying to fix it. Perhaps as a response to NW "claiming" Chicago.
I don't know how many kids listen to talk radio these days, but I think we at least need some presence on the Chicago talk stations. If anyone knows anything about the situation let me know.

[CUWPC]

Originally Posted by IlliniEX2011

Going on a tangent, but I've noticed listening to 670 the Score in Chicago, there is a dramatic lean towards NW, Loyola, UIC and DePaul (and even Chicago State) by the only guy who really talks CBB (I forget his name). They also do the DePaul home games on the station, but when the Illini play I have to stream from a radio website. I was listening the other day and after interviewing the DePaul and UIC coaches, Mike Thomas jumped in and gave a great interview about hiring Groce. It made me wonder 1) why Illini games aren't broadcast in Chicago and 2) If this interview meant that Thomas was aware of the problem and was trying to fix it. Perhaps as a response to NW "claiming" Chicago.
I don't know how many kids listen to talk radio these days, but I think we at least need some presence on the Chicago talk stations. If anyone knows anything about the situation let me know.

I get 560 WIND in the Chicagoland area.

[Illwinsagain]

Originally Posted by IlliniEX2011

Going on a tangent, but I've noticed listening to 670 the Score in Chicago, there is a dramatic lean towards NW, Loyola, UIC and DePaul (and even Chicago State) by the only guy who really talks CBB (I forget his name). They also do the DePaul home games on the station, but when the Illini play I have to stream from a radio website. I was listening the other day and after interviewing the DePaul and UIC coaches, Mike Thomas jumped in and gave a great interview about hiring Groce. It made me wonder 1) why Illini games aren't broadcast in Chicago and 2) If this interview meant that Thomas was aware of the problem and was trying to fix it. Perhaps as a response to NW "claiming" Chicago.
I don't know how many kids listen to talk radio these days, but I think we at least need some presence on the Chicago talk stations. If anyone knows anything about the situation let me know.

the Illini used to be on WSCR, they were regularly ripped before and after games (sometimes justified) and were bumped often for other commitments (Blackhawks/White Sox, I believe). Guenther moved to 560 that cannot be picked up by many of us in the Chicagoland area. And WIND does not have any pre/post game discussion.

[DeadPanic]

Originally Posted by hooraybeer

+1.. said "i need you on my team" to CA

And Cliff hit him back with the old "I'll think about it."

[IlliniEX2011]

Originally Posted by Illwinsagain

the Illini used to be on WSCR, they were regularly ripped before and after games (sometimes justified) and were bumped often for other commitments (Blackhawks/White Sox, I believe). Guenther moved to 560 that cannot be picked up by many of us in the Chicagoland area. And WIND does not have any pre/post game discussion.

Yea WIND comes in really fuzzy. It seems like with this "My state. My team." campaign that they are heading in the right direction. It just really shocks me that with the huge UI Alum population in the city that they don't lead off with Illini talk. It was nice to have Mike Thomas on there and he said JG would try to get on there soon so it sounds like they get it.

[wakeupneo1]

Originally Posted by MrQuist

Butler seemed to be able to do it without getting a big time high school recruit.

This is definitely an exception...

There are statistical anomalies everywhere. What's your point? I'm sure I could find a dog that doesn't bark if I had enough samples.

The point others are saying is that there is an incredibly strong positive correlation between recruit rankings and success.

Let me guess, you were "kid coach 'em up" during the Weber years....

[TearsOfJoy]

Originally Posted by hooraybeer

+1.. said "i need you on my team" to CA

I know how everyone feels about reading into tweets, but this is the most recent condo between KNunn and CA.

KNunn: "Everybody tryna go to U of I 😳 When this happen[?]"
CA: "when they started winning lol"
KNunn: "I need my homie @humblekid11 (CA) on my team nbs"
CA: "@KNunnSG ill think about it"

No matter what, we can all agree that KN and CA tweeting about U of I is a GOOD thing.

[Botb9]

Originally Posted by TearsOfJoy

I know how everyone feels about reading into tweets, but this is the most recent condo between KNunn and CA.

KNunn: "Everybody tryna go to U of I 😳 When this happen[?]"
CA: "when they started winning lol"
KNunn: "I need my homie @humblekid11 (CA) on my team nbs"
CA: "@KNunnSG ill think about it"

No matter what, we can all agree that KN and CA tweeting about U of I is a GOOD thing.

[Joel Goodson]

Originally Posted by IlliniEX2011

Yea WIND comes in really fuzzy. It seems like with this "My state. My team." campaign that they are heading in the right direction. It just really shocks me that with the huge UI Alum population in the city that they don't lead off with Illini talk. It was nice to have Mike Thomas on there and he said JG would try to get on there soon so it sounds like they get it.

