Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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I'm wondering the same thing, Bigtex.
You are saying: 1. Get a Jamir Watkins transfer to Illinois. 2. Leave the 12th scholarship open for Jeremiah Fears to enroll after the first semester. 3. Leave the 13th scholarship open for a possible mid-year transfer, ala Dainja. That might very well be what Brad wants to do.
But if Illinois does not get a stud transfer guard/wing like Watkins (or a commit from Jakucionis?), I think Brad and staff will consider signing two lesser(?) players, and only keeping one scholarship open. Brad seemed to leave himself a little wiggle room for that possibility during his recent conversation with Andy Katz.
Even if Illinois gets a transfer from Jaylen Wells (
), I still hope that Illinois finds another transfer for that 12th scholarship. Perhaps Miles Kelly, Damari Monsanto, Kevin Patton Jr, Cedric Coward, or Mike Sharavjamts. Hopefully it would be the player with the best combination of ballhandling and shooting skills. Kelly and Monsanto both had better numbers in 22-23 season than they did in 23-24. [In fact, adding only Kelly and Monsanto, returning to their 22-23 numbers, would round out the Illini roster nicely. Probably not a top 20 team... at least not early in the season.]
Naw. Just another name to add
Miles Kelly isn't coming here to be the 9th guy in the rotationI'm wondering the same thing, Bigtex.
You are saying: 1. Get a Jamir Watkins transfer to Illinois. 2. Leave the 12th scholarship open for Jeremiah Fears to enroll after the first semester. 3. Leave the 13th scholarship open for a possible mid-year transfer, ala Dainja. That might very well be what Brad wants to do.
But if Illinois does not get a stud transfer guard/wing like Watkins (or a commit from Jakucionis?), I think Brad and staff will consider signing two lesser(?) players, and only keeping one scholarship open. Brad seemed to leave himself a little wiggle room for that possibility during his recent conversation with Andy Katz.
Even if Illinois gets a transfer from Jaylen Wells (
Whenever I see something about Dai Dai, it makes me think of that team with JJ Taylor…man, what an unfortunate road that kid went down. Top 5-10 player in his class, looked like little KD, then he went to Donda and cratered.
Loyalillini10
- Urbana, IL
This is not necessarily true. It could just mean there is mutual interest in yet another very good target. That is a very good thing.
That's exactly what Brad wants to do ...
Sounds like Wells is likely not going to be able to get into school here academically ...
Watkins, Kelly, Kasparas ... Lathon ...
Most of the kids that went to Donda cratered ... Outside of Rob Dillingham ...
Jahki Howard was supposed to be a top 15 kid and he winds up barely top 60 ...
Jalen Hooks is going to Southeastern Iowa after being a top 50 kid in his class originally ...
Zion Cruz went from Donda to DePaul to JUCO ... Top 50 kid ...
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
When I see Dai Dai I think about the Friday movies and chuckle a damn or two.
Heh heh heh....see , I really really do....
Seabuscuit! Quicker feet than the monster Man O' War.Showing my age but……gotta pick this one!
Black Stallion is a classic movie
Didn't say he'd be the 9th guy in the rotation. If it's Kelly and Monsanto that are added, I'd expect Kelly to start at the 2-guard position. If we add Jaylen Wells, he'd start at the 2-guard, and I don't think we'd add Kelly.
Don't wanna sound repetitive but...Where is that dude from Wake?
Watkins to Kelly is a pretty steep dropoff imo. Just feel like we need to land that dude. We should go all in on this one imo. I honestly don't think we should care all that much about the price with this one - he's the only guy even remotely close to a star wing available and we need one.
The only thing, from my understanding of this, that has us underrating him a little is the fact that he played on a godawful team. He's as good as pretty much any wing out there imo. You wanna put Storr or Johnell above him, I'm fine with that, but from those guys to Watkins, it's not much of a dropoff at all.
Def. got BIG 10 POY potential.
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Here we go again
Is this kinda like a boom
. Asking for a friend
Oh snap...are you confirming that Fears may actually enroll midyear??
I might actually prefer Lathon over Kelly. I think Lathon would fit in nicely starting at the 2. I like his game and his maturity.
Indy, if we sign "only" Kelly or Lathon, do you think Brad will stick with keeping two scholarships open?
What can you tell us about Kasparas Jakucionis? Who's our lead recruiter on KJ? Do you know what schools we are competing with for JK? Any pro contract to buy out? Do you think he could or would start for the Illini as a freshman?
Maybe some of Wells' credits from Sonoma State are problematic?
In an alternate universe JJ stays in Chicago and becomes Illinois highest recruit ever.. sad that kid got terrible advice
It's definitely on the table ...
Redshirt the spring ... Best strength coach and training facility in CBB for a semester ... Learn the system ... Learn his teammates ...
Come in and dominate next year ...
That would be like having a Ferrari in your garage and not driving it.
Potential hidden benefit. Would be subject to the transfer portal entrance period and be unable to back out of an NLI at the last minute or over the summer.
Not saying it would come to that or we would want it to but it could prevent some possible last minute tampering by a team after the portal entrance period ends.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Me likey.....me likey a lot......
Me really really do......
Me really really medded up.....
But the real question is are his growth plates still open?
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