Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2018)

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#902      

Newman

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Newman
Our backcourt has to be in the top half of the conference for next season just with Frazier, Ayo, and Feliz. Who knows what our frontcourt will be like but I'd be interested to see a rough ranking of the frontcourt in the conference. I know a lot of teams are losing their top guys. This is way too early of a prediction but if we can manage to have an average to maybe a slightly below average frontcourt, I think we're in good shape and on the bubble.
 
#903      

DonIllini

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DonIllini
Underwood has got us way more athletic. Last time we had true athletes like this was Brandon Paul and Leonard. Underwood is recruiting to his system and I love it. Plus I love how we tapped into the East Coast talent pool
 
#904      

Second and Chalmers

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Second and Chalmers
The Illini are practically a United Nations assembly at this point.

Ebo from Nigeria, Vesel from Slovenia, Kane from Senegal, Giorgi from Austria (though clearly of Georgian heritage, was he born there?), and now Feliz from the Dominican Republic.
 
#907      

DB11Headband

D
Chicago Burbs
DB11Headband
Ramey has always been a pipe dream. He was never happening, so I’m really glad BU took Feliz. Really like this get-I think AF will be a great third ball handler for us. An upgrade from Tejon IMO.
 
#911      

SescIllini

SescIllini
SescIllini
Rap73 said:
Last year at about this time the posters on this board were crying because we lost Tillman. He averaged 8 points and four rebounds for Missouri. I believe the incoming bigs will more than match those figures.
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Love our bigs but not sure our best big averages more than 5 ppg. Tilmon was a big lost, his presence in the middle would of led to more wins of those close games.
 
#912      

Newman

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Newman
Rap73 said:
Last year at about this time the posters on this board were crying because we lost Tillman. He averaged 8 points and four rebounds for Missouri. I believe the incoming bigs will more than match those figures.
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He did that in less than 20 mpg on a team that had other frontcourt options. It was underwhelming but that still would have been an upgrade on what we have. I'd still take Tilmon in a heartbeat. I would be surprised if any of our incoming bigs have Tilmon's freshmen production.
 
#913      

BlindLoyalty

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FartNoiseMotivation
BlindLoyalty
Rap73 said:
Last year at about this time the posters on this board were crying because we lost Tillman. He averaged 8 points and four rebounds for Missouri. I believe the incoming bigs will more than match those figures.
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You believe Fr year Giorgi Bezhanishvili will average more points and rebounds per game than Fr year Jeremiah Tilmon?
 
#915      

illini80

illini80
Forgottonia
illini80
Well that's one question answered. Still hoping for Hinson and a 5th year big.
 
#916      

illinibballfan

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illinibballfan
Just watched a highlight video. Thing that stood out to me is his wingspan. We're getting a lot of players with long arms which will wreck havoc in Underwood's system. Wouldn't surprise me to see this team in top 5 in turnover percentage next year. If Greg and Samba can prevent high percentage looks when our guards overplay, we could be looking at a really good defensive team. Antigua needs to focus on D and rebounding with our bigs this year. Scoring can come the next year for them.
 
#917      

NB2D

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NB2D
illini80 said:
Well that's one question answered. Still hoping for Hinson and a 5th year big.
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It appears now that we will not be having anymore players leaving the team. We have one more scholarship left.
 
#918      

idoc13

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idoc13
bbpeoria said:
A valid point so let's break it down..Ayo, Feliz, Griffin, Tevian, Giorgi and Samba. There is enough quality between the recruits and holdovers (Frazier/Williams/Jordan) to have a top of B1G backcourt or at least 1-3 positions. The problem, once again, is the frontcourt. Other than Kipper playing some at the four, which I believe will occur a good amount possibly starting there, the frontcourt is littered with underclass projects (Ebo, Vesel, Samba, Giorgi). The Illini have gotten taller but much more inexperienced and even less scoring than previously which is alarming.

The Illini must either get a starting ready stud recruit (Okoro) or a starting ready upperclasseman (preferably a 5th year but even a JUCO) or there is almost no chance of making the NCAA tourney next season. As I look at it that is the only real missing ingredient right now but it is a huge missing piece.
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Spot on.
 
#919      

foby

foby
Bonnaroo Land
foby
NB2D said:
It appears now that we will not be having anymore players leaving the team. We have one more scholarship left.
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This, but what's the over/under on how many more posts mention getting 2 more recruits? .........void if any more transfers happen......
 
#920      

illini80

illini80
Forgottonia
illini80
NB2D said:
It appears now that we will not be having anymore players leaving the team. We have one more scholarship left.
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I haven't seen anything that says Vessel is staying. If he leaves, he's probably going home. There is no need for him to do anything other than leave the program at a later date.

Not wishing for him to leave, but I'm not yet convinced he won't.

We will see soon enough I guess.
 
#921      

idoc13

I
idoc13
illini80 said:
I haven't seen anything that says Vessel is staying. If he leaves, he's probably going home. There is no need for him to do anything other than leave the program at a later date.

Not wishing for him to leave, but I'm not yet convinced he won't.
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Wasn't he practicing with the team on the Feliz visit? If he was going to leave, I'd think he would already be gone.
 
#922      

NB2D

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NB2D
illini80 said:
I haven't seen anything that says Vessel is staying. If he leaves, he's probably going home. There is no need for him to do anything other than leave the program at a later date.

Not wishing for him to leave, but I'm not yet convinced he won't.
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He was with the team yesterday and looked pretty good. I think he has a high basketball IQ and fits the system.
 
#923      

foby

foby
Bonnaroo Land
foby
NB2D said:
He was with the team yesterday and looked pretty good. I think he has a high basketball IQ and fits the system.
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:thumb: I hope he stays. Skill set is pretty rare at his size, and as soon as the game slows down, and he stops thinking so much, he has the talent to be special.
 
#924      

Newman

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Newman
As of now Kipper has to be at the 4, right? That would make the 1-4 spots all possibly with above average B1G caliber players at least with the starters. If we go small ball, which I'd imagine we will, our weakness is at the 5 but whoever is at the position just needs to provide good defense and score of some putbacks since we have some potentially big time scorers at almost every spot in that 1-4 even though the 4 spot is thin. It's not that much different of an issue than what tOSU had this year. Our potential is going to be dependent on our frontcourt defense and the backcourt chemistry. There are lot of question marks but we have a high ceiling with the low floor. The makeup of the team has to be appealing for some post with experience.
 
#925      

GForce

GForce
GForce
It seems Feliz was brought in as much for culture and leadership as anything. He might be a new guy, but he's older and experienced. And anyone who calls themselves El General won't be afraid to get in faces, which was sorely lacking with last year's team. Jumpshot aside, that has to be the biggest difference between he and TJL.
Plus there's no lofty expectations to be managed with this player, or his dad. He's plug and play.
 
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