Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Shabasco]

I hate the portal. You can only get to know a player for one or two years max. Something has to be done.

What do you propose we do?

 

[Tables@EddieMunster]

Are your growth plates still open?

 

[Loyalillini10]

Not being critical of you so much when I say this, but I find it funny that so many people are acting like our roster turnover is somehow a normal thing. Its not. Totally different from a few years ago. And not even normal for the majority of teams in today's portal world. Especially for a team that was just in the Elite 8 and the coach went on and on about how much he loved the players. This is simply not normal and to act like there is no reason to be concerned when the team is going to have 2 players back next year (well, maybe...the portal isn't closed yet) is crazy. I don't think Brad has been nearly as successful bringing in transfers as some of you think to just sit back and assume he's got this all under control. Or at least bringing in players at this scale. Probably forgetting people(Dain should go somewhere), but last few years the impact transfers have been:

- Domask, Gurrier, Harmon
- Shannon, Mayer
- Grandison, Plummer, Payne

Obviously a good list, but it spans 3 years and nothing from that list makes me think we can suddenly create a top team in one off season around 2 holdovers. So worrying actually makes sense. Maybe it will work out, but there's a pretty good chance it won't. That's just being realistic.

It is normal now. Pre-portal and sit out rule, this is concerning. Now, this will be a nearly every year occurrence.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Not being critical of you so much when I say this, but I find it funny that so many people are acting like our roster turnover is somehow a normal thing. Its not. Totally different from a few years ago. And not even normal for the majority of teams in today's portal world. Especially for a team that was just in the Elite 8 and the coach went on and on about how much he loved the players. This is simply not normal and to act like there is no reason to be concerned when the team is going to have 2 players back next year (well, maybe...the portal isn't closed yet) is crazy. I don't think Brad has been nearly as successful bringing in transfers as some of you think to just sit back and assume he's got this all under control. Or at least bringing in players at this scale. Probably forgetting people(Dain should go somewhere), but last few years the impact transfers have been:

- Domask, Gurrier, Harmon
- Shannon, Mayer
- Grandison, Plummer, Payne

Obviously a good list, but it spans 3 years and nothing from that list makes me think we can suddenly create a top team in one off season around 2 holdovers. So worrying actually makes sense. Maybe it will work out, but there's a pretty good chance it won't. That's just being realistic.

We knew last fall that 5 of our top 8 players (by minutes played) were almost certainly out the door at the end of the season. While I agree it's not normal (whatever that means these days), it is unsurprising. The 4 guys we have (officially) brought in all have at least two years left to play. Hopefully we continue to fill out our roster with guys who at least have the option to hang around, though it is hard to argue with the results of the "old guy" approach. There is a balance here somewhere... I'm just not sure anyone has much of an idea what that is.
Coaching attrition led to some of the exodus of talent, but I don't think anyone would have turned down a one-to-one trade of Frazier for OA. The timing was just a bit unfortunate.
I am very confident that we will have a full roster of guys who will give us a shot to compete. There will almost certainly be some interesting last-minute additions to the portal.

 

[ptgrd23]

Its not just the coaches fault. These kids are making decision to move. Imagine if regular (non athlete) HS kids switched schools every year. I get resumes from people that have had 5 jobs in 5 years (or worse) and they wonder why we don't want to hire them.

I think the thrill of switching schools will go away and kids will realize their interests are best served by staying someplace and working hard. I do think its nice that somebody that spent 3 years at mid major and wants to try P5 gets a chance. I also think its nice that somebody buried on the bench can go somewhere else and get more minutes. I am worried about Tre White since he will be on his 3rd school in 3 years. Not sure about others - Davis (1 year at Mercer). Booth (1 year at ND). Boswell spent 2 years at AZ - more normal. Humrichous 3 years NAI 1 year Evansville - more normal.

 

[chrisRunner7]

Eh, I liked the 1 year of Domask and 2 years of TSJ. Without them, there is no Elite 8.

The "new" transfer portal has really benefited Illinois so far.

I like the portal too, lol... I am sure I am in the minority but without the portal, I would probably be mostly checked out of this board until October.

And I am glad we have coaches who embrace the portal so that we can keep winning... because it is pretty much a necessity at this point. If we were planning on next season with major minutes from Moretti, Harris, Hansberry, Goode, and Dainja, I think the team would be in trouble.

 

[Loyalillini10]

I hate the portal. You can only get to know a player for one or two years max. Something has to be done.

I will enjoy the players while they are here. My loyalty is the the university. I do not get tickets/by subscriptions/go out to watch games because I am a Shannon/Harris/Feliz/Rodgers,etc. fan, I do it because I’m an Illinois fan.

Yes, I know, the name checks out.

 

[My2Cents]

So, player must submit application by tomorrow night, and the schools must process by Thursday night. That means, as far as portal entries, we will know them all by Friday morning. Keep in mind also, that players can still withdraw from the draft after May 1st, and still transfer, if they have entered their name to my understanding.

