illinipioneer
- Richmond, VA
Forbes will get a lot of kids. His problem is going to be getting them into school.
Anybody can get into ETSU. WF not so much.
Whoa there Indy I’ve got close family that attended that fine institution!
Forbes will get a lot of kids. His problem is going to be getting them into school.
Anybody can get into ETSU. WF not so much.
Can we take a moment to applaud Underwood and his staff for turning this program around. Our roster right now is probably competitive enough to compete for an NCAA tournament bid. Yet, we have 3 scholarships left and they can either go to a 1st team All BIG PG, BIG FOY, former Top 40 recruit and double digit scorer at a high major, a guy who averaged 16,5,4 while carrying his team to an NCAA berth in 2019, and a 5 Star big man. Life is good as an Illini basketball fan.
Maybe the basketball post of the year.Can we take a moment to applaud Underwood and his staff for turning this program around. Our roster right now is probably competitive enough to compete for an NCAA tournament bid. Yet, we have 3 scholarships left and they can either go to a 1st team All BIG PG, BIG FOY, former Top 40 recruit and double digit scorer at a high major, a guy who averaged 16,5,4 while carrying his team to an NCAA berth in 2019, and a 5 Star big man. Life is good as an Illini basketball fan.
Seems like that was the general consensus during most of the Groce’s years. Problem was we never lived up to the NCAA potential & almost all of the promising scholarships never materialized. No disrespect to Underwood, I’m happy with last year and where we stand, & like where we are sitting, just not quite ready to believe we will bat 1000 on the last 3 scholarships.Can we take a moment to applaud Underwood and his staff for turning this program around. Our roster right now is probably competitive enough to compete for an NCAA tournament bid. Yet, we have 3 scholarships left and they can either go to a 1st team All BIG PG, BIG FOY, former Top 40 recruit and double digit scorer at a high major, a guy who averaged 16,5,4 while carrying his team to an NCAA berth in 2019, and a 5 Star big man. Life is good as an Illini basketball fan.
Seems like that was the general consensus during most of the Groce’s years. Problem was we never lived up to the NCAA potential & almost all of the promising scholarships never materialized. No disrespect to Underwood, I’m happy with last year and where we stand, & like where we are sitting, just not quite ready to believe we will bat 1000 on the last 3 scholarships.
Groce never was able to recruit a significant center or PG. Rankings for players don’t measure balance. The great teams in the past always had great PG’s . Groce’s best PG was probably TeJon Lucas and his best center was Maverick Morgan. BU has Giorgi and Kofi at center and Trent, Ayo, Dre, and now DreC. All of these players considerably better than Groces best recruits at these positions. Groce brought his staff with him, BU hired recruiters. Last year he proved he could coach. Kudos to the AD.It all comes down to performance on the court; I think everyone understands that. However, when you look at the turn-around I still think there's no comparison. Last year we struggled early with some of the changes, and finished strong, just one game out of a share of the BIG title in a very competitive conference, and in the national rankings to boot.
Betting against 3 for 3 is a pretty safe bet, but the staff has really improved the position we're in. And Underwood IMO has the ability to navigate an increasingly difficult and competitive recruiting market. He's taken some chances that show he can evaluate into lesser recruited players and still find BIG caliber players.
Can we take a moment to applaud Underwood and his staff for turning this program around. Our roster right now is probably competitive enough to compete for an NCAA tournament bid. Yet, we have 3 scholarships left and they can either go to a 1st team All BIG PG, BIG FOY, former Top 40 recruit and double digit scorer at a high major, a guy who averaged 16,5,4 while carrying his team to an NCAA berth in 2019, and a 5 Star big man. Life is good as an Illini basketball fan.
And if Gentry can pull in an occasional 4 star while being a great Xs and Os assistant, then look out!Underwoods first 2 top shelf recruits were Orlando and Chin and they look to be 5 stars. I remember 20 years ago Loren Tate saying that Self's assistants of Norm Roberts and Billy Gillespie being the 2 best recruiting assistants Illinois had ever had. After eliminating Wake, Deron choose Illinois without even a visit
Hasn't he already done that in Goode?And if Gentry can pull in an occasional 4 star while being a great Xs and Os assistant, then look out!
I meant if he continues to do thatHasn't he already done that in Goode?
