Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[IlliniEX2011]

Originally Posted by saltygrapes

I do know Nunn is going to bring it all the time, and he's a great athlete, so if you're sick of seeing DJ Richardson get beat off the dribble 8 times per game and sick of seeing him unable to go around anybody on offense, you'll like Kendrick Nunn. And he is a vocal leader and a spirited player.

I can't wait for him to inject some life into this team. When he and Tracy end up playing together they'll at least have a lot of energy.

[IlliniFreak7]

Each of the incoming players will add something to next years team. They may all be freshman and im not expecting much but they will at least provide us with depth at every position and should instill some toughness into the team

[Groce SPOT]

Originally Posted by Kramer116

http://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1459405

So, I have to admit. I thought they were being racist saying the "smaller white Station team." Oops.

[IlliniSpine]

Originally Posted by IlliniFreak7

Each of the incoming players will add something to next years team. They may all be freshman and im not expecting much but they will at least provide us with depth at every position and should instill some toughness into the team

Again if we're relying on the freshman (although TA did as a FR.) to instill toughness, we will be in trouble

[IlliniSpine]

Originally Posted by IlliniPunk

Found this on ESPN's Recruiting Nations Tweets posted by Brad Winton @ JucoRecruiting:

Chad Frazier (6-4/2013/Gulf Coast St.) has offers from Gonzaga, Illinois, South Carolina, Alabama, Rhode Island, Texas A&M.

Sounds like a JUCO guard. Anyone have any info?

We could use another C. Frazier at the point

Hope this one can shoot as well as play D if he decides on the

[IlliniFreak7]

Originally Posted by IlliniSpine

Again if we're relying on the freshman (although TA did as a FR.) to instill toughness, we will be in trouble

I guess I meant it more in terms of practice and overall mentality of the team. When the whole team has a tougher attitude it tends to promote a better environment. Im definitely not expecting our toughness to come solely from freshmen

[IlliniSpine]

Originally Posted by IlliniFreak7

I guess I meant it more in terms of practice and overall mentality of the team. When the whole team has a tougher attitude it tends to promote a better environment. Im definitely not expecting our toughness to come solely from freshmen

Gotcha. The practice environment would surely benefit. Will that translate to the court? Dunno. Hopefully they get the "freshman in headlights" look out early and demonstrate why they were ranked in the top 100 and why they were picked by Groce as tough individual players.

[OrangeandBlue4eva]

I think it will be interesting to see if Bertrand begins to start or play the 4. The reason I say that is what if the move is successful? I wonder if next year we would start a 4 guard lineup that included Abrams, Nunn/Hill, Rice, Bertrand. While that is a small lineup, definitely a group that could get after it and be aggressive. And even if that group doesn't start, I'm willing to bet we would see them on court together one time or another.

[ChiCityHoops34]

Originally Posted by ILHoff

He always reminded me of Augustine. Thought he was a pretty good player. I've never seen Colbert play, so I can't compare the two. Are you basing this on AAU play because Colbert hasn't played this season at all?

I guess it was a tough comparison to make since Colbert hasn't played, When i get a chance to watch Colbert in person as a senior ill come back and make a better comparison. Schilling has improved and we all knew he looked the part. You are seeing by the late offers from the big boys that he is starting to develop into that body.

[HeartofaChampion]

Originally Posted by OrangeandBlue4eva

I think it will be interesting to see if Bertrand begins to start or play the 4. The reason I say that is what if the move is successful? I wonder if next year we would start a 4 guard lineup that included Abrams, Nunn/Hill, Rice, Bertrand. While that is a small lineup, definitely a group that could get after it and be aggressive. And even if that group doesn't start, I'm willing to bet we would see them on court together one time or another.

I'm sure JG would prefer a true 4 at the 4 spot for defensive, rebounding and screening purposes. (For instance, we need a big body at the 4 to set the countless high ball screens we use in this offense.)

