Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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So pretty much with that asking price he doesn't want to come to college.
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"In June of 2021, Monsanto suffered a completely torn Achilles during a practice."
"His breakout 2022-23 season was cut short as he tore his left patella tendon on February 22, 2023 against NC State."
"Monsanto didn't appear in a game until January 20, 2024 against Louisville, but from the onset, it was clear that the 6'6, 235 pounder wasn't the same. He shot 34.7% from three in his 11 game return, a career low from the volume shooter. He was also significantly hampered on the defensive end, so much so that Monsanto was forced to switch positions from a backup 3 to a backup 4 in order to adjust for the difficulty he was showing in his movement."
"Monsanto's last game came in a loss at Notre Dame where he only played five minutes. Afterwards, due to knee discomfort and an inability to practice, Monsanto missed the remaining games both at home and for the ACC Tournament. In between, there was a bizarre situation where Monsanto was to be honored on senior day against Clemson, but showed up for a few minutes and immediately headed back to the locker room."
Doesn't sound like an Illinois EDG who will get hot and "give you 20 easy" to me. I'll pass and I hope Brad does too.
"His breakout 2022-23 season was cut short as he tore his left patella tendon on February 22, 2023 against NC State."
"Monsanto didn't appear in a game until January 20, 2024 against Louisville, but from the onset, it was clear that the 6'6, 235 pounder wasn't the same. He shot 34.7% from three in his 11 game return, a career low from the volume shooter. He was also significantly hampered on the defensive end, so much so that Monsanto was forced to switch positions from a backup 3 to a backup 4 in order to adjust for the difficulty he was showing in his movement."
"Monsanto's last game came in a loss at Notre Dame where he only played five minutes. Afterwards, due to knee discomfort and an inability to practice, Monsanto missed the remaining games both at home and for the ACC Tournament. In between, there was a bizarre situation where Monsanto was to be honored on senior day against Clemson, but showed up for a few minutes and immediately headed back to the locker room."
Doesn't sound like an Illinois EDG who will get hot and "give you 20 easy" to me. I'll pass and I hope Brad does too.
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This is trending toward adding 1-2 non-starter caliber players. I’m fine with that, as I understand 99% of coaches are not perfectly satisfied with their rosters. I am once again stating that it would be nice to not read any condescension re “not trusting the staff”; am already sensing some “they don’t actually need another stud scorer” tones when it is very clear they’ve been seeking one.
Dennis Scott
For certain Illini0440 you are more in touch with the everyday function of the program. But, at age 77, having been an avid fan of Illini hoops since the mid-50s, and having witnessed the evolution of the college hoops game, the answer to your question is a resounding yes. Either you pay him or someone else does. It does seem that BU is not foolish enough to do that...and IMHO...good for him. I am far from convinced that you need players of that ilk on the Illini roster.
We have seen the top level of NIL increase by multiples of the past 3 years to numbers no one can believe. The same thing will happen every year...and yet avid and wealthy alums still exist and still pay up. Next year, there will be multiple guys asking for 2 million. Two to five of them may ask for 3. Foolish not to expect that.
Now whether this Russian kid will be playing anywhere in the US for a college team is far from certain, but greed has no limits. The door to Greed City was opened by a court ruling. There is no limit on what foolish dreams these kids can conjure. And just like the bell curve of earth's human population, there will be a few extreme coaches who will think it necessary to outbid everyone else...just as there will always be those foolish enough to believe in Q-Anon and Trump winning the 2020 election. The land of common sense and facts embrace much of college hoops fans, players, and coaches....but there are fringe extremes, warped minds, and faulty thought processing that will never go away.
At some point, and maybe sooner than anyone knows, those wealthy supporters may realize that general fan interest in college basketball, and football, will erode. Who cares what 20, 30, 40 million dollar payroll wins the national title by year 2037?. Most fans will not know or care who is on the team of their alma mater until they are ranked in the top 5 anyway. That state of interest seemed impossible a couple of years ago. But it may be closer than any of us imagine. I hope not, but until some sensibility is legislated into the college game, there is no limit to how bizarre things will get.
We have seen the top level of NIL increase by multiples of the past 3 years to numbers no one can believe. The same thing will happen every year...and yet avid and wealthy alums still exist and still pay up. Next year, there will be multiple guys asking for 2 million. Two to five of them may ask for 3. Foolish not to expect that.
Now whether this Russian kid will be playing anywhere in the US for a college team is far from certain, but greed has no limits. The door to Greed City was opened by a court ruling. There is no limit on what foolish dreams these kids can conjure. And just like the bell curve of earth's human population, there will be a few extreme coaches who will think it necessary to outbid everyone else...just as there will always be those foolish enough to believe in Q-Anon and Trump winning the 2020 election. The land of common sense and facts embrace much of college hoops fans, players, and coaches....but there are fringe extremes, warped minds, and faulty thought processing that will never go away.
