Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2017)

[peace davids]

Asst

I would go visit my sister every day just to troll us Illini fans (if I were Cuonzo, of course).

 

[mhuml32]

I'm really concerned with the lack of bigs. Based off today's scholarship grid, we'll have something like*

Guards
Lucas
Frazier
[possibly Smith]
Da'Monte
JCL
AJ
Pickett

Wings
Kipper
DJW

Forwards
Black
Finke

Center
Tilmon

with 1 to give. To me, this says we absolutely have to get a center, or or 4/5 that is able to defend. We're painted into a corner with our guard heavy roster, and pursuit of Smith.

*positions are arguable, and not knowing BU's system, I'm even less comfortable than usual assigning them. Still, our need for another center is pretty glaring.

Don't know Underwood's system, but Kipper could put in some minutes every game as a small-ball 4.

 

[FiveStar]

*positions are arguable, and not knowing BU's system, I'm even less comfortable than usual assigning them. Still, our need for another center is pretty glaring.

Offensively it will not be abnormal to see 4 "guards" on the court at one time in this offense. The "1-4" are literally all interchangeable offensively. The need then becomes someone who can guard a 4/5 defensively. Maybe we have a strong 6'5 guard like Smith who can guard a 4, or something like that, or we grab a big with a perimeter skill set like Finke. I think either of those is an option.

Defensively, Underwood will also use a 3-2 zone. As long as you got a guy who can close corners and fight for rebounds/post position down low, that can also be a guard. Ok State also ran some 1-2-2 in the 3/4 court, so an extra "guard" for speed wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing there.

 

[IlliniBrave75]

Kedric Prince‏ @KedPrince420h20 hours ago
'18 #Illini bball rec. Tim Finke playing w/big brother: Its always a thought. But @ the end of the day I'm looking for the best fit for me.

Kedric Prince‏ @KedPrince4 21h21 hours ago
#Illini '18 bball rec. Tim Finke said:It definitely makes me intrigued to see a new coach that's won a lot. That's big a big factor for me.

 

[TheFameProtector]

I'm really concerned with the lack of bigs. Based off today's scholarship grid, we'll have something like*

Guards
Lucas
Frazier
[possibly Smith]
Da'Monte
JCL
AJ
Pickett

Wings
Kipper
DJW

Forwards
Black
Finke

Center
Tilmon

with 1 to give. To me, this says we absolutely have to get a center, or or 4/5 that is able to defend. We're painted into a corner with our guard heavy roster, and pursuit of Smith.

*positions are arguable, and not knowing BU's system, I'm even less comfortable than usual assigning them. Still, our need for another center is pretty glaring.

Totally agree, no doubt about it. We need some size. That said, if we play a pressure D with our wings, especially if we can nab a PG/CG with great size like Smith, that should mitigate some of our size issues. I'm OK giving up the shot blocking we'd lose by having Black play some 5 if it means we have guards and wings playing havoc-like D.

The flip side is that when that pressure D breaks down, we'd have little in the way of a person to make up for the breakdown. A bouncy, long-armed F/C (a la Jordan Bell) would be an awesome fit.

 

[FiveStar]

Don't know Underwood's system, but Kipper could put in some minutes every game as a small-ball 4.

I think we'll see a lot of 4/5 as Kip and Finke with either one of them playing perimeter/high post.

I'd hope to see more of Finke/Tilmon 4/5 though.

 

[Saybrook]

Brian Cook tweeting Mr. Mark Smith, if it hasn't already been reported. Mentioning the pride and joy to come on home and represent!

thank you Mr. Cook! please feel free to provide all the support and influence possible. :thumb:

 

[IlliniBrave75]

I know a lot of people don't trust the DJ Doctor, but the person that he is sighting as the source is an assistant coach at Manual.


Dariush Takhtehchian‏ @takhtehchianmd 6h6 hours ago
Per @dwilliams1515, "Monte is ALL in" .'17 Recruits Tilmon, Frazier and Williams are all 100%... Pickett is unknown.....Smith is X-factor

 

[KrushCow31]

Just to play devil's advocate.

Tod Palmer @todpalmer Porter Jr. said Mizzou still needs to add size. Hasn't given up on East St. Louis' Jeremiah Tilmon: "I'm on him hard."

 

[illynifan34]

That's not playing devil's advocate, that's reality. I'm sure that's going to be part of Cuonzo's pitch to Smith tonight. Get as many people into his ear as possible. Problem with Porter Jr.'s pitch is that the guy is going to be there for one year and Missouri will be in his rear view mirror. Smith is a different story.

Tweet references Porter and Tilmon. Point still stands.

 

[BirdDog9048]

Watching the opponent play volleyball off the glass when it comes to offensive rebounds is most definitely a problem when you lack size the way we're lacking it right now. An athletic 6'8'' or 6'9" post player....That actually plays in the post would look pretty good about now. A 6'6" slashing wing who can get to the rim would also be a welcome addition. If anybody can find those two guys out from under a rock for 2017-2018, it would be much appreciated.

I found two of them. Their names are Kipper Nichols and DJ Williams... :huh:

 

[KrushCow31]

That's not playing devil's advocate, that's reality. I'm sure that's going to be part of Cuonzo's pitch to Smith tonight. Get as many people into his ear as possible. Problem with Porter Jr.'s pitch is that the guy is going to be there for one year and Missouri will be in his rear view mirror. Smith is a different story.

Eh
Most people had chilled out a bit and convinced themselves Tilmon is a done deal still. I think it is, but I thought it'd stir the pot.

 

[Obelix]

Seems like Smith didn't want to play for Groce and it didn't help that we came in late with an offer.

