Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Spot on.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2018)
- Status
Spot on.
If all this turns out to be true it begs the question is there a problem with the staff? We would be lucky to win 9 or 10 games next year if we lose Smith, Lucas, and especially Black. So far with the new staff color me less than impressed....time will only tell at this point. Sad
If it takes too much time, we will be on to a new coach. If we get to year three and no NCAA tourney, then plain and simple Underwood is not doing the job that is required.
Unsubstantiated rumor #????
If 5 Players are indeed gone and those are the 5 that practiced good housekeeping, then here is my guess, based on skill level, playing time, demeanor, etc from throughout the year.
Smith #1 Overwhelmed for most of the year, will never be the GUY, and looking for more?
Finke #2 Playing time diminished greatly, even when returning from concussion, had a great going away game, out to the sandbox to join his brother.
Vesel #3 Playing time will again be limited, the kid is just not ready for B1G Boy basketball, his skill set is there, just way to out of his league presently. Europe.
Lucas #4 Wished he would stay as well, but I think the over recruiting may be more than he wants to deal with, he got out of the doghouse, may never stay out if he remains?
Alstork #5 Gone anyway, thank you for the defense, best of luck in the future.
So with these 5 out of play, best guess is this is who we lose. Starters next year would be:
Frazier
Ayo
Williams
Black
Ebo
Bench players:
Nichols
Trice - Takes one scholly
Jones - Takes 2nd scholly
Griffin- Takes 3rd scholly
Ramey - Takes 4th scholly
Freshman Big Takes 5th
Carry over of the 6th if my math is correct into 2019, with hopes we get Liddell, Okoro, Whitney????
If 5 Players are indeed gone and those are the 5 that practiced good housekeeping, then here is my guess, based on skill level, playing time, demeanor, etc from throughout the year.
Smith #1 Overwhelmed for most of the year, will never be the GUY, and looking for more?
Finke #2 Playing time diminished greatly, even when returning from concussion, had a great going away game, out to the sandbox to join his brother.
Vesel #3 Playing time will again be limited, the kid is just not ready for B1G Boy basketball, his skill set is there, just way to out of his league presently. Europe.
Lucas #4 Wished he would stay as well, but I think the over recruiting may be more than he wants to deal with, he got out of the doghouse, may never stay out if he remains?
Alstork #5 Gone anyway, thank you for the defense, best of luck in the future.
So with these 5 out of play, best guess is this is who we lose. Starters next year would be:
Frazier
Ayo
Williams
Black
Ebo
Bench players:
Nichols
Trice - Takes one scholly
Jones - Takes 2nd scholly
Griffin- Takes 3rd scholly
Ramey - Takes 4th scholly
Freshman Big Takes 5th
Carry over of the 6th if my math is correct into 2019, with hopes we get Liddell, Okoro, Whitney????
I agree with much of what you say except thelast couple sentences, depending on who we land. If we can land Tevian Jones and a big that can defend the paint, I think you see significantly more wins. Just adding Ayo and subtracting Alstork makes us a better team, and he's not all we're adding.
Deleted member 631370
D
Guest
Well, if 5 lockers were cleaned out, keep in mind that at least one of our walk-ons is a senior.
I cannot imagine Damonte starting over Kipper next year.
There is no way we're getting Jones AND Ramey. I'd be very happy with just Jones. Very happy. Ramey isn't happening, IMO.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
I think waiting to see who the transfers are before determining that all we are losing is Alstork would be wise. I am assuming some of the transfers will be guys that definitely could have helped some next year. I don’t think they are guys that we will look back at 3 years from now saying “boy can you imagine how good we would be if still had....).
Ramey is picking up steam and I think with Ayo and hopefully Jones in the fold, he may want to join the crew...
Kipper off the bench is purely from experience etc...you cant have all your height and experience in the starting lineup. Plus I think Williams becomes our next great defender, he already is our best rebounding guard and his offense takes a step forward as well.
Why do you believe Ramey is "picking up speed"? I hope you are right, but respected posters here are not as optimistic.
Based on what? All indications are everywhere else except here. By all means, he would be an amazing get. Just not seeing it happening at all.
On the other hand, am really hoping Jones has a great OV & maybe can talk to Ayo while in the area.
Ramey is definitely considering us more than people think. Not saying by any means we're the "leader" but it is definitely more than people think.
I think Ayo might try and come and down if schedule permits.
Best of luck to him.
