Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#151      
The idea would be that Morez, Hansberry and Booth would be enough coverage.

Talent and player profile wise I agree with that. Scary young though.

This roster is going to look better than last year's if things go our way here. But it is going to be DRAMATICALLY less experienced, which I think should temper too crazy of expectations.
I know what you are saying but as of now I’d be skeptical about improving on that TSJ/Domask combo. That was fire and ice, and they were freaking incredible.

On the flip side, when Domask committed last summer I was like Dom-who????
 
#152      
Maybe I just have trauma watching Illinois get dominated by every big man they played this year. Felt like they need to get that in the portal. Hope I’m wrong.
I hear you - but I do think Amani and Morez are much more willing to bang down low and provide more resistance to other bigs - that just wasn't Coleman's game
 
#154      
Indy said this:

If I had to guess our 13 for next year ...

Guards:

Boswell, Maddox, Buck, DGL

Wings:

Storr, JD, Tre, Goode, Ty

Bigs:

Booth, Rez, Amani, Jakstys

So I am assuming Moretti transfers and Domask doesn't get a waiver. If he happens to get a waiver, who is the odd man out?
 
#155      
Some dissention on the Illini coaching staff, with one assistant using the media to air it out.

I think it will pass, but its all about protecting the guys they recruited, roster turnover.
 
#156      
What is Coleman's reason for not wanting to return if he's not getting the NBA looks he'd hoped? NIL + another chance to boost his stock seems like a pretty enticing reason to come back. Maybe he's just ready to move on i guess

Apologies if this has been discussed already, I've been tuned out for a couple days.
 
#158      
Honestly...

ChatGPT summarize Loyalty April 2023. "The skyy is falling, the team has no PG, we brought in a bunch of nobodies from the transfer portal, we missed on RayJ, BU needs a PG, maybe Boswell, guess we are going to have a down year" We ended up finishing 6th this year.

ChatGPT summarize Loyalty April 2024. "The team lost all their production, the team has no PG, we are bringing in a bunch of nobodies, we need X,Y,Z to compete, we will have a down year."

I personally wouldn't bet against Brad, he over achieved compared to 99% of the boards expectations since last year. He has a plan. They are executing it. Don't despair, we will be fine. Everything is fine, good night.
 
#159      
I'll need to go look at some video of Booth because I thought I saw him listed at 6' 10" and only 205 lbs. Yikes!

EDIT:
Ok - I looked at video. He's got skill / athleticism and a little bit of dawg in him. He's only 18 and with maturity and good strength coach (I hear we have one), he could go full dawg. Keep working on that 3-stroke and he could be dangerously versatile. I'm a believer.
We have two!!! 🍾🍾
 
#161      
I know what you are saying but as of now I’d be skeptical about improving on that TSJ/Domask combo. That was fire and ice, and they were freaking incredible.

On the flip side, when Domask committed last summer I was like Dom-who????
Totally.

I guess what I mean is, "Final Four or Bust" would be extremely getting ahead of ourselves with so many new pieces and less proven players.

It's also extremely getting ahead of yourself to assume roster stability in college basketball in 2024 of course, buuuuut you think about swapping Maddox for Jeremiah Fears in what would then be an extremely talented and experienced team in a year where the super seniors disappear from the game, and I feel like a path to "Top 5 or higher preseason ranking in 2025-26" is kinda staring us in the face.

Being strong in the portal is great. Not needing the portal is even better.
 
#167      
This is an annoying talking out of both sides of the mouth thing.

"Oh don't worry about it, the staff loves White's attitude, he'll be an EDG, the situation was just bad at Louisville, he's hungry to compete"

but also

"Oh don't worry about it, this enormously talented NBA prospect who is going to transform his mentality under this staff will be a bench role player"

If Tre White brings a new level of effort and professionalism he is going to play a ton. If he doesn't he won't.

So we're good in that sense, I don't think people should be negative about the add, but the justifications are circular and unconvincing.

White is an upside lottery ticket. It's like a baseball team trading for a pitcher with great stuff who can't hit the strike zone and has bad results. You either get an ace or nothing.


Yeah and the 247 rankings are pretty dynamic, guys move around.

I wonder whether Boswell will be above or below Dug McDaniel. I'd rather have Boswell.
You beat me to the punch.

Since no one is offered guaranteed playing time no need to assume anything.
 
#169      
What is Coleman's reason for not wanting to return if he's not getting the NBA looks he'd hoped? NIL + another chance to boost his stock seems like a pretty enticing reason to come back. Maybe he's just ready to move on i guess

Apologies if this has been discussed already, I've been tuned out for a couple days.
Speculative that he isn’t getting NBA looks. I’ve seen him mocked a few places.

It’s been brought up before but he certainly could just be done with college at this point.
 
#170      
Totally.

I guess what I mean is, "Final Four or Bust" would be extremely getting ahead of ourselves with so many new pieces and less proven players.

It's also extremely getting ahead of yourself to assume roster stability in college basketball in 2024 of course, buuuuut you think about swapping Maddox for Jeremiah Fears in what would then be an extremely talented and experienced team in a year where the super seniors disappear from the game, and I feel like a path to "Top 5 or higher preseason ranking in 2025-26" is kinda staring us in the face.

Being strong in the portal is great. Not needing the portal is even better.
That's how I see it and I really like this approach. I think it takes into account the hesitations and concerns I had over continuity, team chemistry, morale, retaining some promising young talent, and building to something. Based on the theoretical construction being suggested by the insiders, this will be a roster made for creating chemistry, teamwork, and growth in a competitive setting this year to make a real run at the 2026 National Championship the following year. Any tourney run this upcoming year would be the cherry on top. Everything is fluid and a lot can happen, but it's basically exactly what I was hoping we'd do and I think it gives us a really strong chance to be a contender.
 
#171      
Speculative that he isn’t getting NBA looks. I’ve seen him mocked a few places.

It’s been brought up before but he certainly could just be done with college at this point.
The difference in draft strength in 2025 makes it almost impossible for him to raise his stock.

He showed the league what he has this year (after often failing to do so last year). It's an intriguing profile. Intriguing profiles are in unusually short supply this year. Plus part of the knock on Coleman is scouts think he's a bit of a nutbar (I've seen multiple scouting reports bring up his incessant complaints about getting called for fouls) and I think he'll assuage some of that in the interview and workout process.

Plus he already made a big NIL bag this year, one more isn't life-changing money.

If his knee is in the right place for him to put his best foot forward in the predraft process, it's time.
 
#172      
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#173      
Totally.

I guess what I mean is, "Final Four or Bust" would be extremely getting ahead of ourselves with so many new pieces and less proven players.

It's also extremely getting ahead of yourself to assume roster stability in college basketball in 2024 of course, buuuuut you think about swapping Maddox for Jeremiah Fears in what would then be an extremely talented and experienced team in a year where the super seniors disappear from the game, and I feel like a path to "Top 5 or higher preseason ranking in 2025-26" is kinda staring us in the face.

Being strong in the portal is great. Not needing the portal is even better.
Everybody needs the portal basically including UConn. It's about the degree. We definitely heavily lean on the portal.
 
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