Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (June 2019)

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#178      
I would love to round out the 2019 class with Tyler Scanlon. Kid has a sweet stroke and pretty good handles for someone his size.

I know there has been quite a bit of talk about the 3 point line being extended and how it would reduce the shooting percentage behind the arc. My take on this is that it may reduce it a bit but I doubt it will be by very much. There is a balance that needs to be achieved between guarding the three and protecting the lane. I expect that on average the 3 pointers (although a longer shot) will less tightly guarded. I would rather have our players take a shot a foot and a half back largely uncontested than at the old line with someone close enough to block the shot or at least force them.to speed up the release. Scanlon is a guy who can shoot the three, drive in for a possible layup or dish to the wings or stop for a pull up jumper. I hope we can get him.
 
#179      

ILL in IA

Iowa City
It's slow right now, so I'll go there. Anyone else watch the NBA finals and still shake your head at missing out on VanVleet? Or re-live all the Iguodala and Livingston discussion from Loyalty lore?
 
#180      

chiefini

Rockford, Illinois
It's slow right now, so I'll go there. Anyone else watch the NBA finals and still shake your head at missing out on VanVleet? Or re-live all the Iguodala and Livingston discussion from Loyalty lore?

I’ve told this story before on IL, but I think it needs to be told again. We were at an event in Rockford where Bruce Weber was the featured speaker. He told the audience that he had just come from Rockford Auburn’s practice, where there was a sophomore (whom he couldn’t name) who impressed him even more than the recruit he came to watch. Everyone in the room already knew that the sophomore was Fred VanVleet who was already pretty special. As a high school teacher who attended lots of games, I had witnessed his superior skill in our conference. For the next 2 years I personally sent every Rockford Register Star post-game article on Auburn to the basketball office so they could keep up with Fred’s stats, including letters on what a great student athlete/person he was. I never got a response. Seems Fred didn’t have enough stars...
 
#182      
Have we not yet offered AJ Griffin?

He’s a class of 2021 so that far out who we’ve offered right now isn’t too important. I’m sure it’s well established if he wants to be an Illini he will be
 
#183      

Deleted member 643761

D
Guest
I’ve told this story before on IL, but I think it needs to be told again. We were at an event in Rockford where Bruce Weber was the featured speaker. He told the audience that he had just come from Rockford Auburn’s practice, where there was a sophomore (whom he couldn’t name) who impressed him even more than the recruit he came to watch. Everyone in the room already knew that the sophomore was Fred VanVleet who was already pretty special. As a high school teacher who attended lots of games, I had witnessed his superior skill in our conference. For the next 2 years I personally sent every Rockford Register Star post-game article on Auburn to the basketball office so they could keep up with Fred’s stats, including letters on what a great student athlete/person he was. I never got a response. Seems Fred didn’t have enough stars...

Weber wanted him but the fan base wouldn't let him make an offer
 
#184      

sacraig

The desert
I’ve told this story before on IL, but I think it needs to be told again. We were at an event in Rockford where Bruce Weber was the featured speaker. He told the audience that he had just come from Rockford Auburn’s practice, where there was a sophomore (whom he couldn’t name) who impressed him even more than the recruit he came to watch. Everyone in the room already knew that the sophomore was Fred VanVleet who was already pretty special. As a high school teacher who attended lots of games, I had witnessed his superior skill in our conference. For the next 2 years I personally sent every Rockford Register Star post-game article on Auburn to the basketball office so they could keep up with Fred’s stats, including letters on what a great student athlete/person he was. I never got a response. Seems Fred didn’t have enough stars...

He probably didn't make an offer just to spite you for harassing him for 2+ years. If he had given in to your peer pressure, there is no telling how big the mountain of letters with suggested recruits might have become. You probably could have buried Bielfeldt under letters supporting Matt Chastain.
 
#188      
Weber wanted him but the fan base wouldn't let him make an offer

Not sure if there was an implied "/s" on the end of your post but if Weber truly didn't offer players because he was worried about offending the fan base (or because they didn't have enough stars) then he should have been fired long before he was.

Personally, I was calling for his head (before I discovered Loyalty) in 2006. I thought Self would have won in 2005 with his players. I think Weber held us back even at the high point (I wont' get in to why I had that opinion back then).
 
#189      

sacraig

The desert
I don't think I called for Weber's head until about 2008 or so. I know I was still in school but toward the end of my time there.
 
#190      
I don't think I called for Weber's head until about 2008 or so. I know I was still in school but toward the end of my time there.
That 2008-2009 season was such a mirage. There was a lot of optimism then. They just finished 2nd, and had probably Weber's 2 best recruiting classes coming in the following 2 years.

In hindsight, Weber needed to be let go after the 2007-2008 season with Stan Simpson, and Dominique Keller as the only recruits a couple years post-NC appearance, and putting 5 players from the same team into the NBA.

Ultimately, the program is where its at today because Weber wasn't fired that year (IMO, of course).
 
#191      

sacraig

The desert
That 2008-2009 season was such a mirage. There was a lot of optimism then. They just finished 2nd, and had probably Weber's 2 best recruiting classes coming in the following 2 years.

In hindsight, Weber needed to be let go after the 2007-2008 season with Stan Simpson, and Dominique Keller as the only recruits a couple years post-NC appearance, and putting 5 players from the same team into the NBA.

Ultimately, the program is where its at today because Weber wasn't fired that year (IMO, of course).

I think in hindsight, that's perhaps true. But even without the gift of hindsight, he needed to be fired at least several years before he was. It was clear what trajectory we were on and there was no indication that the ship would be righted. Even ditching him after '09-'10 would have probably made our rebuild a lot more tractable. Our stock would have been higher and we probably would have a better shot at hiring a good, proven coach instead of an unproven, inexperienced guy like Groce.
 
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