Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Illini1985]

Ugonna Onyenso is the exact type of big I think Illinois needs. Someone who can come in, play d and protect the rim.

Him and Morez, will be more than enough to cover the 5 mins when Brad isn't going small.

 

[CoachHooleyHoo]

Should have clarified, but other piece is the big one

God bless you!

 

[Battle89]

Not saying anything one way or another, but the first thought in my mind when I saw "Orlando Antigua Associate Head Coach" was 'I wonder how TA feels about that?'.

 

[DeonThomas]

Ugonna Onyenso is the exact type of big I think Illinois needs. Someone who can come in, play d and protect the rim.

Him and Morez, will be more than enough to cover the 5 mins when Brad isn't going small.

What --- like this guy?

 

[robertgoulet]

Let’s hope this Ben Humidifier dude is worth it

He'd be a Humdinger.

 

[Wrightandjohnstreet]

So it’s been confirmed that the goal is to add David Jones (Shannon replacement), Humrichous, and a center TBD. If that’s the grand plan, am I alone in saying I don’t view this as some insanely amazing haul that people are making it out to be?

 

[More3s]

For the same reasons this board is melting down over Luke; who averaged 5 and 3, transferring.

This seems like apples and oranges to me. People seem concerned about relying on Onyeso as a "big piece" when he is yet unproven as far as the amount of production you'd look for from a "big piece". People seem concerned about Luke leaving because they became fans of his over the years and he's a proven EDG/team culture pillar.

I don't know that anyone is concerned that you can't replace Luke on the production side of things, and I don't think anyone was relying on him to be a "big piece" of the team this year as far as production - he was going to be a role player again.

(for the record, I'd be excited to get Onyeso, and I'm sad to see Luke go)

 

[Illini1985]

View attachment 34132
What --- like this guy?

Loved Egwu. Definitely not a centerpiece but a good big. Just didn't have the right players around him.

 

[texillwek]

Hey Nike, can you do us a solid?

If you don't @ them, they'll never see it

 

[ptgrd23]

I'm confused why a guy who averaged 3.6 points and played 18 minutes a game while shooting 58% from FT is considered a very big transfer?

Because his is VERY BIG and averaged 3 blocks per game. That is definition of rim protector.

 

[ChiefGritty]

If we somehow land Humrichous, Jones and Oneyenso, think we can run back the same O as last year with Humrichous in the Marcus booty ball role and Jones in the TJ lethal in transition mode. But we would have better ball handling, probably better defense (thinking Boswell and DGL can better contain dribble penetration and then of course have an A+ rim protector), and maybe a little bit better shooting. If Humrichous and Jones could give us 80% of what TJ and Domask gave us, that’s a really formidable team.

A tall order landing all 3, but between our connections, sell and NIL maybe we can pull it off.

Humrichous isn’t a booty ball player at all. He doesn’t post, and if he gets switched onto a little guard he’ll just shoot right over him.

There is a certain herky-jerkiness they share, it’s not purely skin tone that leads to the comparison, but the way they play and their strengths on the floor are totally different.

he's a defensive cheat code: great rim protector, VVG athlete, VVG rebounder. athletically, kid has NBA written all over him. offensively: raw

Yeah, pretty intriguing package of abilities there. He’s declared for the draft and not currently in the portal, but he’s a take if available for sure. He had 10 blocks against Ole Miss and 8 against Florida, you don’t see much of that in college basketball anymore.

 

[Illynois]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1782513059220591018

Losing track of how many times we recruited this dude and I know his 3p%'s aren't great but I've been a fan

 

[BlueLeader]

View attachment 34133
Because his is VERY BIG and averaged 3 blocks per game. That is definition of rim protector.

Even with him, team was outside the top 100 in adjusted defense.

 

[marvin1991]

View attachment 34133
Because his is VERY BIG and averaged 3 blocks per game. That is definition of rim protector.

Pair him with Ben and add David Jones and that is pretty nice.

 

[TriangleIL]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1782494786504507787

This is his every day guise?

 

[ptgrd23]

I would take Marcus back over any transfer. He gives us 18 ppg 5 rbg 4 apg and the booty ball half court cheat code. Whatever we paid TSJ last year or offered AJ Storr it would be worth it to pay Marcus.

 

[illiniballknower]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1782513059220591018

Losing track of how many times we recruited this dude and I know his 3p%'s aren't great but I've been a fan

Chester recruited him plus he's mid

 

[CHEEF]

yes

holding you to this starting 5

 

[DeonThomas]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1782513059220591018

Losing track of how many times we recruited this dude and I know his 3p%'s aren't great but I've been a fan

likely as many times as he's changed schools......4

- LSU
- Georgetown
- Mississippi
- 2024-25 ????

 

[HensonHall71]

I'm confused why a guy who averaged 3.6 points and played 18 minutes a game while shooting 58% from FT is considered a very big transfer?

Others have responded but he avg 2.8 blocks in 18.7min Per game! He started the last 14 games as he emerged from the 3 Cs they used- but most importantly it would mean we don’t have to watch Booth and Rez try to guard Ballo and the other Cs in the Big Ten who ate us alive last year

Getting a good defensive and rebounding C is a very big addition indeed

 

[HensonHall71]

holding you to this starting 5

Haha! I wasn’t thinking that as I was typing but that would be a perfectly balanced insane starting 5 that would probably be a final four favorite from the jump

 

[DAM1298]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1782513059220591018

Losing track of how many times we recruited this dude and I know his 3p%'s aren't great but I've been a fan

Given where he’s from, I would imagine our connection to him was Chester.

 

[IlliniBrave75]

View attachment 34133
Because his is VERY BIG and averaged 3 blocks per game. That is definition of rim protector.

As a team in 2023-2024 we averaged 3.8 blocks per game, in 200 minutes. This guy averaged 2.8 blocks in 18.6 minutes a game!

 

[jamarvelous31]

Ben is a nice addition and I think he makes us better, but in terms of "very big" I assume you mean someone like. . .

David Jones
Boogie Fland
Ugonna Onyenso
Coleman Hawkins
Marcus Domask

Is that fair, are you talking about that kind of difference maker?

W/G 'very big'
David Jones - Yes please, we're a S16/e8 team again.
Boogie Fland - Yes please, but we could be a S16/e8 team or lose in the 2nd round. Freshmen :/

C 'just big'
Ugonna Onyenso - So year averaged 4 & 3 w/ 3.8 blocks (!!). Seems like he'd be a really nice piece at the C but alone this team will struggle to score.

Retaining 'big but what are we doing with our bag'?
Coleman Hawkins - Has shown he is not the primary scorer on 20+ win team. Amazing to have back, but similar to Onyenso I can't see him as 'the guy'.
Marcus Domask - Doubt we're hearing back in a week or two.

 

[ptgrd23]

Others have responded but he avg 2.8 blocks in 18.7min Per game! He started the last 14 games as he emerged from the 3 Cs they used- but most importantly it would mean we don’t have to watch Booth and Rez try to guard Ballo and the other Cs in the Big Ten who ate us alive last year
Getting a good defensive and rebounding C is a very big addition indeed

Plus give him a few months with Orlando and his footwork will look like Hakeem the dream! Of course he blocks shots like Motombo