At some point, and maybe sooner than anyone knows, those wealthy supporters may realize that general fan interest in college basketball, and football, will erode. Who cares what 20, 30, 40 million dollar payroll wins the national title by year 2037?. Most fans will not know or care who is on the team of their alma mater until they are ranked in the top 5 anyway. That state of interest seemed impossible a couple of years ago. But it may be closer than any of us imagine. I hope not, but until some sensibility is legislated into the college game, there is no limit to how bizarre things will get.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
We could get good seeds for the next few years.Monsanto? Well, let’s just round up that feller then.
As an Arizona alum who has Pac-12 Network and watch about half of the Cats games, I cannot believe anyone in their right mind who truly knows both coaches would choose to play for Miller over Underwood. Miller, IMHO, simply does not match up in player development and motivation with Underwood. But, Miller sure does talk a good game...out of both sides of his mouth. Personally, I am quite comfortable that they ran him out of Tucson.
This type of kid is exactly why I would never understand the staff not wanting to fill at minimum 12/13 scholarships. Kid is a pretty elite 3 point shooter & 6”6. If he can play any type of defense he’s immediately a better version of Luke Goode.
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Money is fluid
And sometimes not even then, just ask Andrew Dennis.
I understand the value of four $500k guys likely being better for the team and program than one $2m guy. And I try to trust Brad + Josh over my own opinion, knowing that they have access to info that we don't.
My question is that if we can't break the bank for a projected NBA 1st rounder after winning the B10 tourney, 2nd place conference finish, and Elite Eight weekend, will we ever be able to compete with the top tier NIL schools? Or do we sell personal relationships and player development, hoping that 18-22 year olds think long term and ignore tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars?
I recognize that TSJ was under a million, and this Denim kid wants double that. I doubt he's worth 2 Shannon Jr's, but I'd hate to see us miss out on talent because we can't afford it even after one of the most successful stretches of Illinois basketball ever.
My question is that if we can't break the bank for a projected NBA 1st rounder after winning the B10 tourney, 2nd place conference finish, and Elite Eight weekend, will we ever be able to compete with the top tier NIL schools? Or do we sell personal relationships and player development, hoping that 18-22 year olds think long term and ignore tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars?
I recognize that TSJ was under a million, and this Denim kid wants double that. I doubt he's worth 2 Shannon Jr's, but I'd hate to see us miss out on talent because we can't afford it even after one of the most successful stretches of Illinois basketball ever.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Reading between the lines here a little bit, I don't think it's helpful to imagine our staff having a bunch of NIL dollars sitting in a checking account, waiting to be spent however they want. It sounds like the reality is closer to having a group of investors that need to be sold on funding projects (recruits). And the amount an investor is willing to put up for a particular recruit will depend on the perceived value of that recruit. The number can change quite a bit from investor to investor and from recruit to recruit.
So it doesn't make sense to talk about reallocating the "AJ Storr" money to someone else. Once AJ Storr went off the market, the earmarked money disappeared too. With respect to Demin, it sounds like he is no longer seen as a wise investment at his current asking price. So we're choosing to pivot to other targets where we can get better value for our money.
So it doesn't make sense to talk about reallocating the "AJ Storr" money to someone else. Once AJ Storr went off the market, the earmarked money disappeared too. With respect to Demin, it sounds like he is no longer seen as a wise investment at his current asking price. So we're choosing to pivot to other targets where we can get better value for our money.
If he were old enough for the draft, he would be a top 10 pick. He was always going to be expensive.
First of all, I want Egor bad. But there seem to be so many issues. I even have to wonder if he's academically qualified to enroll at the U of I. Has he graduated from some high school somewhere? After all, he's only 17. Two million bucks? Where does that tidbit come from? Can he get the right visa? Can he be drafted into the Russian army? I hear they've got some activity going on. Apparently we've got some quality wings in the crosshairs that are ours if we pull the trigger. Maybe that's the route we should go.
Not to mention the possible suspension from a Big Ten game or two a la Alan Griffin. You want to leave it to the Big Ten refs to determine the length of our bench?
Do you suspect another team will meet his asking price, or will he just stay overseas?
If you think it's aggravating for you, think of how BU and the staff must feel. A lot of work flushed down the drain.
I’m cracking up at the “Egor wasn’t really that good” reaction now. Just a minute ago he was a future lottery pick. 
Right now this team is a bunch of really good complimentary parts that still needs “the guy.” I don’t see a lot of alpha possibilities but what do I know. With regards to the comment about we should’ve paid Maddox…good player but not a guy that’s going to carry a team.
Right now this team is a bunch of really good complimentary parts that still needs “the guy.” I don’t see a lot of alpha possibilities but what do I know. With regards to the comment about we should’ve paid Maddox…good player but not a guy that’s going to carry a team.
What Egor Demin is saying to the NIL bank account of his would be suitors:
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