Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (July 2019)

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#76      
Cause that’s long been Kofi’s plan.

Happy to be wrong, but I'm not expecting Kofi to show that kind of potential right away. His physicality will give him opportunities he wouldn't otherwise have, but there's a lot more to the game in this era. NBA Bigs have to have a lot of things Underwood demands. It's been said he's a good passer, and he definitely has good hands. But to be effective, he's going to have to get up and down the court, stay out of foul trouble, speed up the mental aspects of his game on both sides of the ball, etc. Last thing Underwood wants is turnovers from the big guy initiating from the pinch-post. I'll be surprised if he can show all that out of the gate. If he pushes himself on the conditioning side, he could be dominant. Completely different positions, but reminds me a bit of Deron carrying extra weight until he broke his jaw. Guys with heavy frames that get rid of the baby fat can really surge.
 
#77      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
Cause that’s long been Kofi’s plan.

That was Ayo's plan too.

Mike Tyson once said about boxing that everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. For star high school basketball players, it's more like all of them have a one-and-done plan until they start getting guarded by college seniors.
 
#78      
first, I love Giorgi, but he is not an nba talent. he's maybe 6-9, 230 without the necessary athleticism , mobility is a
negative at that level. will need to prove his three point shot. G., play four years here, win a big ten championship,
be the pride of C-U, bulk up to a 260 lb. power forward and make a very nice living in Europe.
Probably the same athleticism as Bird. Never make it.
 
#79      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
first, I love Giorgi, but he is not an nba talent. he's maybe 6-9, 230 without the necessary athleticism , mobility is a
negative at that level. will need to prove his three point shot.

Giorgi at age 19 had better feet and instinctive low post ability than a ton of NBA bigs. But if you can't shoot and you can't guard, you're never getting anywhere near the NBA, and Giorgi can't do either one at the professional level right now.

I feel like the likeliest path for Giorgi to the NBA would be that he plays four years here as his current Mozart of the low block, goes to Europe for a few years, and then pops up in the NBA as like a weirdo junk-balling wing player that suddenly has a jump shot and ballhandling skills he never showed as a collegian. Jared Dudley of the Caucasus, if you will.
 
#81      

illini80

Forgottonia
Giorgi is ranked as the number 7 power forward (by some) in the country. The idea that he has no NBA prospects is a bit premature. He has said all along that family is everything to him. I could easily see him leaving to play in the Euro League before his senior year. Hopefully that doesn’t happen, but it certainly is possible.
 
#83      
Giorgi at age 19 had better feet and instinctive low post ability than a ton of NBA bigs. But if you can't shoot and you can't guard, you're never getting anywhere near the NBA, and Giorgi can't do either one at the professional level right now.

I feel like the likeliest path for Giorgi to the NBA would be that he plays four years here as his current Mozart of the low block, goes to Europe for a few years, and then pops up in the NBA as like a weirdo junk-balling wing player that suddenly has a jump shot and ballhandling skills he never showed as a collegian. Jared Dudley of the Caucasus, if you will.
How many former Illini are in the NBA right now?
How many future NBAers are we projecting on our current roster coming off the worst season in UI hoops history?

I'm too lazy to do the research on the former, but I'd guess the number is LESS than the latter answer.
 
#84      
That was Ayo's plan too.

Mike Tyson once said about boxing that everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. For star high school basketball players, it's more like all of them have a one-and-done plan until they start getting guarded by college seniors.
Head meet nail. No one can predict without error how star players will fare in the college game when the opposing players are just as good or better. Not saying none can adapt quickly, but even Zion had a learning curve to climb and fortunately was mentally and physically strong enough to adapt as quickly as any. It takes some time and prodding by coaches to get up to speed both mentally and physically. That said, I am happy to watch Kofi to just that in an Illini uniform and hope he feels at home and enjoys the process.....there will be one and I think he knows that but wants to experience it all.
 
#87      

sacraig

The desert
Has Giorgi ever played power forward in a competitive game?

