Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
Illini Coaching Staff
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
OMG OMG OMG
So, this is a good thing, right?
Antigua was Calipari's ace recruiter for a long time and would be a big time hire. Surprising, but there is an Illini connection as well. Antigua played for the Globetrotters for quite a long time, so Mannie Jackson has known him very well and Mannie has been advising Whitman.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Interesting connection. Sure looks like he's going to be the guy. Not going to pretend like Coach Cal connections don't bother me, but this is a big time hire and I'm happy to get on board with Antigua if BWood and Whitman are.
The last spot will be interesting now. Do we go with a Chicago recruiter? Or do we leave that role to Antigua and go after more of a coaching/skill development guy?
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
Yup, stud recruiter. It signals to me that UI is ready for big boy hoops. JMO.
Antigua is also the head coach of the Dominican Republic national basketball team. Let me tell you from my many trips and basketball clinics to the Dominican - they have become obsessed with basketball and it never hurts to have someone who knows the best players in that country.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Here are commitments Antigua has landed via 247Sports: http://247sports.com/Coach/Orlando-Antigua-191/AllTimeRecruits
Some decent players there... :thumb:
Some decent players there... :thumb:
He was, but has not been the coach for their national team for a couple of years now.
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
True but he still knows the players well and has good connections. Hey Gonzaga gets international players, why not us
Oskee67
- Champaign
Yeah the current academic scandals usf is facing give me pause. The fact that he was the main recruiter for a blue blood is definitely not the issue.
... and got fired as a head coach.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I love this board!:thumb:Well, Antigua worked for Calipari who worked for Larry Brown who worked for Colangelo. So now you see the Colangelo/Brown connection.
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
He's unemployed.
If you choose to believe certain internet rumors......
the last assistant spot will either be Chin Coleman or Roger Powell.
the last assistant spot will either be Chin Coleman or Roger Powell.
MainelyIllini
- uh, Maine
He was dismissed as the USF head coach in January. I like his pedigree (Calipari, J. Dixon), but am a little concerned about the USF academic scandal mentioned above.
Either way, if true, this is a signal that we are finally ready to get back to big boy hoops. :thumb:
I'm not as concerned about the academic scandal because in my opinion, that falls on the head coach and their direction of the program. Sounds like he's a great assistant, but wasn't ready to be a head coach.
MainelyIllini
- uh, Maine
He was the head coach.
Just checked out of curiosity, and he has pretty much followed everyone on our current team with a twitter account, including all of our committed recruits for next year and potential recruits (i.e., Smith). That would be extremely odd if he is not indeed one of the next assistant coaches.
illiniCA
- DC Area
I think the point being that will fall on Underwood