Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (February 2019)

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#301      
Love love love Giorgi, picked him as the next Augie....that said, if he is moved to a more natural 4 position, he might regress output wise. He does very well and I mean as in excellent with back to basket with his little flip shot and those opportunities may come fewer and far between if he isnt playing the block area (normally reserved for traditional 5) is what I am saying.

At least we don't have holes in our roster like when Underwood took the reigns. I kind of agree on Giorgi --if it ain't broke, don't fix it, but they'll figure that out. If he can score on all 3 levels, he gone! He's become so good defensively for a freshman big, it kind of makes my head spin. You watch how he plays defense, and you realize he has a lot of awareness and IQ already. Doesn't commit the stupid moves that take him out of the game, and has that feel for when to switch that's hard to teach. Doing it as a freshman? Whoa....

Giorgi working with Kofi (or any of the bigs) sounds pretty good to me. If ever there were a young guy that could rise up to help the young guys along, it would be Giorgi. No opinion on who would take his back-up minutes, but we're losing ADR, so they'll be some time available. I could see them experimenting with Giorgi elsewhere, but his post play is outstanding --knows when he can take his man, which is pretty much anytime he's 1-1, and knows to pass out when there should be a better opportunity. I love that teams have tried going 1-1 with him, only to suffer mightily. He'll for sure draw more attention from here out, but he will make others better even if he doesn't put it in the hole.

Recruiting-wise, I'm more worried about finding another ball handler. We have Ayo/Trent/Feliz, and it's hard to know if we'll have Ayo next year. I'm not sure who would be next, but I love that we have two guys who can do what those two can in the back-court.
 
#302      

illini80

Forgottonia
Love love love Giorgi, picked him as the next Augie....that said, if he is moved to a more natural 4 position, he might regress output wise. He does very well and I mean as in excellent with back to basket with his little flip shot and those opportunities may come fewer and far between if he isnt playing the block area (normally reserved for traditional 5) is what I am saying.
I think what happens with Giorgi next year will be one of the more interesting developments. We can call him a 4, but so far he doesn’t have the offensive game to play that effectively and he is so efficient near the basket using both hands. That’s a skill not many possess and taking that out of his game would be tough to replace. I think it takes a different offense next year to maximize this team with two bigs for half the game anyway.

Regardless, Giorgi has to develop a solid 15’ shot and be at least a threat from 3. He’s likely to see double teams the rest of the season. In fact I kind of hope he does, because he’s the kind of player that will quickly learn from them and give us more open looks for the other guys.
 
#303      

haasi

New York
Gio
I think what happens with Giorgi next year will be one of the more interesting developments. We can call him a 4, but so far he doesn’t have the offensive game to play that effectively and he is so efficient near the basket using both hands. That’s a skill not many possess and taking that out of his game would be tough to replace. I think it takes a different offense next year to maximize this team with two bigs for half the game anyway.

Regardless, Giorgi has to develop a solid 15’ shot and be at least a threat from 3. He’s likely to see double teams the rest of the season. In fact I kind of hope he does, because he’s the kind of player that will quickly learn from them and give us more open looks for the other guys.
Giorgi drawing double teams would be absolutely great for our offense. He’s an able passer, so if he gets ball and double comes, good things will happen.

Re next year- how to integrate Giorgi and Kofi will be a test of Underwood’s creativity and judgment. So far so good with Giorgi
 
#304      
Next year I think you'll see a two post/ high low type game off any current sequence.
Giorgi can play the 4 defensively and the second post player, feed low or hit the key/
free throw area jumper. This gives Giorgi/Kofi the options to develop the 15-18' shot,
drive or post low. Isn't that Happ's game now? We can take what the opponent give us.
 
#305      

Deleted member 29907

D
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Love love love Giorgi, picked him as the next Augie....that said, if he is moved to a more natural 4 position, he might regress output wise. He does very well and I mean as in excellent with back to basket with his little flip shot and those opportunities may come fewer and far between if he isnt playing the block area (normally reserved for traditional 5) is what I am saying.
I may be in the minority, but I like a Samba/Giorgi combo with Kofi coming in as the Adonis body once he's ready. Giorgi's game is more like Happ - where he can dribble in (and get by) against bigger defenders - but he can not yet hit the consistent outside shot - which in our offense tends to pretty much be at the 3 point line (other than that guard cross we now do which seems to get short corner shots).
 
#306      
this works particularly well against the big ten teams with big 4's/ two posts like Maryland,
Michigan St.
 
#307      
Nimari Burnett is scheduled to visit LVille on 2/23 for UVA/LVille game and on 2/24 to visit Michigan for MSU/UM game. Says that Illinois is one of the teams that he has the most contact with. Nimari is going to be a 5* when it's all over.

I'd love to have them both, but Adam Miller is the one I want if I were forced to pick between the 2.
 
