Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (October 2016)

[decatur1]

I think we have a realistic shot. There is something about Indiana that seems not to sit well with Wilkes or it seems to me he would have committed on or shortly after his visit. If Indiana was clearly the choice why cut it to 3? Just cut it to one. On the other hand he seems to be ready to decide. I am not saying it's us. I'm saying it would not be so surprising if it's not Indiana.

 

[frozenrope9190]

So if it's not us, would you prefer it be IU, in our conference, with Clappy? Or UCLA and Pukemaster General Steve Alford?

 

[coryfor3]

Since KW has cancelled his last 2 visits it seems logical that he has made a decision. So can someone expound on why he hasn't at least set an announcement date???

Doesn't mean that he has a decision I don't think. Maybe just that he has seen enough and done some thinking and decided that he wants to choose between the 3 and is going to sit down and think about it and come up with a decision.

I hope its UI. Unfortunately, the timing after the Indiana visit seems to indicate Indiana to me. Illinois would be a huge upset and great news but I'm skeptical. Maybe he visited the long distance option he likes (UCLA), the option he likes but isn't the "home team" but is still close to home (Illinois) and the local school that people at home likely are encouraging him to attend (indiana) and there is no need to hit Xavier and UConn. So he saw UCLA, came to Illinois, gave Indiana the courtesy and last chance visit and now he will pick Illinois. Just hoping...

 

[Adnarel]

What's the word on the street about Kiir's visit?

 

[troym22]

Im tired of losing out to Indiana. Our program needs this, and playing with Tilmon would be ideal for him, especially since IU just got a commit from another Top 100 SF Justin Smith

 

[Obelix]

Doesn't mean that he has a decision I don't think. Maybe just that he has seen enough and done some thinking and decided that he wants to choose between the 3 and is going to sit down and think about it and come up with a decision.

He definitely knows where he is going.

 

[decatur1]

Why set an announcement date? If you don't know yet, it makes no sense to box yourself in. If you do know and set one, it likely would be only to rev up PR and he does not strike me as being that type of person.

 

[Cubby Blue]

Why set an announcement date? If you don't know yet, it makes no sense to box yourself in. If you do know and set one, it likely would be only to rev up PR and he does not strike me as being that type of person.

That's a pretty bold way to look at it.

 

[sacraig]

That's a pretty bold way to look at it.

 

[Obelix]

Why set an announcement date? If you don't know yet, it makes no sense to box yourself in. If you do know and set one, it likely would be only to rev up PR and he does not strike me as being that type of person.

Some people announce on twitter, some like a physical announcement. It is not bad either way if someone handles it well.

PS. You do not need to bold your entire post. You can bold a specific word if you want to draw emphasis, or a few words of the post you respond to. But writing your entire post in bold makes it harder to read.

 

[IlliniRock]

Not sure I agree with that. There has not been such a strong brand "pull" since the Jordan years IMO. I am around basketball and AAU quite a bit, and while today's young AAU athletes have a strong desire to wear the latest and coolest models, the hip models, they have much less incline to specific brands among the top national basketball brands.

What attracts them to AAU programs is the coaches, visibility, and the fact that they get a lot of free merchandise that includes some of the latest/coolest stuff. Much less the specific brand. They love the feeling of being "sponsored" but if their coaches/programs moved from Adidas to Nike, or vice-versa, or even Under Armour (making a very big push in basketball) they would not think twice. The game is influencing the influencers, the coaches/programs/events. JMO.

On the topic of Wilkes, shoe companies and association is not a factor here. Wilkes has been to multiple different sponsored events, including Under Armour.

The players I coach (Fresh-Senior in HS) are all on the Jordan 3,4,11,12,1,2 bandwagon. Some Brons, a few Kobe's but mostly Jordan's. A Yeezy or two but majority Jordan.

 

[coryfor3]

He definitely knows where he is going.

Why?

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Saying "I've got all the info I need, I am going to force myself to decide by date X in the future because I want to have it over with and move on" is a real thing for certain people.

Especially a decision like this where being undecided is itself a source of hoopla.

 

[RockfordIllini]

Groce and Crean just seem to be polar opposites with regards to loyalty/integrity.

Groce makes Frazier a priority. Frazier wants to commit. Groce accepts commitment and then backs off of a higher ranked recruit.

Crean has probably told Wilkes he is a top priority. Meanwhile he is currently oversigned by 2 already, including a 4 star that plays the same position.

