Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (June 2019)
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sacraig
- The desert
Well, assuming that Patterson counts as "someone," then you almost can't be wrong.
That's a pretty simplistic approach to take when the stakes are this high. Every program is the right coach away from the being a consistently good program. The problem is the longer you struggle the harder it is to get that coach and even then it takes luck. I'd argue that Indiana has been in worse shape then us over the last 20 years and they had father to fall.
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sacraig
- The desert
And yet our geography still gives us an built-in advantage if the right coach arrives. I don't think it's overly simplistic to say that a school in the geographic and historical position we are in is always just one coach away from being good. I am not claiming we are one coach away from being a blue blood, but consistently good is a much lower bar.
I do not disagree. If we happen to land Miller and Love out of Chicago next year we would all be happy campers. But do you think in the last decade, recruiting has become much more national and now international, rather than regional?
If we get back to winning and competing for big ten championships like we used to then we will have more success recruiting in Chicago and the suburbs and state of Illinois
https://writingillini.com/2019/06/12/illinois-basketball-tyler-scanlon-solidify-no-3-spot-illini/
Anyone else feel like Tyler Scanlon could be our starter at the 3 position?
1. Ayo / Feliz
2. Trent / Griffin / Williams
3. Tyler Scanlon / Tevian / Williams / Kipper
4. Giorgi / Kouma / Kipper
5. Kofi / Kane / Giorgi
Giorgi would also play time at the 5 (maybe considerable minutes there if Kofi struggles with fouls)
Kipper would provide backup minutes at the 3/4. Especially at the 4 if Giorgi shifts to the 5.
Williams would provide backup minutes at the 2/3.
I'd love for Tevian to come out hot this season and clamp down on the starting position like a lot of people are talking about but realistically I'm a little nervous that he might not be ready for that until near the end of this season.
Adding someone like Scanlon that could start at the 3 early in the season while we figure out if Tevian is ready yet could be an important piece to our season and help us not dig a hole so deep that by January the season's already over.
Anyone else feel like Tyler Scanlon could be our starter at the 3 position?
1. Ayo / Feliz
2. Trent / Griffin / Williams
3. Tyler Scanlon / Tevian / Williams / Kipper
4. Giorgi / Kouma / Kipper
5. Kofi / Kane / Giorgi
Giorgi would also play time at the 5 (maybe considerable minutes there if Kofi struggles with fouls)
Kipper would provide backup minutes at the 3/4. Especially at the 4 if Giorgi shifts to the 5.
Williams would provide backup minutes at the 2/3.
I'd love for Tevian to come out hot this season and clamp down on the starting position like a lot of people are talking about but realistically I'm a little nervous that he might not be ready for that until near the end of this season.
Adding someone like Scanlon that could start at the 3 early in the season while we figure out if Tevian is ready yet could be an important piece to our season and help us not dig a hole so deep that by January the season's already over.
With regards to Belgium forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk
Piper was on ESPN Radio show Monday (summary as I recall):
...Benjamin was looking into coming to US for Prep school - someone Chin knew at a prep school told Chin he should check him out, he was pretty good. Between Chin and Antigua they found some game tapes and kept things stealth. The rest of it seems like I had seen before, they like his passing, see him as a 4/3
Piper was on ESPN Radio show Monday (summary as I recall):
...Benjamin was looking into coming to US for Prep school - someone Chin knew at a prep school told Chin he should check him out, he was pretty good. Between Chin and Antigua they found some game tapes and kept things stealth. The rest of it seems like I had seen before, they like his passing, see him as a 4/3
Cockburn, should see major minutes i assume this year with GB at the 4. When Kofi is out my choice would be , Kane. The staff is tasked with getting Kofi/Kane to be able to play with GB on the floor.
Chin and BU will get their shot. Wouldn’t worry about him committing at all. Louisville definitely one to look out for though as the recruitment goes on.
My MIF source told me it’ll likely come down to Michigan, Louisville, Kansas, or Illinois until you see Duke or UK get involved.
This does not sound like an Illini lock AT ALL! Drats...
I just can't see Michigan doing this without showing any product on the court.
I wouldn't sleep on Michigan, 3/5ths of the second coming of the Fab Five are in the their sights--three 5*'s in Nimari Burnett, Adam Miller, and Scotty Barnes.
Deleted member 631370
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Their product on the court has been astronomically better than ours lately. And yes, while they're trotting out a brand new coach, stud recruits commit to new coaches all the time.
Even if Howard is a sub-par coach, he's going to have the talent in place -- and kids who still have Beilein's good habits -- to win next year at a minimum.
Now is actually a great time for Howard to strike it hot on the trail. Before he (potentially) exposes himself as completely unable to keep Michigan at their current level.
Indiana has made the tournament 4 times in the last 12 years during the Crean and Miller years. During that time they have had as recruits:
7 - 5 stars
20 - 4 stars
Keep in mind many of these players played together for multiple years, so on paper they've been stacked. Yet, still little, or sporadic success. So, I think that they've been the right coach away from success. They have all the other pieces. And look at Miller's response from being offered the Indiana job after turning down so many over the years - he took it despite the demanding fanbase, and absurd expectations. (A side note - IMO they still don't have the right coach).
I think Illinois is in a much different place. I think Weber personally made the program unattractive while it was at its peak. It's hard to shake that stigma. The program completely failed its branding and public persona effort during the Dee/Deron/Augie years.
That's why I'm content with Underwood's recruiting and turnover so far, and I have some patience. Indiana's different because they've put guys in the pros even in their down years, they've established that you can go to Indiana, suck for a year or two, and get drafted. The attitude towards the school within the state is different. Etc.
I think Underwood is putting the pieces together not only to win, but to make it fun being a fan again. There are players that are fun to watch, and have personality. There are players that will likely become pros. If that all happens I think things will change with recruiting.
I’m so confused as to why people think Juwan Howard won’t be a good coach. It’s not like he doesn’t have coaching experience?
Deleted member 631370
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Experience as an NBA assistant and experience as a major NCAA head coach -- with all of the recruiting + player development + mentorship responsibilities that come with that -- are quite different.
I'm not saying he won't be successful. But in my own personal estimation, it's far more likely he goes the way of other former stars-turned-coaches with limited college coaching experience (Ewing, Mullen, Isiah Thomas, etc.) than John Beilein. At a minimum, I'd be shocked if he wins at Beilein's level.
But, he's got enough firepower in place this upcoming year to win pretty comfortably.
As a counterpoint, I think that his hire of Phil Martelli separates him from the other guys on your list. It's a signal that he both knows his limitations as a game coach at this point of his career, and also that he might be willing to check his ego and get help where he needs it. The latter seemed to be an issue with Mullen, though I admit that I didn't follow his story too close.
I don't think the jury is out on Ewing yet after two seasons with young teams (sound familiar?), either. And as for Isaiah, I'm not sure I can take him seriously given the trail of wreckage he left behind in New York. Not that I have much of a point here, but eff Isaiah Thomas.
If the talent Howard brings in -- and I think he'll bring it in -- keeps him afloat for long enough to learn how to be a coach, it's a good bet he'll be successful. Beilein has set a high bar and maybe the point is that Howard won't clear it, but I don't think he'll be a stiff, either.
I'd love to be wrong.
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