#308      
A couple of things I find interesting. I think one of the keys to Giorgi's better play is it seems like he has limited his outside shooting. I know he hasn't shot a 3-pter since the Michigan game. Not saying he can't develop that shot for next year and if he did that would greatly increase the team's flexibility. The other thing is that the large majority of people on here didn't expect much from Giorgi this year. Seems that though he has a much higher rating, many on the board are taking that position with Kofi for next year. I saw one of his games on ESPN and yes it appears he has some limitations in his game currently, but I also saw a bull of man who is going to be a load for BIG centers to handle next year. I know nothing about his work ethic, but I'm certainly not counting him out as a key contributor next year. Maybe not initially, but I think Kofi will be an important part of the rotation by this time next year.
 
#311      
Illini coaches, I am certain, have watched enough tape of Kofi to know what he must improve to get on the floor....and there is much....lose weight, get in shape, work on his vertical and shot blocking, blocking out, and learn to defend without fouling out in 6 minutes. This is all between the ears stuff but he has failed miserably at some of those in for his high school coach. Kid has tremendous physical talent, but only one spot is available for big minutes and the strongest mentally will get those. My bet now is Samba as he is a smart kid and not in love with himself while willing to outwork anyone. He may get the early minutes next season if he learns to hold onto the ball, but if Kofi brings a humility, listens to coaches, gets in shape to run, and adapts a tenacious work ethic, he has the offensive skills to be a plus. None will match GB in their career IMHO as he brings all those assets right now and is a great team player. Hope I am wrong.

He might have to work on some stuff, but if you think a 5* Big "ain't" starting for us, you're kidding yourself.
 
#312      
We have been playing one big at a time this year. Next year, we will hopefully have the option to have two bigs in the game at the same time!
 
#317      
Some of you guys are absolutely nuts to me. Do you honestly think a top 40 recruit is going to come in and play behind Samba Kane? Are you kidding me? Or that he won't be ready? I mean, for christ's sake, LOOK AT THIS KID:

I know some of you are going to be like "well he didn't look that good when I watched two of his high school games on ESPNU". The dude has been physically ready for college for like 3 years and plays with a ball dominant PG. There's probably a good chance he'll be here this summer before school starts like most recruits do these days. You cannot teach that kind of athleticism and talent. Please stop over analyzing the situation.
 
#318      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Some of you guys are absolutely nuts to me. Do you honestly think a top 40 recruit is going to come in and play behind Samba Kane? Are you kidding me? Or that he won't be ready? I mean, for christ's sake, LOOK AT THIS KID:

I know some of you are going to be like "well he didn't look that good when I watched two of his high school games on ESPNU". The dude has been physically ready for college for like 3 years and plays with a ball dominant PG. There's probably a good chance he'll be here this summer before school starts like most recruits do these days. You cannot teach that kind of athleticism and talent. Please stop over analyzing the situation.

You know...Loyalty gonna Loyalty....
 
#321      
Illini coaches, I am certain, have watched enough tape of Kofi to know what he must improve to get on the floor....and there is much....lose weight, get in shape, work on his vertical and shot blocking, blocking out, and learn to defend without fouling out in 6 minutes. This is all between the ears stuff but he has failed miserably at some of those in for his high school coach. Kid has tremendous physical talent, but only one spot is available for big minutes and the strongest mentally will get those. My bet now is Samba as he is a smart kid and not in love with himself while willing to outwork anyone. He may get the early minutes next season if he learns to hold onto the ball, but if Kofi brings a humility, listens to coaches, gets in shape to run, and adapts a tenacious work ethic, he has the offensive skills to be a plus. None will match GB in their career IMHO as he brings all those assets right now and is a great team player. Hope I am wrong.

Kofi is a top 40 player in the country and you think Samba will get more minutes than he will? No way, no how. Kofi is a major presence down low...Kane, still has a long, long way to go before he can say anything like that.
 
#322      

Deleted member 643761

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Some of you guys are absolutely nuts to me. Do you honestly think a top 40 recruit is going to come in and play behind Samba Kane? Are you kidding me? Or that he won't be ready? I mean, for christ's sake, LOOK AT THIS KID:

I know some of you are going to be like "well he didn't look that good when I watched two of his high school games on ESPNU". The dude has been physically ready for college for like 3 years and plays with a ball dominant PG. There's probably a good chance he'll be here this summer before school starts like most recruits do these days. You cannot teach that kind of athleticism and talent. Please stop over analyzing the situation.
I more or less agree. But many of us long in the tooth temper our expectations.
 
#323      
I more or less agree. But many of us long in the tooth temper our expectations.
He is going to have an impact from his size alone. He needs to work on his quickness and anticipation on the defensive end and rebounding. Keep in mind, if you have only watched a couple of the ESPN games, he wasn’t playing against a typical high school team. Most of those guys on the floor are D1 players.
 
#324      
Kane, if he sticks around, then as a JR he should be an impact player.

By then the rest of teh current crew may be gone anyways.
 
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