That said, it would be hard to turn down playing for a program as storied as IU if you grew up in Indy. I think he picks IU, but man, do I hate used car salesmen like Crean. Here's hoping we pull an upset, Crean gets spurned, and loyalty/integrity is rewarded.

 

[troym22]

I see little evidence that he would choose us, at least on twitter. Retweets of his visits to UCLA and IU recently, and pictures in his media section relating to IU and UCLA, but nothing for Illinois.

 

[Cubby Blue]

Groce and Crean just seem to be polar opposites with regards to loyalty/integrity.

Yeah, I keep reading these stories where cops are arresting these stupid clowns all over the country and fully expect with good detective work, Clappy will get nabbed sooner rather than later.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Yeah, I keep reading these stories where cops are arresting these stupid clowns all over the country and fully expect with good detective work, Clappy will get nabbed sooner rather than later.

Lol, reports of creepy clown sightings have reached Bloomington!

 

[Obelix]

Groce and Crean just seem to be polar opposites with regards to loyalty/integrity.

Groce makes Frazier a priority. Frazier wants to commit. Groce accepts commitment and then backs off of a higher ranked recruit.

Crean has probably told Wilkes he is a top priority. Meanwhile he is currently oversigned by 2 already, including a 4 star that plays the same position.

While Crean is one of my least favorite coaches, these statements do not represent reality. Of course, the natural tendency on boards is to always anoint the Illini coach as the model of loyalty and integrity.

Truth is that Groce was ready to oversign by not one (Snider) but 2 players (Cliff) without even having strong NBA candidates for early entry. Indiana at least has some very strong possibilities in Bryant (all but gone), OG, and maybe even Blackmon Jr.

If Groce needed to oversign to get Wilkes, he would do it in a heartbeat. Let's not pretend that is not the case. And Groce has also been a risk taker in his career on integrity (of recruits).

 

[dweebs19]

Anybody know how the Kiir visit is going?

 

[troym22]

I'm more disgusted with the fact that Mr. Secretly record your phone conversations Bruce Pearl is nabbing 5 star recruits for a school who has no business getting them

 

[Cubby Blue]

While Crean is one of my least favorite coaches, these statements do not represent reality. Of course, the natural tendency on boards is to always anoint the Illini coach as the model of loyalty and integrity.

Truth is that Groce was ready to oversign by not one (Snider) but 2 players (Cliff) without even having strong NBA candidates for early entry. Indiana at least has some very strong possibilities in Bryant (all but gone), OG, and maybe even Blackmon Jr.

If Groce needed to oversign to get Wilkes, he would do it in a heartbeat. Let's not pretend that is not the case. And Groce has also been a risk taker in his career on integrity (of recruits).

Point taken on oversigning, but Patterson and Roth would like to speak with you for a second in the foyer.

 

[ILL in IA]

Yeah, I keep reading these stories where cops are arresting these stupid clowns all over the country and fully expect with good detective work, Clappy will get nabbed sooner rather than later.

"It was the strangest thing, the clown was just standing there clapping. I think he also took a sip of a beer, not sure though"

 

[Obelix]

Point taken on oversigning, but Patterson and Roth would like to speak with you for a second in the foyer.

Coaches will do it, as Groce was going to do as well. So if you understand the oversigning point, no revelation will come from talking to people. Someone has to leave, and they will not be happy about it. But again, let's not pretend that Groce is the model of integrity/loyalty and he would not do it, or as proven in the past, was not going to it. Especially at the status of our program right now, if the opportunity is there, he has to do it.

 

[ILL in IA]

Coaches will do it, as Groce was going to do as well. So if you understand the oversigning point, no revelation will come from talking to people. Someone has to leave, and they will not be happy about it. But again, let's not pretend that Groce is the model of integrity/loyalty and he would not do it, or as proven in the past, was not going to it. Especially at the status of our program right now, if the opportunity is there, he has to do it.

We all know Groce would do it. BUT, to this point he hasn't, so it can try to use it against them.

 

[Cubby Blue]

Coaches will do it, as Groce was going to do as well. So if you understand the oversigning point, no revelation will come from talking to people. Someone has to leave, and they will not be happy about it. But again, let's not pretend that Groce is the model of integrity/loyalty and he would not do it, or as proven in the past, was not going to it. Especially at the status of our program right now, if the opportunity is there, he has to do it.

I do not think Groce would do what Crean did to Patterson.

You don't go hard after a kid, sign him to a letter of intent and then "Crean" him after he moves to campus early and takes summer classes, all because you oversigned. Groce can count. Clappy evidently couldn't in that instance.