That's not really a relevant question. What's relevant is whether he has played power forward competitively against top competition. I'd argue he has, regardless of whether the team around him has stunk it up or not. He still has plenty improvement to make before he's got a good chance at the NBA, but it's not like it's a pipe dream at this point.
 
#88      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
How many future NBAers are we projecting on our current roster coming off the worst season in UI hoops history?

To be clear, I don't think it's likely that Giorgi plays in the NBA. But he does have one NBA skill, which gives you a beachhead you can potentially build from. But the same was true of Brian Randle, Mike Tisdale, you could go on and on.

I do think Ayo has an NBA future of some form though. He'd have found his way onto a roster somewhere had he left this year, and I think his game will continue to blossom.
 
#89      

Tacomallini

Washington State
Giorgi is ranked as the number 7 power forward (by some) in the country. The idea that he has no NBA prospects is a bit premature. He has said all along that family is everything to him. I could easily see him leaving to play in the Euro League before his senior year. Hopefully that doesn’t happen, but it certainly is possible.
Yes, but you're forgetting about his Big, Orange family
 
#90      
How many former Illini are in the NBA right now?
How many future NBAers are we projecting on our current roster coming off the worst season in UI hoops history?

I'm too lazy to do the research on the former, but I'd guess the number is LESS than the latter answer.
Could be fun if we do prediction polls and look back every few years to see how everyone’s holds up. Mine would definitely be terrible but whatev.
 
#91      
Could be fun if we do prediction polls and look back every few years to see how everyone’s holds up. Mine would definitely be terrible but whatev.

I think it would be interesting if we did this far enough in advance that folks had to go out on a limb. Predicting once the season is over and the mock drafts are out is too easy.
 
#92      
That's not really a relevant question. What's relevant is whether he has played power forward competitively against top competition. I'd argue he has, regardless of whether the team around him has stunk it up or not. He still has plenty improvement to make before he's got a good chance at the NBA, but it's not like it's a pipe dream at this point.
I thought he played center, but I guess positionless is positionless.
 
#93      
I'm a big Giorgi fan and would love nothing else but to see him be successful at the NBA level, but this is a bit of a stretch IMO. He is an elite teammate, personality, and work ethic. There probably isn't a better "glue" guy that Giorgi. Not shy, funny, and overall wants what's best for the program. He's a fan's dream and a great story.

However, as an NBA prospect, it's tough to see it. 6'9" let's say a true 240-250lbs when he leaves. His game will have evolved to where he will have a good all around game. Stat sheet will say: 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists per game by his senior year. Can score with a soft right or left hand and can shoot the 3 at a 31% clip. Not great, but keeps defenses honest. Is mobile, but not an elite athlete and doesn't play above the rim. That to me reads like a professional athlete abroad in Europe, Australia or China. Think about the position he would have to guard. He's a 3 in the NBA. Zion, Draymond, KD, maybe even a Bobby Portis...who is even taller and bigger that Giorgi. Just look at Tyler Hansbrough...Amazing college player with much the same game if not greater than GB and he had a tough time in the NBA.

I really hope I eat crow on this one, but I'm not sure your enthusiasm is founded.
Just read an article about Portis and looney. Very timely. Backups some of posters thoughts.
https://deadspin.com/bobby-portis-is-a-lesson-in-the-cost-of-doing-business-1836031127

There’s something instructive in the career arcs of Portis and Looney in particular. They were both drafted in 2015; they’re similarly earth-bound; and they’re both undersized by the traditional standards of NBA centers. Looney is a center because he hasn’t shown much three-point range or ball-handling ability—in any serious lineup in the modern NBA, if a forward is not a ball-handler and lacks three-point range, that forward is a center. Portis is a center because, though he has three-point range, he cannot hope to guard quicker players on the perimeter. He also happens to be a terrible rim-protector, but in the modern NBA a big man who can’t guard anyone along the arc is a center.
 