Not true.

 

[Obelix]

From what I've heard/read, the Groce part is.

Not sure where you heard or read, other than the false conjecture made here a few times, but I can tell you with certainty from people very close to Smith that he had a very good relationship with Groce and liked him a lot. He does not know Underwood (met him after he became the UI HC) so it remains to be seen whether there is enough time to forge a relationship. He does like UI.

 

[Andy Kaufman]

As far as recruiting, I was at the game where Lou Henson announced his retirement. Lou's announcement blind sided me because he seemed ageless to me at that time. I only bring this up because guys like Roy Williams and Tom Izzo are on the wrong side of 60 and recruits may be wondering if they will be there for their 4 years.

 

[Obelix]

As far as recruiting, I was at the game where Lou Henson announced his retirement. Lou's announcement blind sided me because he seemed ageless to me at that time. I only bring this up because guys like Roy Williams and Tom Izzo are on the wrong side of 60 and recruits may be wondering if they will be there for their 4 years.

Totally different situation, and Lou's retirement wasn't exactly totally voluntary. People on this board said the same thing about Izzo just a few years ago, claiming he could not recruit anymore and maybe leaving for the NBA, and Izzo just went on to recruit better than most of his career.

 

[Deleted member 10676]

Here's how I read the Mark Smith situation:

- If Underwood was coaching last year, Smith likely commits. Seems like Smith didn't want to play for Groce and it didn't help that we came in late with an offer.

:faint:opcorn:

Smith wanted to play for Groce, the whole class did. And we did not come in late with an offer. We were one of the first actually.
But other than that . . .

 

[Obelix]

My information wasn't from this board. It was from employees at his high school.

Also, having a good relationship and wanting to play for are 2 different things. Groce seemed like a very likable guy who made a great impression on pretty much every player he recruited.

But if 'relationships' are key with Smith, why he is letting in Calipari and Izzo last minute? Seems like those 2, or at least Calipari, is trying to swoop in without having done much recruiting of him prior to this.

"Relationship" as in liking to play for a coach, not just take a stroll in the park together. Smith liked to play for Groce, but his uncertain situation as the UI HC was an inhibitor. Person very close to Smith told me that he "does not know Underwood." That was before his visit, whether he feels comfortable with him after he got to meet him remains to be seen.

There is a huge difference between Calipari, Izzo, Self and all these HOF coaches and UI. Just getting recruited by these coaches is huge for most recruits. Yet, recruits need to balance that against fit, PT, etc. Relationships are not everything.

 

[Obelix]

If not, seems unfair to talk about unfamiliarity with Underwood when other coaches are getting in on him late. Not saying that's happening, but it's been thrown around as a possibility.

Again, there is a huge difference between Calipari, Coach K, Self, Izzo, Roy and these HOF coaches. Most of the them are also coaches for true blue bloods. There is a "wow" factor. Underwood may end up being a very good coach at UI, but he is not at that level of name recognition.

In the case of Smith, proximity and familiarity with UI, Jamal, etc. are very positive. Cal, Izzo, Self, Coach K, Roy can walk late in a recruitment and still easily get a commitment. Even if it is miles and miles away. For most other coaches, building relationships over time is more important.

 

[Peoria Pipeline]

I stand corrected on the late offer.

So is Smith just waiting to get all the love from bigger programs now that he's blown up? Was Cuonzo recruiting him hard when he was at Cal? Or did he even have a relationship with him?

If not, seems unfair to talk about unfamiliarity with Underwood when other coaches are getting in on him late. Not saying that's happening, but it's been thrown around as a possibility.

Martin offered him in early Feb. while at Cal. Not sure how much he had been talking to him or anything like that. I think an assistant coach was the head recruiter of Smith.

 

[Peoria Pipeline]

Right, I agree. But how well does he know Izzo, Calipari, Cuonzo if they're putting the full court press on him late?

Sounds like Smith is more concerned about committing to a coach than a university. Which is fine.

I think as long as he likes Underwood, he will end up here. We have no idea of what he thinks about Coach though. I know he likes Walker but getting a bad vibe from the Head Coach can influence kids decisions.

 

[Qwiksilvur]

Just to play devil's advocate.

Tod Palmer @todpalmer Porter Jr. said Mizzou still needs to add size. Hasn't given up on East St. Louis' Jeremiah Tilmon: "I'm on him hard."

Isn't it against the rules to recruit someone who has signed a letter of inten?

 

[Obelix]

Sounds like Smith is more concerned about committing to a coach than a university. Which is fine.

You are reading way too much on Smith's state of mind. Nobody knows yet what Smith actually thinks. He may very well end up at UI, Mizzou, Butler, etc.

 

[Obelix]

Isn't it against the rules to recruit someone who has signed a letter of inten?

Recruits talk to each other all the time, they are not official recruiters or employees of the school.

 

[gibb52]

Its surprising in that Texas' talented athletes are pushed into football (and therefore track), and even baseball (especially at my school and we're only good at basketball). At some schools down here football coaches expect football players to be in the football athletic period every day all year, even if the athlete is in a different sport currently in season. All the money and the prestige and attention is given to football. Aside from a really top notch coaches clinic, the deck is stacked against basketball growth in every area.

Conversely, Illinois is a basketball first state, and some schools located in the hottest basketball recruiting area in the country don't even have football teams. The best athletes in Illinois are full time basketball players a majority of the time. And they started early, I think I remember school sports starting around 5th grade in Illinois. These things are not true of Texas.

I've seen that first hand. My son teaches/coaches in the Houston burbs and the schools there are massively large. Some of their gyms are smaller than the little town gym here where I live.