Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[RichardKeenesCousin]

Boswell > than any PG we had this year
Whomever < TSJ Clearly
Hawkins = Morez/Amani and whomever we bring in at the 5. I know this will be a controversial take but Coleman was an absolute liability in the pain defensively.
Guerrier < White Another controversial take but I believe White's upside is much higher. Quincy was very pedestrian especially in the second half of the year.
Domask = AJ Storr

We land these guys and we could be top 10.
Even if we don't land AJ we're a top 25 team easily. Maddox is a damn good player too.

I don't think we land Storr, FYI. It feels very RayJ Dennis too me. AJ will go to the highest bidder and I don't know if that's going to be us.

 

[Kostas]

Feel like it might be kind of a bummer for him to come back without TSJ and Shannon. Had a great run to end his career why risk coming back for a possibly disappointing season(Especially when he is more of a great role player than a guy that's going to carry a team).

He's spent 4 years here so probably ready to go pro even if that means the d-league or overseas.

Personally feel like the only thing that could have brought Coleman back would have been a Domask waiver and an all in season for a championship with multiple big adds(Storr, Reynaud/Ballo, guard) in the portal. However, insiders are saying the waiver isn't happening and the staff appears to be building for 2 years from now so don't see why Coleman would return.

Just wondering how many games we could have won with 2 of him...

 

[BradUnderwoodLover]

I think it’s either Maddox or Boswell. They both want to be the lead guard and are both small

 

[Heisenbobble]

It’s all set to add Boswell and Storr. Finish up NIL and announcements coming. Talking with several bigs. Gotta be a good fit. Could be expensive for the one we want.

Can't imagine that's Wolf then. He won't be that expensive (IMHO). Maybe Raynaud? Also, if it's just Boswell, Storr, and a big, that eliminates Maddox. Not sure I like that. Next year's team could use more reliable outside shooters.

 

[Kostas]

Say we do pick up Boswell. How does that make fears feel? I’m sure he was promised a starting point guard position his freshman year.

Hopefully like he'd be on 2005 team 2.0

 

[Illinifan1154]

We may not be the highest bidder on Storr, but we've got the NBA beat

Yes — agree coming back to college is the likely outcome, more wondering from a timing standpoint why he wouldn’t at least go through the combine and then come back in May (same timeline as Shannon, Hawkins, RayJ last year)?

 

[Frank]

It’s all set to add Boswell and Storr. Finish up NIL and announcements coming. Talking with several bigs. Gotta be a good fit. Could be expensive for the one we want.

Who's the one we want? Booth, or other?

 

[NarrowJ]

You are underestimating how good Domask, Hawkins, and Shannon were

I'd never do that.

The whole point is how many underestimated how good those guys you mention would eventually become. And, thus, underestimating how good the next set of guys will be.

 

[IlliDan]

I guess I take it that for the purposes of saving enough to make the Storr and Boswell duo happen, the price was right on White vs Oweh.

Impossible to know the financial numbers, but White does offer more upside and more differentiation from the Rodgers/Goode/Harris group.

The decision was between Storr and Oweh,White probably falls to lower level of player.Think we know who the Illini prefer.

 

[Bigtex]

I'd never do that.

The whole point is how many underestimated how good those guys you mention would eventually become. And, thus, underestimating how good the next set of guys will be.

So in April 2023, what was the estimate of production for Domask, Shannon and Hawkins? Is it fair to say that they each exceeded estimates? While the roster is not complete at this time - how do Illinois 24/25 version meet, exceed or underperform expectations?

For me, I can't accurately estimate how each player will do, especially those that didn't wear O&B last year. But that is the staff's job!!!! I think it is fair to say, that majority on this board won't accurately estimate next year's (pre NCAAT tournament record) before the season starts.

 

[NarrowJ]

So in April 2023, what was the estimate of production for Domask, Shannon and Hawkins? Is it fair to say that they each exceeded estimates? While the roster is not complete at this time - how do Illinois 24/25 version meet, exceed or underperform expectations?

For me, I can't accurately estimate how each player will do, especially those that didn't wear O&B last year. But that is the staff's job!!!! I think it is fair to say, that majority on this board won't accurately estimate next year's (pre NCAAT tournament record) before the season starts.

In all honesty, no. I didnt think TSJ could be as good as Ayo. Domask looked like a role player to me coming in, not a 1st team B1G player. Hawkins always showed promise, but he's far outplayed his recruiting ranking.

This all being said, I've certainly learned not to underestimate this staff when it comes to talent identification and player development.

 

[2X2L]

I had no idea Marcus's Bonneville conked out. I could have negotiated a great deal at Victory Auto Wreckers in Bensenville as his agent. (My favorite commercial of all time, all you Chicagolanders.)

