Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[NJB Illini]

Go get him, Brad.

Man is about as good a TSJ replacement there is and is an absolute menace on defense (and nearly 2 steals per game). You get him, the Storr/ Egor talk goes away.

 

[pruman91]

welp , I set my alarm so I could be up before the # 1 first in thread race started...........I really really did........but something always comes up..........I try and try , but can't seem to wake up before the 7 am race commences........

Am I finally first ???????????????????....................................

 

[BillyBob1]

Reel him in Brad.

Bass just committed yesterday.

 

[BillyBob1]

View attachment 34780

Great moment! If you haven’t, expand the picture and look at the different reactions of the fans. People in the 2nd level were sitting down!

 

[IlliniFan25]

I decided to check out the videos of the current wish list.

Watkins should be at the top of the list: Video

Wells looks thin but can score: Video

Kelly would be a nice pickup: Video

I like Jakucionis a lot: Video

All four look like they would help us immediately. Watkins, for sure, and I personally like Jakucionis as a longer-term prospect.

Sorry, I don't know how to embed vidoes.

Agree on Watkins - like him a lot.

 

[IlliniFan25]

Agree on Watkins - like him a lot.

 

[mysterio2525]

How many other teams are salivating over Watkins right now? I'm sure a lot. My question is can we get him if there is a bidding war? Seems we have either lost or pulled out of those situations lately because the price got crazy?

Is this finally our go all in situation and is that enough?

 

[NJB Illini]

Out of every SG that entered the portal, Watkins is probably my #1 on that list. The only person I think would potentially be ahead of him for me was David Jones, and obviously he never entered the portal.

I like Watkins more than Storr, more than Egor, way more than Maddox.

If not him, Wells is a very good consolation prize.

 

[RichardKeenesCousin]

Agree on Watkins I like him a lot

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

This looks wide left by 2 feet! Bears fans hate the saying "wide left" and "double doink." Thank goodness I am not a bears fan, I bet those words hurt

 

[jacekpardol]

Say we fold on every bidding war and end up with a bag that we haven't used what do we do with it? It's actually an honest question. Does it go back into the NIL for other programs, do we return it to the donor?

 

[BashCtIllini]

How many other teams are salivating over Watkins right now? I'm sure a lot. My question is can we get him if there is a bidding war? Seems we have either lost or pulled out of those situations lately because the price got crazy?

Is this finally our go all in situation and is that enough?

the response has always been value based. We have the money, but don't think that guy is worth what he's asking. Don't know if that is painting a rosy face on being outbid or if it is reality.

The problem is, I agree with those that have said doing that has now painted us in a corner. We've lost guy after guy to the point now we may haver to "overpay" for someone like Watkins to make sure we get someone to lead this team in scoring. And if that does occur, then why didn't we overpay for the earlier guys we wanted? Or do we stick to our guns and say, we have a price, if you go over this price, good luck, we'll see you later. At some point we're going to have to throw money around or it is going to be hard to beat the teams that do.

 

[chibar]

when does the NBA combine end?

 

[HensonHall71]

I agree Watkins would be first choice given his all-around game and what I think will be a high upside year for him in our offense, but don't sleep on Jaylen Wells, if you look at his per 100 possession stats he is actually very comparable to TSJ last year - albeit with lower usage/total points, but just as efficient. Given I think we'll be a more well balanced team scoring wise this year - I think either would fit very well into what we're trying to do.

FG

FGA

FG%

2P

2PA

2P%

3P

3PA

3P%

FT

FTA

FT%

TRB

AST

STL

BLK

TOV

PF

PTS

ORtg

DRtg

Wells

8.4​

19.3​

0.436​

4.2​

9.2​

0.457​

4.2​

10.2​

0.417​

4.8​

5.9​

0.814​

9.5​

2.5​

1​

0.4​

1.4​

3.8​

25.9​

128.5​

104​

Watkins

9.5​

20.8​

0.457​

7.5​

15.1​

0.5​

2​

5.7​

0.344​

9.7​

12.2​

0.795​

11.9​

5.4​

3.8​

1.6​

5​

5.5​

30.7​

112.9​

101​

TSJ

11.5​

24.3​

0.475​

7.5​

13​

0.573​

4.1​

11.2​

0.362​

11.6​

14.5​

0.801​

6.7​

3.8​

1.7​

1.5​

3.4​

3.7​

38.7​

129.4​

106​

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

the response has always been value based. We have the money, but don't think that guy is worth what he's asking. Don't know if that is painting a rosy face on being outbid or if it is reality.

The problem is, I agree with those that have said doing that has now painted us in a corner. We've lost guy after guy to the point now we may haver to "overpay" for someone like Watkins to make sure we get someone to lead this team in scoring. And if that does occur, then why didn't we overpay for the earlier guys we wanted? Or do we stick to our guns and say, we have a price, if you go over this price, good luck, we'll see you later. At some point we're going to have to throw money around or it is going to be hard to beat the teams that do.

Is anyone clear on how the whole thing works? I assume part of it is how well can the staff sell a potential recruit to those who would foot the bill. It may not come down to what the coach wants, but what a booster (or boosters) is willing to pony up for a particular player.

The price of specialized labor is always in flux. You are as valuable as what someone is willing to pay. The going rate, especially in this arena, is very volatile and there is no previous track record to suggest what an over pay is. Maybe we underestimated the market, maybe some others have over paid. It's really hard to say.

These players are basically individual stocks whose future value is very difficult to determine, and everyone is going to be using a different calculation to define their value. Are your investors open to high risk/high reward (Developmental upside) guys, or are they more conservative and will only pay for a proven commodity? I assume it's different everywhere, as is the measure of success of said investment. (Are you trying to get your program back to respectability, win your conference, or win a National Title)

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

when does the NBA combine end?

