he may not make it out of clearing house until November knowing our luck...I just hope if we get him, he gets eligibility by september.He is good, but Okoro will need to get into the system, I doubt he would be ready day 1. Maybe middle or later, but he would be a 4, maybe a 5 for spots. Still think Ebo will surprise us all, he is a soccer player too.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2018)
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You have more faith in Ebo than I do offensively. Other than a dunk I rather see him just pass, rebound and defend. I think others will be able to surpass him for playing time but we shall see. I hope who ever starts no matter the position I am glad when the attempt an open shot and can anticipate it going in, plus demand to be guarded.
The way BU handled MS last year, I believe he starts until he proves he shouldn't.
Ebo and Okoro will not play together. Neither have the skill set to play the 4 (really a big wing offensively in BU's spread) in this offense.
I think it depends what we want the 4 to do. I think Okoro could play a 4 in a power forward. He can rebound, get put backs. Shot some mid range, and run the floor. Michigan State kind of way. Karl Malone is my favorite "4" ever. I do realize the game has changed but all 4's dont need to knock down threes
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One thing is 100% sure....get Okoro in the gym with Spicy G, Giorgi, and Kane and they are all gonna get much better!
Agreed.
The position you are describing is basically the 5 in BU's offense. You can't have two guys on the floor that can't handle a bit and shoot from the outside in his version of the spread.
Ebo will never play the 4 but I'm pretty sure Okoro is looking for a place that will let him develop at the 4, which we might do at times even if it means adjusting the offense. I'm not sold that we'll get him though.
I think good coaches can adapt at times to thier players. I think he could do it and also it's not like Black shot the three before mid season this year. Okoro could learn this skill set too. Others have done so with less athletic ability.
If he wants to go to the NBA he shouldn't come here if he wont be allowed to play the 4. I highly doubt BU didnt discuss him at the 4, expanding his game and possibly the NBA during his visit. We disagree which is fine.
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I'm not saying he will never be able to. He clearly needs to learn those skills to continue his basketball past college. I'm saying I haven't seen him demonstrate that he currently possesses those skills in the film I have seen of him.
Black did not demonstrate the ability to do those things prior to this year either. The fact that this staff taught those skills is what they are certainly selling to Okoro. I hope he commits to us and he is able to acquire those skills because that would make him a dominant player.
I was answering the question pertaining to the 2018-19 season and his current skill set.
:thumb: I hope he can develop fast and eventually play it some next season a little bit given we land him. Especially vs teams like MSU. We need more rebounding from our 4 and 5. I have faith in Kipper at the 4 but that makes us pretty small.
I wonder how our 4's minutes will be distributed with this new class . Both to start and at the end of the year.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
And man would our offense look infinitely more efficient.
Giorgi can hit the elbow j and score off 1-2 dribbles with either hand and is a plus passer. Not the athlete Okoro is (obviously), but CBU fell in love with him for that reason.
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And that is the separating factor if okoro can do those things
There is no way Okoro isn’t starting day 1 if he comes here. He may not be ready for the role, but there is literally no one else in our frontcourt who is ready either. Right now this is my best guess on the lineup next year:
PG: Frazier-Feliz
SG: Dosunmu-Williams
SF: Jordan-Jones-Griffin
PF: Nichols-Kane-Vesel
C: Okoro-Ebo-Bez
If Okoro commits it will be interesting to see how Underwood handles the frontcourt.
He is good, but Okoro will need to get into the system, I doubt he would be ready day 1. Maybe middle or later, but he would be a 4, maybe a 5 for spots. Still think Ebo will surprise us all, he is a soccer player too.
Does he know Larry Bird?
sacraig
- The desert
Rivals was the site that listed him as top in the state.
Agreed, I have higher hopes for Georgi than others do. I think the competition will only make our beloved better. Okoro has more NBA potential but potential doesnt always beat out skill right away, you must apply it. How badly could we have used a big like Loyola had this season? It's not just about being an athlete. You have to apply your potential and make it happen on the court. I think it's clear Georgi has worked hard on his skill set. It's also clear Okoro can put rebound all of our guys now and has a higher ceiling too.
Correct. The ranking was about the top high school player, not the top prospect.
sacraig
- The desert
Look, I am not about to argue about who is or isn't the best prospect as I am not an expert in this and haven't seen them play, and whatnot. However, the site that has Griffin as top senior and above Brown is https://nychoops.rivals.com/, which certainly seems like it is Rivals to me, at least on some level. Check the bottom left.
Again, I am not a talent evaluator, have not seen either play, and generally have no clue who is better, but it isn't like it was just some random Tumblr page who had him ranked number 1 in the state.
Not typical at all, but ok
sacraig
- The desert
We've been over this many times, particularly when it pertains to crystal balls, and the bottom line is this: everyone here is an expert and anyone who disagrees clearly is naive.
Quick Points
Think Trent is good with and without the ball, similiar to Dee. Ayo has also shown to be a combo guard who excels in transition. Once again good with and without ball.
Those that can defend, rebound, and handle the ball will be our 1-2-3 starters.
I see Ebo getting his share of minutes. See the best rebounder, defender, rim runner get the minutes at 5. We will need a big that can pass, pick, and shoot. Only see Kipper who can fill that role, and he is really a 3. Possibly in the future Georgi and Matic can be that type of big.
Think Trent is good with and without the ball, similiar to Dee. Ayo has also shown to be a combo guard who excels in transition. Once again good with and without ball.
Those that can defend, rebound, and handle the ball will be our 1-2-3 starters.
I see Ebo getting his share of minutes. See the best rebounder, defender, rim runner get the minutes at 5. We will need a big that can pass, pick, and shoot. Only see Kipper who can fill that role, and he is really a 3. Possibly in the future Georgi and Matic can be that type of big.
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