There are fewer "street agent" types in central and southern IL. Makes for a more straightforward recruitment a lot of the time.
Ain't that truth! I still remember the Tom Izzo comment about
"handlers" from the 2013 Big Ten Media Day (and most of us know it was CA's recruitment he was talking about). When he made that comment, I got out of the camp of "Illinois needs to recruit 5-star players from Chicago". If a 5-star Chicago player wants to come to Illinois great, but when recruiting those players in Chicago, Groce and others coaches need to tread lightly and not waste all of their resources on them. Folks do not have time non-sense.
The only schools the Chicago "handlers" of 5-star players, care about are
Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas and "on a good day" Louisville. I use to include Michigan State in that "on a good day" section, but it looks like the "handlers" burned that bridge with Izzo. But the great thing about Izzo, he has built a couple of monster classes since then and without the assistance of those looser 5-star handlers from Chicago. Good for Izzo! As far as I know, Izzo has not been back to Chicago since CA's recruitment, but if I'm wrong, let me know; but I think if Izzo did return to Chicago to recruit, it would only be for a 3-star (like Gavin Schilling) or maybe 4-star players that fit his system, but he's going to stay far away from that 5-star non-sense with these "handlers".
Guys I understand, that Illini basketball is struggling right now, but I'm hoping Groce will still right the ship and have the opportunity to build a great 2017 class,
that I believe will catapult Illini basketball back to prominence and stick it to those 5-star Chicago "handlers", that he and Illinois can build a solid program without their help.
I did not think I was going to write this much on this subject, but every time I think of the 5-star Chicago "handlers", it makes my blood boil. Sorry about the rant.