Then he'll go from goode to greate!I meant if he continues to do that
Well that stinks. But thx for the post.Sorry guys and gals, this is a long read but good info:
Regarding Brandon Weston, I have been able to speak to two different legitimate insiders about him and his recruitment, since he didnt not come through with the Q and A. I was going to post this on my comment in the transfer thread on the Perez transfer to Marquette I'll tell you why
So here goes, dont get excited because none of it is great news,
Both people I had the pleasure of speaking with one via phone and other via video, came to the same prediction and both had similar thoughts regarding weston.
First person I spoke with said illinois ship sailed with Brandon weston the minute adam miller signed, so I asked him why, he said, Brandon and adam have a bortherly relationship do not get me wrong however, Brandon is the little brother who wants badly to be out of his big brothers (Adam) shadow. They play great together but weston feels as if he is "The guy" and if he came to illinois he would once again be in millers shadow and that is the opposite if what he wants. Hence why I said the ship has sailed.
Me: That is not the response I expected at all as I though weston loved the illini and miller from what he has said openly, so if you believe the ship has sailed, then where will this ship wind up docking in your opinion?
Him: If I was a betting man and had to put my money on one school to land him it would be marquette, I personally think he will comit to marquette, I dont believe he will sign in the early signing period because he wants to explore every option available to him, as I am sure he believes he can blow up his recruitment with miller not being the guy at morgan park this coming season, as of right now my bet is marquette..
Me: thank you for your valuable time and insight, even though it is not what I and many fans were hoping for, but thank you very much I appreciate it as do many illini fans, stay safe and thanks again.
Him: no problem and thank you and you and yours stay safe as well.
On to the second;
Me: Thank you for taking the time to talk to me during these crazy times but let me get right to it, what can you tell me about Brandon Weston and his recruitment as of now?
Her: No problem thank you for reaching out.
Brandon is a very very intriguing player and is just as intriguing as a person, he is dedicated, motivated, and hard working, his goal is to reach the nba as many of the young kids dream of. His recruitment however is very very intriguing, his recruitment is not cut and dry or set in stone however the words that I am hearing is that Brandon really wants to show everybody he is his own man, I believe he will end up at a school which allows him to be that person.
Me: What can you tell me about his interest in the illini?
Her: Illinois is very interesting because on one hand he can stay close to home and his family and friends will be able to see him play, he loved his visit, and the players and staff so it is very likely illinois will be in this fight to the bitter end to land him, but ultimately I believe he will take his talents elsewhere.
Me: Where do you think he will be taking his talents?
Her: This is a hard one, as I said illinois will be in this until the very end but right now I believe marquette is in front in recruiting Brandon, if I had a crystal ball I would give it to marquette, ultimately I believe this is where he will play his college basketball.
But as I said nothing is set in stone.
Me: myself and many illini fans hope your prediction does not come true, but thank you very, very much for taking the time to talk to me about this. I enjoyed speaking with you, thanks again, and stay safe.
Her: My pleasure, god bless.
So then Perez comits to marquette, and 20 minutes later I see on twitter "Brandon weston started following perez" coincidence?
What are your thoughts?
Blue bloods aren't recruiting 2 players who played on the same high school team. Blue bloods can tell the 5 star that he is the alpha and the other 4-5 stars they are recruiting are just spear carriers. Not that bluntly of course, you know, spin it.Well that stinks. But thx for the post.
Chin needs to kick it in high gear for this one.
I always puzzles me when people say so and so wont come because they want to be the man, yet, the blue bloods somehow convince all of these 5 stars to play together and commit in the same class. Just wish we could do that here.
Nesbitt looks pretty good to me.Lot of wing options for Illinois. If no Weston, then we will get one just as good or better.
Well that stinks. But thx for the post.
Chin needs to kick it in high gear for this one.
I always puzzles me when people say so and so wont come because they want to be the man, yet, the blue bloods somehow convince all of these 5 stars to play together and commit in the same class. Just wish we could do that here.
I for one am not satisfied with being competitive enough to compete for an NCAA tournament bid.
Well that stinks. But thx for the post.
Chin needs to kick it in high gear for this one.
I always puzzles me when people say so and so wont come because they want to be the man, yet, the blue bloods somehow convince all of these 5 stars to play together and commit in the same class. Just wish we could do that here.
Fair comment. I can see it from that perspective.Th e biggest difference is that the blue bloods aren't recruiting players who are already playing second banana on their high school teams. The players they get (and we're sniffing) have been the man their entire lives so they can't even comprehend that it won't continue. And it's also why you don't usually see players from these loaded prep teams going to the same college.