Illini Basketball 2020-2021

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#252      
Does Mike Davis or Warren Carter count? Egwu?

edit: Robert Archibald?

Those would be some of my top names. Even though Luther was a pretty highly rated recruit he was very raw coming in so I'd maybe toss him in that project category.
 
#254      
How:alma-mater:does Lieb he compare to Tisdale at the same stage. Weber threatened to pull the offer from Tisdale after he committed after his level of effort dropped during his high school season.
 
#255      
That is the plan according to this article:

https://247sports.com/college/baske...recruiting-Brandon-Lieb-commitment-148530874/

The plan is for Lieb to redshirt this upcoming season to develop not only his skills, but his body as well. Illinois is hoping that added time in the weight room, along with skill development will help bring the most out of him.
Does this tell us anything about Kofi? Can afford a project if he will cover next year. Or we don’t have any other options.
 
#256      
Brandon Lieb reminds me of those Wisconsin bigs who handed us our !!! for years. I am excited we have one on our side now
Most if not all were redshirted for a year. If Kofi is back we don’t need him next year with Giorgi and Jermaine as backups.
 
#258      
So if Kofi returns, Lieb will get a year in Fletch's program and banging against Kofi (and Giorgi) in practice. My guess is that in a year from now, he will be much improved player and ready to contribute for the 2021-22 season.
 
#260      
Saw tweet from one of the recruiting guys that plan is for Lieb to redshirt this year, so not sure his signing precludes the signing of a better big still this year. Not saying it will happen, but wouldn’t count it out. Think this is a good signing. Sure, it would be nice to get a more highly recruited, ready now guy, but he has some skills and flexibility to potentially play either some 4 and 5 down the line. He may never be a starter, but think at worst he will be a solid contributor down the line — and even 7-0 solid contributors don’t grow on trees.
 
#262      

Dbell1981

Decatur, IL
Lieb seems like 1 of those players Wisky steals out of our backyard and turns into a complete stud. Glad to have him on our team for the next 4-5 years.
 
#263      
His highlights look better than Meyers Leonard's in my opinion. He certainly looks stronger than Nick Smith. His skills around the basket look solid & I like the idea of him practicing against Kofi for a year.
 
#265      

Probably been posted before but worth watching until season starts. Tough to believe Hawkins won’t get some time after watching this. Offense not going to be a problem, will be all about defense.
 
#266      
#267      

Probably been posted before but worth watching until season starts. Tough to believe Hawkins won’t get some time after watching this. Offense not going to be a problem, will be all about defense.

I actually think we have a chance to be elite defensively next year and may need to improve on offense as the season progresses (assuming no Ayo). Trent, Damonte, Kofi, and Adam are all likely above average defenders in the Big Ten. I’m still not sure who our go-to guy is going to be on offense this year. I think we’ll get our best wins next season (a lot like this past season) when we hold our opponents under ~65.
 
#270      

Probably been posted before but worth watching until season starts. Tough to believe Hawkins won’t get some time after watching this. Offense not going to be a problem, will be all about defense.


This is what I saw from the video. Miller is the shooter we were lacking last year if he can play off the ball. Curbelo is the ball handler we were lacking that Trent picked up the slack for us. Hawkins is going to be a solid player and glue guy. He's got that personality like Giorgi that everyone will wants to be around (will help with recruiting in the future too). I'm excited to see this team play. I don't think there will be as many growing pains as last year. We've got more experience and more depth. We're going to have guys competing for minutes. Without Ayo we'll be really good. With Ayo we'll be great!
 
#271      

DReq

Always Illini
Central Illinois
From everything I see Lieb is not counting on playing immediately. He was looking at the prep route to develop further. There is no better place to develop than in a university with great resources and a monster big man to practice against. Not only can he practice against Kofi, he has Georgi with nice footwork inside to try to defend and apparently some red shirts already here with skill sets that will challenge him far more than a prep school setting would. Top that off with the Fletch treatment hopefully putting the strength into place that he needs and he could easily become that pain in the lane that we hate to see on our opponents' teams. I like this one as a 13th scholly guy.
 
#272      

Probably been posted before but worth watching until season starts. Tough to believe Hawkins won’t get some time after watching this. Offense not going to be a problem, will be all about defense.
Awesome trio. Love that all three like to drive it.
 
#273      
Looks a lot like Kaminski to me.

I can see some talent, seems more athletic than Nick Smith and Tisdale, has a little more meat than Tisdale started at, but still needs weight. Beyond that, Kaminsky was a finalist for player of year, so those are lofty goals. However, has some characteristics.
 
#274      

Probably been posted before but worth watching until season starts. Tough to believe Hawkins won’t get some time after watching this. Offense not going to be a problem, will be all about defense.

Interesting you bring up defense since there were only 4 defensive highlights in that entire video. 3 blocks from Hawkins (4:00, 6:00, 8:30) and 1 steal from Curbelo (6:20). I'd love to see more minutes of their play on the defensive end because I agree that's really going to be what determines their value on our roster as all 3 can clearly score.
 
#275      

DReq

Always Illini
Central Illinois

Every time I see high school highlights I just keep seeing that what passes for defense in high school just isn't. These guys all look great and they will find their way to the basket but it is going to be a real awakening when they start to drive against veteran college players. You can certainly see why the transition to college is so difficult even for the best HS players. I am excited for these three to join the Illini and know they will all add great things when they get past that jump to this level. It will really help to have a full team of talented players to push them hard. The best is yet to come!
 
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