Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2017)

[Illiini]

You'd have your choice of beach houses.

Yeah, but would they be on a beach?

 

[redwingillini11]

Oh man, I wish the kid the best, but oh how I want him to be wearing orange on Wednesday night...

 

[Illiniman94]

I'm a realistic UofI fan, and have been since I attended my first game in Memorial Stadium in 1980. I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly. Smith is a downstater, he doesn't have handlers, he hasn't been deep into the AAU swamp, we aren't up against Kansas and their "boosters" (and all is quiet on the UK front). This is a recruitment directly against MSU for a kid that grew up an Illini fan that lives 2.5 hours from campus. I'll take our chances

LOL Richard keene's hair.....love it! Dude rained 3 threes with about 120 feet of height on them. BTW my first game in Memorial Stadium was the Iowa Illinois game the Rose Bowl year. We had tickets first row on the goal line and when I get there thought "well these tickets are going to suck at least half the game". Well the whole freaking game was played in our endzone and Don Thorpe, Tony Eason and boys opened up a big ole can on that corn boys. What an awesome day and introduction to Illini sports in person. BTW, speaking of the Iowa Arseholes, I was also at that the Andy Kaufman where he hit the near half court shot to win the game (was in grad school then). Man Chambana was on fire that night.

and I agree with your post pretty boy hair.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

It is ever thus.

We're probably not getting him. And it's not the end of the world. The end of the world is not understanding why we're not getting him, and not orienting ourselves in a direction towards getting the future him's.

I'm stating the wildly obvious, but the trajectory of the program could significantly change on Wednesday.

With the caveat that every recruit is a gamble in terms of what they actually produce on the court, the narrative win - "Brad Underwood stares down Izzo, Calipari and Matta to keep Illinois Mr. Basketball home" - is tough to put a price on, and we'd get it and its benefits immediately.

 

[Peoria Illini]

Some posters on Tigerboard are speculating that the quiet on the Tilmon front is due to his working on his grades and school work. Some are a bit worried that he may not end up at Miznoz.

That wouldn't entirely suck if he didn't end up in Columbia...

 

[Combo]

I hadn't really bothered to watch much of Smith's highlight footage in the past, probably because I assumed IL had no shot. I just watched some on YouTube. Good lord, the kid's a beast. If he's #75 then this is the best class of all time. He looks like UI soph/junior Deron Williams in high school. And now I'll be really disappointed if he goes elsewhere. Wish I'd decided to not bother looking at the videos. Kid is a baller.

Yes, he´s really good. If he commits to us, I think that he and Frazier are our starting backcourt before the end of their FR years.

 

[kcMO87]

I usually don't post on forums. I have just been reading these types of forums for a very long time. (10+ years) You guys are pretty entertaining here and I enjoy your guys post. Very active. I love adult meltdowns on forum post. (not trolling) Makes my workday go by much faster. And it is a lot easier over here on the eyes then tigerboard.... that site is making my vision go bad by the day. Not sure who runs it but I am assuming its some old white guy that doesn't like change.

I just wanted to say I hope you guys get your wish with Mark Smith. Would make the Bragging Rights game that much better. We have a couple good guards coming in and I can not wait to see high level guards play against each other and compete every year in St.Louis. I hope both coach hires work out and we both are consistently in the top 25 so the games we play against each other help us both, win or lose. I understand the dislike between the two fan bases but out here in Kansas City most Mizzou fans don't dislike Illinois at all. Not sure about St.Louis but most of my friends just wish that both teams were consistently good with good players.

As far as Jeremiah Tilmon. I would not be sad if he didn't end up at Mizzou. I am no "insider" what so ever but the guy is very wishy-washy from what I have been following. I understand you have people pulling you multiple directions but at what point do you just grow up and make your own life decisions. I understand he is only 18 but he is about to be at a major university making his own life decisions everyday. Most of my life experiences with people who are like him end up being more of a problem then a good thing. (went through the recruiting process my junior and senior years with baseball and most the guys that I played with that waited until the last minute or couldn't decide almost always ended up making the wrong decision for themselves) But like I said I am just some normal dude.

Also the last few years at Mizzou have been miserable, especially when college basketball is one of your favorite sports to watch. I was in the stands watching the past 3 years :frustrated:

Just glad both programs look like they are trending upwards. Lets hope it continues.

 

[Illiniman94]

I'm stating the wildly obvious, but the trajectory of the program could significantly change on Wednesday.

With the caveat that every recruit is a gamble in terms of what they actually produce on the court, the narrative win - "Brad Underwood stares down Izzo, Calipari and Matta to keep Illinois Mr. Basketball home" - is tough to put a price on, and we'd get it and its benefits immediately.

