Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2017)

[goillini30]

Thanks! That would be good news for our sell to Smith. Hope we get him. If we miss, do you think we see TJL and Frazier on the floor at the same time as the 1 and "4"?

I would think so, because I'm not totally sure that JCL can do all of the things that BU wants from those spots. I think he has a lot of work to do to fit in this offense because it seems the 2/3 are ideally your 6'5-8" wings and are asked to post at times in the flow of the offense. Obviously JCL is the best shooter on the roster, so I trust that BU will find a way to make him successful, but I just don't think that it's a natural fit for the offense.

 

[goillini30]

Personally I think Lucas will be hard to get out of the lineup with Smith or without. Folks always get starry eyed over recruits and I know its a brand new system, but he showed a lot of vision and played very good D for a freshman. Need to work on his shot, but his BB IQ and motor is there.

I agree, that's why i added the caveat if they can beat him out.

 

[Ubermensch]

Personally I think Lucas will be hard to get out of the lineup with Smith or without. Folks always get starry eyed over recruits and I know its a brand new system, but he showed a lot of vision and played very good D for a freshman. Need to work on his shot, but his BB IQ and motor is there.

TJL has a lot of upside, especially in Underwood's offense. He's much better than I anticipated. He made some freshman mistakes last year but overall he played under control and didn't seem fazed at all.

 

[Peoria Pipeline]

:deadhorse: ....but besides Izzo i dont see MSU as that appealing to Smith. Winston and Langford appear to be a 4 year players, not even mentioning the other guards. Ill say it agian, will be shocked if Smith doesn't end up here.

 

[Deleted member 8213]

:deadhorse: ....but besides Izzo i dont see MSU as that appealing to Smith. Winston and Langford appear to be a 4 year players, not even mentioning the other guards. Ill say it agian, will be shocked if Smith doesn't end up here.

Makes sense, but thats a pretty big "besides"...

 

[Deleted member 10676]

Reading Henricksen's list I remembered this and went looking for it. Just to show some of you newer followers of recruiting -- for the top players, it's always been crazy probably going back to when they still had a center jump.
Here's a summary of the recruitment of Ed Horton in 1985, who grew up on the Illini, wanted to be an Illini, Purdue thought they had him and at the last minute, Iowa got him. Could you imagine if IL was around during this? Back then you only got a little bit of recruiting news in the Sunday newspaper each week and often times, you didn't know anything about a recruitment at all except a kid who you thought was coming here ended up elsewhere or vice-versa.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/highschool/chi-prep-1985-mr-basketball-ed-horton-story.html

Horton decided on Iowa in November after a bizarre series of events. Illinois coaches told him they wanted to redshirt him. Horton told Purdue coach Gene Keady he was leaning toward the Boilermakers.
For two years, Horton had been a "loyal-to-you-Illinois" player, but the school, with only two scholarships to give, was also pursuing Hamilton and Ben Wilson of Simeon. Hamilton signed with the Illini in November, a week before Wilson was shot to death a block from his high school.
"When I heard they wanted to redshirt me, I thought, 'Man, get me back to Springfield right now. Let me out of here,' " Horton says.
Less than 24 hours before Horton signed with Iowa, Keady thought he had him all but signed. But when Raveling signed Horton's former high school teammate, Gamble, Horton opted for the Hawkeyes. Gamble played for Lincoln (Ill.) Junior College this season.

 

[Peoria Pipeline]

Personally I think Lucas will be hard to get out of the lineup with Smith or without. Folks always get starry eyed over recruits and I know its a brand new system, but he showed a lot of vision and played very good D for a freshman. Need to work on his shot, but his BB IQ and motor is there.

I strongly disagree. Smith is just a lot more skilled than TJL IMO. I believe they could play together, but if im choosing a starting PG its Smith.

 

[TheFameProtector]

Personally I think Lucas will be hard to get out of the lineup with Smith or without. Folks always get starry eyed over recruits and I know its a brand new system, but he showed a lot of vision and played very good D for a freshman. Need to work on his shot, but his BB IQ and motor is there.