 

[derrick6]

Considering the talent Snacks has always been able to bring no matter where he's at......the making fun of him for being some kind of loafer doesn't make any sense to me lol

The fact that he was able to get touted HS guys like Richmond, BP3, DJ, Bertrand, Meyers to want to play for Weber makes him a top tier recruiter by default in my book lmao

One instance is all (to be made fun of). Seemed to hurt Illinois, so that’s always in play, imo.

 

[aaeismacgychel]

Boy, Illinois fans were sold a bag of goods on Moretti. "Looks great in practice running the scout team".

Honestly, the only thing insiders said about him was he was unplayable. In fairness to Nico, he actually outperformed where most thought he'd be, being one of our better players on the Spain trip and then sorta holding his own against low level competition. His games against Valpo and Southern before he got injured showed promise, and then his all-around game against Iowa got fans excited. That said, it became apparent very quickly that he struggled mightily against bigger physical defenders, and the reason why he did have so much success against Iowa is that they simply don't play defense. I think Nico could be a solid scout team PG and do well against lower midmajor talent, but hard to see him get to a point where he'd be successful in B10 conference play. It is probably in his best interest to go down a couple levels or train in Europe. I don't think Illini fans were "sold a bag of goods" on him whatsoever.

 

[IndyOrange]

I don’t know why everyone is freaking out. All of the players that are transferring are easily replaceable with better portal talent. It’s replacing TSJ and Domask that’s tough, but that was to be expected.

 

[derrick6]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1785017236253786385

Sad to see this but trusting the new age process. I hope he lands somewhere he can succeed.

 

[pruman91]

Don't worry Illini Nation......................................................................................

Just entered the portal.............................

Crickett McGee....................Formerly of the Orion's Belt BB league.............
6 ' 8 " to 9 ' 9 "
240 lbs -450 lbs
Ambidexterous & Amphibious
Moody , but has a good touch around the rim.........
coachable , to an extent.........

Boss BU ........this recruit is a bad man..........................

 

[derrick6]

Go ahead and laugh, but I actually thought with a couple of years with Fletch, he might have been a decent player.

Wasn’t he just very undersized then initially thought?

 

[Wrightandjohnstreet]

If we land Humrichous we def didn’t have space for him, Booth and Amos

What if we don’t land Hummer?

 

[logjam]

I hate the portal. You can only get to know a player for one or two years max. Something has to be done.

 

[Goillinikobd]

Nicco officially in the portal. Almost a completely new team. Just weird times man.

Recruiting out of the portal is a crapshoot only a little more predictable than recruiting out of high school.

 

[Vinegarben]

2023-24 roster dropping like flies. These kids were highly sought and now they aren't good enough. Tells me somebody can't judge top talent. It will be a rerun next year too. The guys that are so highly thought of today won't cut it next year. Portal is a total CRAP shoot!

 

[pruman91]

it feels like cottage cheese.........it really really does........................

 

[Goillinikobd]

While of course I want to win... count me in the club that is losing interest in the direction of college basketball. I've been a diehard fan all my life, but the fact that we may only have 2 returning players next year makes it really hard to invest as much as a fan.

Agree, it’s the reason I don’t follow MLB that closely anymore It’s not the same wild, wild west as the portal, but there is a ton of turnover in all pro sports, and college bball is now an openly professional sport.

 

[Birdus]

but the other side of that coin is if we are not successful, will interest drop off? This is why I've said Underwood better win. Because if you literally do a line change with the roster, you've taken away one of the draws to the team. So if I'm watching a bunch of strangers finish 6th in conference. That's not going to go over well.

Underwood has my confidence! I think he's already put together a group with a few more players that can get to the round of 32 and we are not done.

 

[thefalcon5]

Honestly even if we had 100% retention and Hawkins and Domask moving on, this next year was always going to be an uphill battle.

I think we should and are absolutely still capable of being a top 25 team. I think Underwood has bought a season of semi-down (AKA non-big ten championship).

 

[Birdus]

Get a BAG Nico! Good luck young man!

 

[TheodoreRex]

Agree, it’s the reason I don’t follow MLB that closely anymore It’s not the same wild, wild west as the portal, but there is a ton of turnover in all pro sports, and college bball is now an openly professional sport.

It's time for the NCAA to establish two major changes to the transfer rule
1) You can only transfer 1 time free of penalty. 2nd time is an old school redshirt year.
2) You sign a contract with your university. They are being played like professionals, it's time we establish contracts as well.

 

[Goillinikobd]

What do you propose we do?

Guidelines, rules, just like any other professional sport (e.g., MLB, NFL, NBA, etc)
EXCEPT that all these have 1) a commissioner, 2) team owners, and 3) players unions.
With the NCAA now neutered, it’s going to get more chaotic until some outside entity steps in. The players actually have all the leverage, but lack a common focus and an organization.