Tomorrow.

 

[NJB Illini]

I agree Watkins would be first choice given his all-around game and what I think will be a high upside year for him in our offense, but don't sleep on Jaylen Wells, if you look at his per 100 possession stats he is actually very comparable to TSJ last year - albeit with lower usage/total points, but just as efficient. Given I think we'll be a more well balanced team scoring wise this year - I think either would fit very well into what we're trying to do.

FG

FGA

FG%

2P

2PA

2P%

3P

3PA

3P%

FT

FTA

FT%

TRB

AST

STL

BLK

TOV

PF

PTS

ORtg

DRtg

Wells

8.4​

19.3​

0.436​

4.2​

9.2​

0.457​

4.2​

10.2​

0.417​

4.8​

5.9​

0.814​

9.5​

2.5​

1​

0.4​

1.4​

3.8​

25.9​

128.5​

104​

Watkins

9.5​

20.8​

0.457​

7.5​

15.1​

0.5​

2​

5.7​

0.344​

9.7​

12.2​

0.795​

11.9​

5.4​

3.8​

1.6​

5​

5.5​

30.7​

112.9​

101​

TSJ

11.5​

24.3​

0.475​

7.5​

13​

0.573​

4.1​

11.2​

0.362​

11.6​

14.5​

0.801​

6.7​

3.8​

1.7​

1.5​

3.4​

3.7​

38.7​

129.4​

106​

This is a fantastic breakdown. I know a lot of NBA guys like Wells' upside.

 

[SactownIllini]

View attachment 34780

Twas 16 years but who’s counting??

 

[Illinicpa14]

I agree Watkins would be first choice given his all-around game and what I think will be a high upside year for him in our offense, but don't sleep on Jaylen Wells, if you look at his per 100 possession stats he is actually very comparable to TSJ last year - albeit with lower usage/total points, but just as efficient. Given I think we'll be a more well balanced team scoring wise this year - I think either would fit very well into what we're trying to do.

FG

FGA

FG%

2P

2PA

2P%

3P

3PA

3P%

FT

FTA

FT%

TRB

AST

STL

BLK

TOV

PF

PTS

ORtg

DRtg

Wells

8.4​

19.3​

0.436​

4.2​

9.2​

0.457​

4.2​

10.2​

0.417​

4.8​

5.9​

0.814​

9.5​

2.5​

1​

0.4​

1.4​

3.8​

25.9​

128.5​

104​

Watkins

9.5​

20.8​

0.457​

7.5​

15.1​

0.5​

2​

5.7​

0.344​

9.7​

12.2​

0.795​

11.9​

5.4​

3.8​

1.6​

5​

5.5​

30.7​

112.9​

101​

TSJ

11.5​

24.3​

0.475​

7.5​

13​

0.573​

4.1​

11.2​

0.362​

11.6​

14.5​

0.801​

6.7​

3.8​

1.7​

1.5​

3.4​

3.7​

38.7​

129.4​

106​

We’re not gonna replicate it with anyone but an item not in TSJs stats is both the fouls drawn putting certain guys on the bench and the pure stress it put on other teams to alter game plans (if you crash the offensive glass - risking huge runouts by TSJ, guys having to waste energy sprinting back to wall up, etc)

 

[goillini30]

We’re not gonna replicate it with anyone but an item not in TSJs stats is both the fouls drawn putting certain guys on the bench and the pure stress it put on other teams to alter game plans (if you crash the offensive glass - risking huge runouts by TSJ, guys having to waste energy sprinting back to wall up, etc)

That's one thing I noticed about Watkins was that he shot almost as many FT as TSJ, so it seems he would do a better job filling that role. Though I understand he still probably won't scare teams away from offensive rebounding in the same way.

 

[NJB Illini]

That's one thing I noticed about Watkins was that he shot almost as many FT as TSJ, so it seems he would do a better job filling that role. Though I understand he still probably won't scare teams away from offensive rebounding in the same way.

Florida State was so bad last year as well, so teams really just scouted and honed in on Watkins. Despite that, he still put up some really impressive numbers. I see a jump in efficiency in the Underwood system and with great players around him.

 

[ever]

We’re not gonna replicate it with anyone but an item not in TSJs stats is both the fouls drawn putting certain guys on the bench and the pure stress it put on other teams to alter game plans (if you crash the offensive glass - risking huge runouts by TSJ, guys having to waste energy sprinting back to wall up, etc)

Yes, the secondary effects are difficult to capture, especially with the data typically available for college games. You can get an idea of fouls drawn from FT attempts, but how do we quantify that? And what about other considerations, like how many missed shots led to offensive rebounds vs defensive rebounds with your team out of position getting back?

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

This would be the dream:

PG: Kylan Boswell (6’2”) / Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (6’1”)
SG: Jamir Watkins (6’7”) / Damari Monsanto (6’6”)
SF: Ty Rodgers (6’6”) / Tre White (6’7”)
PF: Ben Humrichous (6’9”) / Carey Booth (6’10”)
C: Tomislav Ivisic (7’1”) / Morez Johnson (6’9”)

Other/Redshirt: Jake Davis (6’6”), Jason Jakstys (6’10”)

Agreed. Really talented 10 deep.

Interesting because Indy said that if Brad wants Monsanto he'll have him. Brad said he'll likely take only 1 more and might take a 2nd that interview with Andy. Agree with not taking over 2 but I don't think we should take under 2 more.

What are the chances he agrees to take both Watkins and Monsanto (because it seems like both are very much on the table)?

 

[billybaroo]

Bass just committed yesterday.

Yes, but was his commitment accepted?

 

[Illini B-Ball Fan]

Watkins looking good, get him Brad.