Having said that, if MyH and MS don't pan out at the 4 or if one or both transfer, this could make sense as a plan B. (I don't think Colbert will be physically ready to start at the 4 next year.) RR and JB are good rebounders for their size, and MaH especially could make the transition to starting wing as a frosh if he gets stronger in the weight room and can play D at this level immediately.

[IlliniEX2011]

Originally Posted by HeartofaChampion

I'm sure JG would prefer a true 4 at the 4 spot for defensive, rebounding and screening purposes. (For instance, we need a big body at the 4 to set the countless high ball screens we use in this offense.)

Having said that, if MyH and MS don't pan out at the 4 or if one or both transfer, this could make sense as a plan B. (I don't think Colbert will be physically ready to start at the 4 next year.) RR and JB are good rebounders for their size, and MaH especially could make the transition to starting wing as a frosh if he gets stronger in the weight room and can play D at this level immediately.

I agree it's not ideal, but there is definitely a chance. Hopefully by next year Shaw or Henry can at least D up and rebound at the 4. As for this year though I do think JB should at least start the game at the 4 because we have been so flat to start out games. I think to fix that you should throw your best 5 out there and hope someone gives you a spark, even if it means stretching JB to the 4.

[UofIChE06]

Originally Posted by PeoriaIllini1

If you are to be a power player maybe so but i think Rodney Williams proved you can play and be tall and very thin. He is 6'7'' and 206. I think he could play for us anytime he wants to transfer! lol I hope Colbert is wirey strong and aggressive to the ball like Williams is.

Colbert vs RWill : ~2" taller and 30 lbs lighter. Not really close in terms of build. When people say Colbert is thin they mean it.

[UofIChE06]

A 6-foot-9 combo forward with versatility to play inside or outside, White is the ideal face-up four man who can defend the perimeter at the next level, showing exactly that in slowing down one of the nation's most gifted young prospects.

From the article Kramer posted. Sounds like a JG prototypical 4. Too bad he will never play for UI. Talent wise Paul White is probably more gifted than Finke or KBD. The production has just been lacking for the last year or so. A lot of that was attributed to motor. It seems like in his SR yr something has finally clicked. He has been playing like the highly touted prospect that he was/is. I think a lot of it has to do with LJ Peak joining the team. He has changed the make up of the WY team drastically. When it is all said and done they may be favored over Simeon come postseason time.

[MPFlyinIllini]

Originally Posted by UofIChE06

From the article Kramer posted. Sounds like a JG prototypical 4. Too bad he will never play for UI. Talent wise Paul White is probably more gifted than Finke or KBD. The production has just been lacking for the last year or so. A lot of that was attributed to motor. It seems like in his SR yr something has finally clicked. He has been playing like the highly touted prospect that he was/is. I think a lot of it has to do with LJ Peak joining the team. He has changed the make up of the WY team drastically. When it is all said and done they may be favored over Simeon come postseason time.

White is only a junior

[UofIChE06]

Originally Posted by MPFlyinIllini

White is only a junior

Yes... which is the class of 2014 which includes KBD and Finke. With him locked in like he has been with WY this year I think he would be above both of those guys. Unfortunately he wasn't locked in when Groce was looking for a commitment. Therefore Finke will be in the O&B and White will go elsewhere. Not trying to knock Finke but I just think White has a bit of that Evan Turner to him. He is a great ballhandler for his size. Over the last few weeks/month he has really put it all together finally and is realizing his potential. Remember he is currently 55th in 2014 and he was much higher before turning in a disappointing year.

[illiniobserver22]

Originally Posted by UofIChE06

Colbert vs RWill : ~2" taller and 30 lbs lighter. Not really close in terms of build. When people say Colbert is thin they mean it.

Also 5 years apart.

Williams was listed at 6'5" 180 coming out of high school, ranked the #100 player in the nation on rivals.

There is no way of knowing what Colbert will look like in 5 years.

[Kramer116]

Originally Posted by UofIChE06

Colbert vs RWill : ~2" taller and 30 lbs lighter. Not really close in terms of build. When people say Colbert is thin they mean it.

You are saying Colbert is only 170 something lbs? Or did I read that wrong?

Or just emphasizing he is skinny?