Spot on. If we get Smith, I think Frazier is the one pushed to a smaller role in the short run. All things considered, his role might be best served as a sixth man gunner.

I can see JCL beginning to blossom under Underwood, especially if we can figure a way to squeeze him on the court as a typical "3". He might be the one to benefit most from added spacing and passing.

 

[afpharmdawg]

As much as I mentioned character with Tilmon and Pickett, I have been remiss in mentioning the outstanding character of DMW and TF. My apologies to those young men and the board. Those 2 men are the true definition of character and sticking to a commitment. I guess I have not lived up to them in character.

 

[PhillyIllini]

Anyone have thoughts on Taylor Bruniga? 6'9" forward who was a PG but grew 6 inches. Can handle the ball and shoot, and this sounds like a BU type player?

Uh no. Not a P5 prospect.

 

[BMo79]

Personally I think Lucas will be hard to get out of the lineup with Smith or without. Folks always get starry eyed over recruits and I know its a brand new system, but he showed a lot of vision and played very good D for a freshman. Need to work on his shot, but his BB IQ and motor is there.

I agree , I think TL is going to play and play a lot no matter what kind of offence we ran. The kid was our best at D and will only get better as he fills out

 

[VictoryIllinois]

Francis Okoro and EJ Liddell interviews. Liddell lights up when he talks about Illinois. Also interesting that Okoro mentions his cousin and that "He hasn't told me, just wants me to focus on playing." Sounds like we'll be recruiting Okoro's cousin as much as him (whoever that is).

[YOUTUBE]x2xyuVye8k0[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]trWxdPjNqsw[/YOUTUBE]

Okoro's cousin he is referring to is Ikechi Nnakwe. Played HS ball at Normal Community and then for UCF. FWIW he wasn't buying what Groce was selling...he right situation on the court and academics will be important here.

 

[STLIlliniMike]

I strongly disagree. Smith is just a lot more skilled than TJL IMO. I believe they could play together, but if im choosing a starting PG its Smith.

TJL's defense and passing are going to get him a lot of minutes going forward. Those are both things he does better than Smith imo.

 

[Rocket coach]

Francis okoro

has great family support. He hasn't been recruited yet and is concentrating on academics.

 

[King Kriptor]

No he brought it up in his Illini mailbag article...
http://www.suntimeshighschoolsports.com/2017/04/10/henricksen-illinois-basketball-mailbag/

"As of Sunday, April 9 the four biggest, most talent-filled high school programs in the state and their coaches –– Simeon, Young, Curie and Morgan Park –– had not heard from the new Illinois head coach.
...

Is it a fresh coach’s mistake? Probably, yes, if you knew and understand the landscape of Chicago basketball and the tightness there is among the basketball people and how they talk and feel. I do know the top Public League coaches have been befuddled by there being zero communication with Underwood in three-plus weeks on the job."

I can understand if he hasn't gone and visited them yet, but not even calling? Surely Underwood could have spared time for a 10 min call

 

[Illiniguy13]

TJL's defense and passing are going to get him a lot of minutes going forward. Those are both things he does better than Smith imo.

Clearly Smith has the better size, athleticism and shooting prowess, but TJL is going to be awfully valuable making this offense run smoothly. His court vision will shine

 

[STLIlliniMike]

As much as I mentioned character with Tilmon and Pickett, I have been remiss in mentioning the outstanding character of DMW and TF. My apologies to those young men and the board. Those 2 men are the true definition of character and sticking to a commitment. I guess I have not lived up to them in character.

While I'm pleased Damonte and Trent are sticking with the Illini I don't thinks it's fair to really question the character of Tilmon and Pickett for asking out of their LOI. The situation at Illinois has changed dramatically and they have to take time to figure out if it's still something that they want to be a part of. This is a huge decision, so it's only natural to go back and forth on it.

 

[Peoria Illini]

While I'm pleased Damonte and Trent are sticking with the Illini I don't thinks it's fair to really question the character of Tilmon and Pickett for asking out of their LOI. The situation at Illinois has changed dramatically and they have to take time to figure out if it's still something that they want to be a part of. This is a huge decision, so it's only natural to go back and forth on it.