#94      
Evans Seven: Class of 2020 boom-or-bust potential

2. ILLINOIS

Just as always, things begin and end with keeping the top talent from the state home for college. Illinois just hosted top-35 guard DJ Steward and is squarely in the mix for Adam Miller. The Illini will not get both but one would do. They are also attempting to tilt Miller’s travel teammate, Ryan Kalkbrenner, toward their favor.

They must strike at the wing position this year, too, as they have begun to more actively recruit DJ Gordon and Jalen Bridges, and could have a chance with Cliff Omoruyi, Andre Curbelo, Marcus Watson and Nimari Burnett. They just hosted Utah transfer Donnie Tillman and sit in a good spot for him as he could count, in a way, as a class of 2020 pick-up.

However, what if he decides against the Illini, Steward choose Louisville, Miller opts for Kansas and Kalkbrenner nudges selects Stanford? Much is on the line this month as Illinois attempts to resupply its cupboard with regional talent.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/evans-seven-class-of-2020-boom-or-bust-potential
 
#96      

Deleted member 643761

D
Guest
Any chance Giorgi makes an international team in 2020? And what team would he be eligible for?
 
#97      
Any chance Giorgi makes an international team in 2020? And what team would he be eligible for?

He'll have options. If people are projecting him as a borderline NBA guy, and I think that's fair, he'll have no trouble finding teams in other leagues. He doesn't really project to the NBA as any particular spot (4 or 5), but as others have said, he doesn't look like a modern 4, where you look for explosiveness getting to the rim, mobility, and 3 point shooting. In some regards he's a victim of his own success --people forget he was a freshman. He's got time to improve his 3 point shot, and for a guy who played center, he was asked to do a ton. As a freshman center, his avg points per 40 min was about 20 on 57%. Insane! Not sure if he's 6'9" or 6'10", but that's about the minimum for an NBA center. Ben Wallace was intimidating at 6'9" but he was STRONG and physical. Rodman played some center at 6'8", but he's another beast. I have no idea if he's more eager to go pro or finish his degree, but whenever he goes, we'll miss him.

Should be interesting to see how he's utilized this year. Both Kofi and Kane should be able to do more at the 5, and Giorgi should get all the minutes he can handle.
 
#99      
He'll have options. If people are projecting him as a borderline NBA guy, and I think that's fair, he'll have no trouble finding teams in other leagues. He doesn't really project to the NBA as any particular spot (4 or 5), but as others have said, he doesn't look like a modern 4, where you look for explosiveness getting to the rim, mobility, and 3 point shooting. In some regards he's a victim of his own success --people forget he was a freshman. He's got time to improve his 3 point shot, and for a guy who played center, he was asked to do a ton. As a freshman center, his avg points per 40 min was about 20 on 57%. Insane! Not sure if he's 6'9" or 6'10", but that's about the minimum for an NBA center. Ben Wallace was intimidating at 6'9" but he was STRONG and physical. Rodman played some center at 6'8", but he's another beast. I have no idea if he's more eager to go pro or finish his degree, but whenever he goes, we'll miss him.

Should be interesting to see how he's utilized this year. Both Kofi and Kane should be able to do more at the 5, and Giorgi should get all the minutes he can handle.
I hope you are right. I just wonder why everyone thinks its Kane that will suddenly see meaningful minutes when he really saw none last year on a team that had fewer options. I think it's more likely to be a newcomer or GB getting those minutes at the 5. I hope Samba has a skill set we can trust that BU clearly didnt think he could count on last season. Samba can certainly improve but what is a reasonable expectation for him next season and not a stretch?
 
#100      
I hope you are right. I just wonder why everyone thinks its Kane that will suddenly see meaningful minutes when he really saw none last year on a team that had fewer options. I think it's more likely to be a newcomer or GB getting those minutes at the 5. I hope Samba has a skill set we can trust that BU clearly didnt think he could count on last season. Samba can certainly improve but what is a reasonable expectation for him next season and not a stretch?
Yeah I kind of doubt Samba plays more than maybe 5-10 minutes in most games. I see Kofi and Giorgi starting with Giorgi playing backup 5 mins and Tev and Kipper playing the 4 when Giorgi isn’t there.
 
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