Bingo - possible water shed moment, although I will argue that was the day JW hired BU.

 

[TMC999]

Sucks to be you guys! I get to find out at 4 PM!

...wait...

I may drive to Denver that day to hear the announcement earlier....

 

[Ubermensch]

Yes, he´s really good. If he commits to us, I think that he and Frazier are our starting backcourt before the end of their FR years.

I could easily see Lucas, Frazier and Smith. Unless Tilmon has another change of heart or Underwood picks up some other big along the way, we're going to be small. May as well get the best ball handlers and creators out there at the same time and just try to outscore people. Convince Leron he's a 4 and have him only worry about crashing the boards and cleaning up the garbage. It could either be a disaster or really fun.

 

[illinifaninwi]

And it is a lot easier over here on the eyes then tigerboard.... that site is making my vision go bad by the day. Not sure who runs it but I am assuming its some old white guy that doesn't like change.

This made my entire day.

 

[Illiini]

Omen, anyone? Driving on I-80 in my 1st gen (NA) Miata--registration ILLIINI--and passed a dark green 1st gen Miata with a helmet logo sticker on the back and a "Spartans" licence plate frame.


OK, well, I'm going to take that as an omen.

 

[Illiniman94]

I could easily see Lucas, Frazier and Smith. Unless Tilmon has another change of heart or Underwood picks up some other big along the way, we're going to be small. May as well get the best ball handlers and creators out there at the same time and just try to outscore people. Convince Leron he's a 4 and have him only worry about crashing the boards and cleaning up the garbage. It could either be a disaster or really fun.

Oh I think you are going to see those three on the court a large amount of the time, especially if Frankie Jr needs to redshirt (don't know where he is in his rehab, but just remember when healthy he is as good as any guard in this year's state of IL class). JCL is a wild card to me and DJW. Those two have a lot to prove in order to earn playing time IMO. For as great of a shooter that JCL is supposed to be he was as freaking cold as ice last year....now I hear the BU system will be good for him so now is time for JCL to up his game and prove his doubters wrong or he will be riding the pine.

 

[Illiniman94]

I usually don't post on forums. I have just been reading these types of forums for a very long time. (10+ years) You guys are pretty entertaining here and I enjoy your guys post. Very active. I love adult meltdowns on forum post. (not trolling) Makes my workday go by much faster. And it is a lot easier over here on the eyes then tigerboard.... that site is making my vision go bad by the day. Not sure who runs it but I am assuming its some old white guy that doesn't like change.

I just wanted to say I hope you guys get your wish with Mark Smith. Would make the Bragging Rights game that much better. We have a couple good guards coming in and I can not wait to see high level guards play against each other and compete every year in St.Louis. I hope both coach hires work out and we both are consistently in the top 25 so the games we play against each other help us both, win or lose. I understand the dislike between the two fan bases but out here in Kansas City most Mizzou fans don't dislike Illinois at all. Not sure about St.Louis but most of my friends just wish that both teams were consistently good with good players.

As far as Jeremiah Tilmon. I would not be sad if he didn't end up at Mizzou. I am no "insider" what so ever but the guy is very wishy-washy from what I have been following. I understand you have people pulling you multiple directions but at what point do you just grow up and make your own life decisions. I understand he is only 18 but he is about to be at a major university making his own life decisions everyday. Most of my life experiences with people who are like him end up being more of a problem then a good thing. (went through the recruiting process my junior and senior years with baseball and most the guys that I played with that waited until the last minute or couldn't decide almost always ended up making the wrong decision for themselves) But like I said I am just some normal dude.

Also the last few years at Mizzou have been miserable, especially when college basketball is one of your favorite sports to watch. I was in the stands watching the past 3 years :frustrated:

Just glad both programs look like they are trending upwards. Lets hope it continues.

What the hell??? Don't come here being all civil, nice and polite. How are we supposed to hate you guys if you are going to pull that nonsense? :thumb::thumb:

 

[Future Walk-On]

I usually don't post on forums. I have just been reading these types of forums for a very long time. (10+ years) You guys are pretty entertaining here and I enjoy your guys post. Very active. I love adult meltdowns on forum post. (not trolling) Makes my workday go by much faster. And it is a lot easier over here on the eyes then tigerboard.... that site is making my vision go bad by the day. Not sure who runs it but I am assuming its some old white guy that doesn't like change.

Apart from all the politics inside the Bradley fan base leading to the formation of a 2nd basketball board, I chose one to be on more solely because its easier to read. It is based on the same design as this one.