Deleted member 631370
D
Guest
Not saying the post is accurate, but funny how this is posted 6 minutes before it's then posted that Mark Smith is being granted his transfer paperwork.
I'd be utterly stunned beyond belief if nobody transfers.
Dan
Admin
After sticking with Leron when he had issues with the law, I'd be very surprised to see him go anywhere. Lucas was starting at the end of the year, so unless we were to land Ramey, which I think is unlikely, I think he'll stay, but who knows. It's all just speculation.
I'd hate to see Smith go, but he didn't give us that much last year, so his loss probably doesn't affect our record much based on last year's stats. Plus we going to pick up other guys and some of those might have a significant affect on our record, Tevian Jones who is in for a visit this weekend for example.
So it's premature to speculate about our record when you have little idea of who's going to be on the roster.
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Deleted member 646108
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LaVar 2.0
I will preface my post by saying that I was thrilled Mark picked Illinois and I really hope Mark decides to stay. I think he has the tools to develop into a real starter and contributor in his 3rd and 4th year. Trust the growth process and the way things have worked for 100 years. Players get better as they get older and mature. I think it was unrealistic to expect him to take the big ten by storm as a freshman. In retrospect, that post high school all star game in Kentucky might have been more predictive of his freshman year success in D1 than his high school highlight videos.
Also, I know the board constantly raves about Fletch and how great he is at strengthening the players....however I worry that maybe they bulked up Mark too much, too fast....affecting his quickness and shot. I thought he looked a step slow all season and have thought all season the bulking up might have been a contributing factor.
But the comparison Applegate20 made to Lavar Ball is SPOT ON. One example....I used to play morning pickup basketball at the Edwardsville YMCA. Mark's dad would occasionally play too. Around Mark's freshman year of high school - his dad would bring Mark at 5:30 am and include him in the adult pickup games.
Back then, the kid was not good and the situation was like the Dude Perfect Basketball Stereotypes video where the dad brings his kid to the game detriment of all playing.
If you were unlucky enough to get stuck on their team, you would not EVER see the ball as every pass was from Anthony to Mark so he could jack up a bad shot. Most shots Mark took weren't even close but dad kept feeding him the ball - dad would even look right at you wide open, then pass to Mark. Dad's over the top effort to develop Mark was beyond frustrating when you wanted to win and hold the court for the next game. I heard stories that Anthony was the same as far back as coach pitch little league baseball pitching floaters to Mark so he could get a hit every time.
I never thought of it before but the parallels to Lavar and Lonzo are pretty strong with those too.
Regardless, I hope he stays. I mean Drury? Really? That is so far beneath his potential. Would be a bummer if true.
I will preface my post by saying that I was thrilled Mark picked Illinois and I really hope Mark decides to stay. I think he has the tools to develop into a real starter and contributor in his 3rd and 4th year. Trust the growth process and the way things have worked for 100 years. Players get better as they get older and mature. I think it was unrealistic to expect him to take the big ten by storm as a freshman. In retrospect, that post high school all star game in Kentucky might have been more predictive of his freshman year success in D1 than his high school highlight videos.
Also, I know the board constantly raves about Fletch and how great he is at strengthening the players....however I worry that maybe they bulked up Mark too much, too fast....affecting his quickness and shot. I thought he looked a step slow all season and have thought all season the bulking up might have been a contributing factor.
But the comparison Applegate20 made to Lavar Ball is SPOT ON. One example....I used to play morning pickup basketball at the Edwardsville YMCA. Mark's dad would occasionally play too. Around Mark's freshman year of high school - his dad would bring Mark at 5:30 am and include him in the adult pickup games.
Back then, the kid was not good and the situation was like the Dude Perfect Basketball Stereotypes video where the dad brings his kid to the game detriment of all playing.
If you were unlucky enough to get stuck on their team, you would not EVER see the ball as every pass was from Anthony to Mark so he could jack up a bad shot. Most shots Mark took weren't even close but dad kept feeding him the ball - dad would even look right at you wide open, then pass to Mark. Dad's over the top effort to develop Mark was beyond frustrating when you wanted to win and hold the court for the next game. I heard stories that Anthony was the same as far back as coach pitch little league baseball pitching floaters to Mark so he could get a hit every time.
I never thought of it before but the parallels to Lavar and Lonzo are pretty strong with those too.
Regardless, I hope he stays. I mean Drury? Really? That is so far beneath his potential. Would be a bummer if true.
So, about Ramey.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Ayo, Jones and Ramey. And all of the pain fades away......
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