ESPN, Rivals, Scout, have him weighing anywhere from 200 to 210.

[PeoriaSteve]

Originally Posted by IlliniSpine

Again if we're relying on the freshman (although TA did as a FR.) to instill toughness, we will be in trouble

TA will be a junior, Rice is a 4th year junior and Bertrand is a 5th year senior, so we aren't relying on freshman. If a freshman is good enough to come in at get a bunch of PT, then so be it. Nunn is a tough customer, so I see him getting PT like Bertrand is this year off the bench.

[illiniobserver22]

Speaking of Colbert, his season debut is set for Saturday.

http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/boys...ght_teams.html

[UofIChE06]

Originally Posted by illiniobserver22

Also 5 years apart.

Williams was listed at 6'5" 180 coming out of high school, ranked the #100 player in the nation on rivals.

There is no way of knowing what Colbert will look like in 5 years.

I agree and think over his career Colbert will be good. The way I read it the poster was comparing Williams and Colbert now. I think Colbert is beyond Williams at the same points in their careers. If Colbert progresses like he should he will be good.

Originally Posted by Kramer116

You are saying Colbert is only 170 something lbs? Or did I read that wrong?

Or just emphasizing he is skinny?

ESPN, Rivals, Scout, have him weighing anywhere from 200 to 210.

I would say 170-175 is about right. There is no way he is 200 to 210. If you have seen Simeon recently I would say Colbert is comparable to Ed Morrow. Colbert has 2-3 inches on him but the same build. Morrow is currently listed at 170 so Colbert could be 180 but not much more. We all know how the recruiting sites inflate numbers. Just for comparison Devin Williams is listed as 220 by those sites and while comparable in height the two are not comparable in build at all.

[TCTORNADO]

As long as we're on the Williams/Colbert debate, Rodney's freshman figures on a mediocre 09-10 Minny team were:

11.9 MPG
4.3 PPG
1.6 RPG
not measurable on 3's
54.5% FT %
One heck of a dunking machine

If we get these kind of numbers out of Colbert, we can probably say met expectations...for some of us
P.S. Very similar to Mike Davis' freshman year.

[RyanK]

Originally Posted by UofIChE06

I would say 170-175 is about right. There is no way he is 200 to 210. If you have seen Simeon recently I would say Colbert is comparable to Ed Morrow. Colbert has 2-3 inches on him but the same build. Morrow is currently listed at 170 so Colbert could be 180 but not much more. We all know how the recruiting sites inflate numbers. Just for comparison Devin Williams is listed as 220 by those sites and while comparable in height the two are not comparable in build at all.

I think you're WAY off on Colbert's weight. A 6'9, 175 frame? Is that even possible? Heck, even Mike Davis was listed at 225.

[BrooksTaylorFan]

Originally Posted by RyanK

I think you're WAY off on Colbert's weight. A 6'9, 175 frame? Is that even possible? Heck, even Mike Davis was listed at 225.

Everything I have heard is that he is around 200-210. Scout has him listed as 6'8" and 205.

[Symmooth]

Originally Posted by IlliniFreak7

Each of the incoming players will add something to next years team. They may all be freshman and im not expecting much but they will at least provide us with depth at every position and should instill some toughness into the team

Don't forget Rice, he's a load and he isn't a freshman.
I have high hopes he gives us more muscle on the inside along with Mav.

[orange julius]

Originally Posted by UofIChE06

From the article Kramer posted. Sounds like a JG prototypical 4. Too bad he will never play for UI. Talent wise Paul White is probably more gifted than Finke or KBD. The production has just been lacking for the last year or so. A lot of that was attributed to motor. It seems like in his SR yr something has finally clicked. He has been playing like the highly touted prospect that he was/is. I think a lot of it has to do with LJ Peak joining the team. He has changed the make up of the WY team drastically. When it is all said and done they may be favored over Simeon come postseason time.

I am more than happy with our bird in hand. White may be more gifted athletically than Finke, but not skillwise. Recent highlights show that Finke, besides being an outstanding shooter, can really pass the basketball.