 

[RedRocksIllini]

I may drive to Denver that day to hear the announcement earlier....

Anybody on Midway Island? Probably already know the decision there if I did the time zone thingy right.

 

[Illiniman94]

Anybody on Midway Island? Probably already know the decision there if I did the time zone thingy right.

Meeting Planner is your friend.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

I'm stating the wildly obvious, but the trajectory of the program could significantly change on Wednesday.

With the caveat that every recruit is a gamble in terms of what they actually produce on the court, the narrative win - "Brad Underwood stares down Izzo, Calipari and Matta to keep Illinois Mr. Basketball home" - is tough to put a price on, and we'd get it and its benefits immediately.

I'm a little dubious of that whole "momentum" concept, especially given that Smith, good though he is, is not a 5-star, MCDAA, NBA draft prospect type recruit.

 

[cash35]

Still feeling good about it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Very

 

[Dan]

I'm assuming there will be a live stream somewhere?

Probably a handful of live steaming/facebook live/live radio options, they will be posted leading up to the announcement on Wednesday.

 

[Illiniman94]

Again, I haven't posted here in a long time but post on another Illini board and I have sad from the get go Mark Smith and his recruitment have felt different from the get go. I think RichardKeeneshair said it best that he isn't from Chiago CPL/AAU Cesspool (sorry but hard to argue it isn't) so not having to have all of those handlers all over him has allowed him to stay grounded ....AND it certainly appears that he has a strong set of parents who want what is best for Mark and aren't looking to cash in on him ala Cliff's Mom.

so

I do not fear the nut punch. I am adopting BU's mentality, we don't have to beg anyone to come here because when you are elite you don't have to. We are elite dammit and We Will Win!!!!!!! Yes, I am drunk on the Orange KoolAid and will be even more drunk Wednesday at about 4PM Pacific Time!!!

 

[Illiniman94]

I'm a little dubious of that whole "momentum" concept, especially given that Smith, good though he is, is not a 5-star, MCDAA, NBA draft prospect type recruit.

I think that is only because he committed to Miznoz for baseball and just decided to play hoops this year, so he was ignored. Since this is a message board where we get to do stupid things like make guarantees that can't be proven or disproved, I guarantee you that had he played in the CPL he would be a top 20 player in terms of rankings> He also has an NBA body, but obviously will have to develop and prove that he belongs in the league, but I do not see it as a huge stretch.

 

[Illiniman94]

Very

Let it be written, let it be done! :thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

 

[Bailey]

I usually don't post on forums. I have just been reading these types of forums for a very long time. (10+ years) You guys are pretty entertaining here and I enjoy your guys post. Very active. I love adult meltdowns on forum post. (not trolling) Makes my workday go by much faster. And it is a lot easier over here on the eyes then tigerboard.... that site is making my vision go bad by the day. Not sure who runs it but I am assuming its some old white guy that doesn't like change.

I just wanted to say I hope you guys get your wish with Mark Smith. Would make the Bragging Rights game that much better. We have a couple good guards coming in and I can not wait to see high level guards play against each other and compete every year in St.Louis. I hope both coach hires work out and we both are consistently in the top 25 so the games we play against each other help us both, win or lose. I understand the dislike between the two fan bases but out here in Kansas City most Mizzou fans don't dislike Illinois at all. Not sure about St.Louis but most of my friends just wish that both teams were consistently good with good players.

As far as Jeremiah Tilmon. I would not be sad if he didn't end up at Mizzou. I am no "insider" what so ever but the guy is very wishy-washy from what I have been following. I understand you have people pulling you multiple directions but at what point do you just grow up and make your own life decisions. I understand he is only 18 but he is about to be at a major university making his own life decisions everyday. Most of my life experiences with people who are like him end up being more of a problem then a good thing. (went through the recruiting process my junior and senior years with baseball and most the guys that I played with that waited until the last minute or couldn't decide almost always ended up making the wrong decision for themselves) But like I said I am just some normal dude.

Also the last few years at Mizzou have been miserable, especially when college basketball is one of your favorite sports to watch. I was in the stands watching the past 3 years :frustrated:

Just glad both programs look like they are trending upwards. Lets hope it continues.

I can't handle posts like these from a Mizzou fan. It's going to alter my perception that they're all mouth breathing neckbeards, and I'm not sure if I'm ready for that.

 

[RML]

Even for you this is overly negative. There is certainly nothing out there that would indicate this is true, quite the contrary

I don't think its overly negative to say we're "probably" not getting him. I think its less than 50-50 that we are, and so saying we "probably" aren't is accurate. Maybe its pessimistic, but I don't think it's negative.