I wasn't a big fan of the reaffirming then asking out by Tilmon, but if all the info about being stuck in the middle of a family struggle is true, it's very understandable.

I think to play for Underwood, you better be all in, so if those guys didn't feel all in for the Illini, then best they double check their options and find the best fit for them. If it's back here, great. Doesn't seem likely at this point, so best of luck to wherever they land. Except for if and when we play them. Then no well wishes that day.

 

[PhillyIllini]

While I'm pleased Damonte and Trent are sticking with the Illini I don't thinks it's fair to really question the character of Tilmon and Pickett for asking out of their LOI. The situation at Illinois has changed dramatically and they have to take time to figure out if it's still something that they want to be a part of. This is a huge decision, so it's only natural to go back and forth on it.

Yea...dramatically for the better.

 

[Jiminy Cricket]

Realistically, the rule should be that if a coaching change occurs the LOIs that are in place should immediately be rescinded and the player is immediately a free agent and elligible to look at more schools. Usually these kids are signing with a particular coach and not a school anyway.

 

[UofIChE06]

Thanks for sharing; I didn't think to look ahead to MSU's '18 class.

To me Winston is a pretty good comp to TJL in terms of minutes played, PPG, and A:TO. Both were decent freshmen that were preferable to bad upperclassmen, but neither was dominant. Neither have size or a game that make them a good fit to shift over to the 2. Both seem "beatable" for playing time by a good PG prospect but it depends on how these guys develop.

I don't know anything about Loyer, but at MSU Mark would have a year on him, while as at UIUC, Frazier's coming in '17 and will be immediate competition for PT at the 1. If both Frazier and Smith are in your best 5 guys and you want them both on the floor, I don't know for sure who has the ball in their hands, but based on size alone, you'd generally anticipate that Frazier's the 1 and Smith's the 2. Others here know more about their respective games than I do, so maybe I'm wrong here?

Thinking about competition at the 2, at UIUC you've got DMW coming in who's a RS candidate, JCL -- whose game is limited to shooting the open 3 and doesn't have elite defense, and AJ and DJW who weren't able to beat out JCL for playing time. I think Smith easily takes minutes here due to his more versatile game, and he has the size to defend opposing 2s.

At MSU, I admit the returning SGs (Langford/McQuaid) are perhaps equally weak, but there's 2 of them who got meaningful PT (while at UI, only JCL saw meaningful minutes.)

So I think the path to PT at the 1 is easier at MSU, and at the 2 it's easier at UI.

Nothing you said is inherently wrong per se.... but two points to the contrary. First the system at MSU is wildly different than the one BU uses. I would say Underwood's system is much more guard dependent. Izzo's is known to be quite strong in the paint. That being said you would always expect more guards in the rotation for BU with more minutes to give. Second while the stats may not show it in the comparisons of PGs and SGs you made the pedigree of the MSU guards is much higher. Winston and Langford were both high level recruits compared to the guys on the UI roster.

 

[illiniguy24]

No, but it comes from question 6 in this article Henricksen published this morning.

http://www.suntimeshighschoolsports.com/2017/04/10/henricksen-illinois-basketball-mailbag/

Gotcha. At first I thought it was Irvin or one of them themselves. Thanks for clarifying.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jiminy Cricket]

Just read a tweet that Mark Smith is taking another official visit plus another unofficial visit. It is thought the unofficial will be with Tilmon just west of St. Louis.

 

[troym22]

Just read a tweet that Mark Smith is taking another official visit plus another unofficial visit. It is thought the unofficial will be with Tilmon just west of St. Louis.

Thought by who?

 

[PlayAZ]

Uh no. Not a P5 prospect.

He might not be a P5 prospect, but I think the kid could play in the B1G...plus at this late stage with 4 openings, the ILLINI will be hard pressed to find 4 more 100% ready P5 prospects to sign up.

Why not offer a local kid that has talent, even if you redshirt him, 2018 recruiting sucks anyway for most part in Illinois....no reason to carry over more than maybe 1-2?