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

You are underestimating how good Domask, Hawkins, and Shannon were

Lots of people were under-estimating how good they were last April...

How about we let the Chefs finish cooking before we complain about the meal.

 

[BackThatPassUp]

Davis, White, Boswell, Booth, Maddox, Storr ...

Don't know for sure where we stand with the last one though ...

Everytime is see Davis I think Johnell Davis and think man what a haul!

 

[ChiefGritty]

So in April 2023, what was the estimate of production for Domask, Shannon and Hawkins? Is it fair to say that they each exceeded estimates? While the roster is not complete at this time - how do Illinois 24/25 version meet, exceed or underperform expectations?

For me, I can't accurately estimate how each player will do, especially those that didn't wear O&B last year. But that is the staff's job!!!! I think it is fair to say, that majority on this board won't accurately estimate next year's (pre NCAAT tournament record) before the season starts.

In all honesty, no. I didnt think TSJ could be as good as Ayo. Domask looked like a role player to me coming in, not a 1st team B1G player. Hawkins always showed promise, but he's far outplayed his recruiting ranking.

This all being said, I've certainly learned not to underestimate this staff when it comes to talent identification and player development.

The thing is, if we have Boswell, Maddox and DGL on one end and Morez, Hansberry and Booth (who seems like the LEAST true center of our possible options) on the other end, whatever our concerns may be, not being able to create actual basketball lineups won't be one of them, which was an issue in 22/23 and a crisis in 23/24.

No one was saying we didn't have the overall horses in either of those years. Nor should they next year even without Storr.

But without Storr for us to be making national noise good, we would need a guy or two to blow up who we aren't currently counting on to do so.

 

[Fighting I 95]

Trust Brad & Co. all the way.

My one concern for next year is that we will be a lot shorter, and you can't teach height. See potentially a lot more balls getting tipped or blocked.

However I was also a member of Team Needs A PG last year, and that was clearly wrong. So what do I know?

We just came off an elite 8 game where Clingan had like 8 blocks against us. Its not always about height but how crafty you are with your shot and body.

Just heard on Werners pod that Maddox had a 6'8 wingspan or close too and Boswell is built like a truck so that should help.

 

[ever]

I'd never do that.

The whole point is how many underestimated how good those guys you mention would eventually become. And, thus, underestimating how good the next set of guys will be.

These guys are - statistically - a decent amount worse than Shannon/Domask were before they transferred. Some of them are ranked/rated pretty high based on athleticism/potential, so there's hope for improvement and/or better results in a better environment, but we're betting more on upside than with Shannon/Domask.

 

[LvilleILL]

You are underestimating how good Domask, Hawkins, and Shannon were

Half this board didn't want Domask last summer. Same could be said for Coleman after his first two years

 

[Gillme]

I had no idea Marcus's Bonneville conked out. I could have negotiated a great deal at Victory Auto Wreckers in Bensenville as his agent. (My favorite commercial of all time, all you Chicagolanders.)

Too bad Victory auto wreckers closed last year.

 

[ChiefGritty]

Dumb analogy I can't resist.

The proposed lineup for next year without Storr would be a sundae missing its cherry on top.

Last year's lineup without RayJ was a sundae missing a spoon.

 

[FI_8905]

Probably should start talking more about alternatives to AJ Storr.

 

[IlliDan]

The thing is, if we have Boswell, Maddox and DGL on one end and Morez, Hansberry and Booth (who seems like the LEAST true center of our possible options) on the other end, whatever our concerns may be, not being able to create actual basketball lineups won't be one of them, which was an issue in 22/23 and a crisis in 23/24.

No one was saying we didn't have the overall horses in either of those years. Nor should they next year even without Storr.

But without Storr for us to be making national noise good, we would need a guy or two to blow up who we aren't currently counting on to do so.

Wrong about least true center,Booth is best option for 5-out offense BU wants to deploy.Think of Morez as down low option.

 

[lstewart53x3]

Dumb analogy I can't resist.

The proposed lineup for next year without Storr would be a sundae missing its cherry on top.

Last year's lineup without RayJ was a sundae missing a spoon.

And?

 

[NarrowJ]

These guys are - statistically - a decent amount worse than Shannon/Domask were before they transferred. Some of them are ranked/rated pretty high based on athleticism/potential, so there's hope for improvement and/or better results in a better environment, but we're betting more on upside than with Shannon/Domask.

Shannon was a 10 ppg guy at Texas Tech. We thought he'd be a good add, but Ayo level good? Nah.

Domask? I see its already been pointed out, but so many were befuddled by that take and thought he'd fill a role and nothing more.

 

[redwingillini11]

Probably should start talking more about alternatives to AJ Storr.

Not really sure what to think about this account. If this is legitimate, all of this joking about "how is the Storr commitment looking? is going to be very frustrating in retrospect.