WIND is a joke. That said, after many years of being the SCORE's red-headed step-child, I fully supported leaving them. There has to be a better option than WIND though. When does the contract expire?

[HsvIllini]

Originally Posted by IlliniKat91

I think how I phrased my last post is creating confusion. Groce is going after top-shelf talent (D-Jax, XRM, etc.), but will probably not land all of it in his first two years on the job. '15 is our best shot at getting honest-to-God top-shelf talent.

We'll get our share of the big names coming out of Chicago, I believe, in the next two years or so. However, if in 2-3 years we cannot seemingly close that talent, then we need to look at the situation more closely.

Frankly, given Groce's ability to get in on a recruit in a short period of time, I don't think it'll be an issue.

Yeah, I was just confused the way the first post was worded and think we are all saying the same thing.

[Joel Goodson]

Originally Posted by TearsOfJoy

I know how everyone feels about reading into tweets, but this is the most recent condo between KNunn and CA.

KNunn: "Everybody tryna go to U of I 😳 When this happen[?]"
CA: "when they started winning lol"
KNunn: "I need my homie @humblekid11 (CA) on my team nbs"
CA: "@KNunnSG ill think about it"

No matter what, we can all agree that KN and CA tweeting about U of I is a GOOD thing.

It's a great thing. But think about CA touring the six pack vs. Wildcat Lodge. Not saying we have no chance, but let's face it, it's an uphill climb.

[IlliniEX2011]

Originally Posted by Joel Goodson

WIND is a joke. That said, after many years of being the SCORE's red-headed step-child, I fully supported leaving them. There has to be a better option than WIND though. When does the contract expire?

The guy I'm talking about is Laurence Holmes. He's on from 8-9. He occasionally talks about the Illini (after running through every two bit city program) and had Mike Thomas on after trying to get JG who wasn't available. He's a young guy so maybe MT sees an opportunity to get a foot back in the door at the Score. I didn't know we were bashed by them before, but I wonder if those who did the bashing are gone.

[IlliniEX2011]

Originally Posted by Joel Goodson

It's a great thing. But think about CA touring the six pack vs. Wildcat Lodge. Not saying we have no chance, but let's face it, it's an uphill climb.

They're completely redoing the 6 pack actually. By the time he got here it would be done.

[Archie]

Originally Posted by IlliniEX2011

The guy I'm talking about is Laurence Holmes. He's on from 8-9. He occasionally talks about the Illini (after running through every two bit city program) and had Mike Thomas on after trying to get JG who wasn't available. He's a young guy so maybe MT sees an opportunity to get a foot back in the door at the Score. I didn't know we were bashed by them before, but I wonder if those who did the bashing are gone.

Mully & Hanley had John Groce on this morning.

[Combo]

Originally Posted by rock215215

[/B]


Ok why do people not understand that in order to ever make a Final Four again or National Championship game, somewhere along the line we are going to have to get a big time player. We can't just let these big time in state guys leave without a fight...

Absolutely. What I said doesn't contradict this. We should certainly fight for the top guys. However, it's far from a guarantee that we'll get them.

[Joel Goodson]

Originally Posted by IlliniEX2011

They're completely redoing the 6 pack actually. By the time he got here it would be done.

Good & thanks for the info.

WRT Wildcat Lodge, do a Google search and check it out. How UK skirts the NCAA on this, I have no clue. I get that some "regular" students will have rooms there, but this housing is vastly above the norm. Has to be an additional benefit. I don't get it.

[Joel Goodson]

Originally Posted by Archie

Mully & Hanley had John Groce on this morning.

What about Douchebag & A$$bag? Oops, I mean Boers & Bernstein.

[Archie]

No one on 670 The Score ever went out of their way to bash the Illini.

The personalities that are on 670 are very opinionated, especially Dan Bernstein. If he, or any host ever criticized the Illini, it was probably based on Illinois' play the past few seasons.

[ComplementaryColors]

Originally Posted by Archie

Mully & Hanley had John Groce on this morning.

Beat me to it. If anyone's interested in listening, the Score, on their website, normally has podcasts of their interviews. It should be there. Good interview, although you probably won't hear anything you don't already know.

[IlliniEX2011]

Originally Posted by Joel Goodson

Good & thanks for the info.

WRT Wildcat Lodge, do a Google search and check it out. How UK skirts the NCAA on this, I have no clue. I get that some "regular" students will have rooms there, but this housing is vastly above the norm. Has to be an additional benefit. I don't get it.

Just did, that absurd. They should make it in the shape of a middle finger so the oblivious NCAA knows why they built it.