Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (May-June 2017)

[dbeaverfg]

Greg​ Eboigbodin is from Nigeria, and was a soccer player, guessing till he grew too much. Just​ started playing​ basketball as a freshman, has improved to a 3star recruit. I said couple days ago , we needed a big that could handle the ball, and play defense, didn't care if he came from Timbuktu. Is that close to Nigeria?

Actually, Timbuktu is in Mali which is fairly close to Nigeria. Take players from wherever you can get them.

 

[JaxIllini1]

I love the idea of a fresh raw big. Not every big man will start but you need depth in front court. If we only get a transfer for next season, then we will be extremely thin after LB and MF is gone (and they may be grad transfer)

This. Bigs take a while to develop and are almost always a waste of space as freshmen. Even ranked ones. This is not a move for next year. It's a move for 2-3 years down the line. If we land a couple stud bigs in 2018 and 2019 that are the exception and can come in and be productive right away - great. This kid can be a reserve or ride pine (or get creaned). More likely, we won't, and we'll need bigs that have at least some age and experience like this kid.

 

[TownieMatt]

Seen some highlight videos of Eboigbodin that don't look all that promising, but this one from last season gives me hope. Seems to have added some quickness. Also shows off a nice touch and some ballhandling.

[YOUTUBE]0WVYU_j0nEE[/YOUTUBE]

 

[ratdawg]

This. Bigs take a while to develop and are almost always a waste of space as freshmen. Even ranked ones. This is not a move for next year. It's a move for 2-3 years down the line. If we land a couple stud bigs in 2018 and 2019 that are the exception and can come in and be productive right away - great. This kid can be a reserve or ride pine (or get creaned). More likely, we won't, and we'll need bigs that have at least some age and experience like this kid.

IF his three stars equal rebounder ,defense, and athletic .... ILL , take that right now. We are desperate for big minutes

 

[Illini B-Ball Fan]

Ebo would be a good project for OA to work on upgrading.

 

[Ga65]

Is a 2 star former UIC commit ranked #453 really the answer to our big man problem? Color me skeptical.

Soccer player turned to BB. Wonder if they think he is excellent athlete who can be developed? Maybe red shirt if they get a transfer? Insurance policy?

 

[BMo79]

Seen some highlight videos of Eboigbodin that don't look all that promising, but this one from last season gives me hope. Seems to have added some quickness. Also shows off a nice touch and some ballhandling.

[YOUTUBE]0WVYU_j0nEE[/YOUTUBE]

if you look at the dates on the videos, all the others I had seen of him were from 2015, meaning he had been playing basketball for 2 years, this one from 2017 shows a ton of improvement in a year and a half from the others.

 

[icengineer]

if you look at the dates on the videos, all the others I had seen of him were from 2015, meaning he had been playing basketball for 2 years, this one from 2017 shows a ton of improvement in a year and a half from the others.

There have been plenty of athletic bigs come to the game late that have blossomed after a few years. The Dream, Amare Stoudamire, Enos Kanter, Joel Embiiid, Festus Ezeli, Marcin Gortat, even our very own Nnanna Egwu. I'd be willing to take a chance on this kid for just that reason. You just never know.

 

[Adnarel]

I feel fine about him after watching that video. He's a project big. So what? Most of them will be. I remember a player called Maverick Morgan...

 

[ceverettsdinosaurs]

if you look at the dates on the videos, all the others I had seen of him were from 2015, meaning he had been playing basketball for 2 years, this one from 2017 shows a ton of improvement in a year and a half from the others.

I agree with your assessment on the improvement. The earlier videos show him playing below and close to the rim. This video shows him playing above the rim, dunking the ball and rebounding. It also shows some range on his jumpshot.

 

[ratdawg]

Is this the big news people were referring too?

Well he is 6'9" , 220 lb... So it is "big" news

 

[oskeewowwowboomtime]

Soccer player turned to BB. Wonder if they think he is excellent athlete who can be developed? Maybe red shirt if they get a transfer? Insurance policy?

Well I heard about a Baseball player turned to BB that seems to have worked out pretty well for the ILLINI . . . Does Ebo mean Mark in Nigerian? It is #WEWILLWINSDAY, you know!

 

[Obelix]

There have been plenty of athletic bigs come to the game late that have blossomed after a few years. The Dream, Amare Stoudamire, Enos Kanter, Joel Embiiid, Festus Ezeli, Marcin Gortat, even our very own Nnanna Egwu. I'd be willing to take a chance on this kid for just that reason. You just never know.

I think we need to tame exaggerations. Amare Stoudamire was the No.1 ranked recruit in the nation. Enes Kanter was top 6, he was actually very well known no only to coaches in the US, but worldwide as well. He was a basketball prodigy, a member of Fenerbahce, one of the best teams in Europe and current Euroleague champion. Both powerhouse Olympiacos and Fenerbahce had offered him contracts, and the reason that the NCAA eventually declared him ineligible was that he did receive money from Fener. Joel Embiid was top 16, already signed by Kansas. This is light years apart from a kid who signed with UIC. Marcin Gortat never played HS basketball in the US, he was already a pro in Germany. Even our own Nnanna Egwu, he was a pretty highly recruited top-100 kid.

This kid (Eboigbodin) may turn out a decent player, hard to know, but right now it is hard to make any parallelism with the players mentioned, even as HS seniors at the same stage.

 

[afpharmdawg]

Seen some highlight videos of Eboigbodin that don't look all that promising, but this one from last season gives me hope. Seems to have added some quickness. Also shows off a nice touch and some ballhandling.

[YOUTUBE]0WVYU_j0nEE[/YOUTUBE]

Appears to have some hops. A project big for sure but seems decent.

 

[icengineer]

I think we need to tame exaggerations. Amare Stoudamire was the No.1 ranked recruit in the nation. Enes Kanter was top 6, he was actually very well known no only to coaches in the US, but worldwide as well. He was a basketball prodigy, a member of Fenerbahce, one of the best teams in Europe and current Euroleague champion. Both powerhouse Olympiacos and Fenerbahce had offered him contracts, and the reason that the NCAA eventually declared him ineligible was that he did receive money from Fener. Joel Embiid was top 16, already signed by Kansas. This is light years apart from a kid who signed with UIC. Marcin Gortat never played HS basketball in the US, he was already a pro in Germany. Even our own Nnanna Egwu, he was a pretty highly recruited top-100 kid.

This kid (Eboigbodin) may turn out a decent player, hard to know, but right now it is hard to make any parallelism with the players mentioned, even as HS seniors at the same stage.

According to the article I read all those guys I listed didn't start playing basketball until the ages of 14-15. I didn't say anywhere Ebo was comparable to any of them. Just making the comparison that a 'novice', but athletic, big can surprise on occasion. Not many people compile lists of 'Athletic big men who started baskeball in HS and did okay' vs 'made the NBA'. I put Nnanna in that group because I feel BU would be ecstatic to have an Egwu type player on the roster right now.

 

[EfremWinters84]

Apparently there is some big news inbound this week. Possibly in both senses. No, I don't have names.

Nice call on this one!

Eboig........nice improvement in his game over the past two years. Can't recall the last time we recruited a 2-star, however. Just glad it's not my decision to make.

Jericho......now that would be a home run if it comes to fruition! (But I'll remain skeptical.)

 

[ratdawg]

Nice call on this one!

Eboig........nice improvement in his game over the past two years. Can't recall the last time we recruited a 2-star, however. Just glad it's not my decision to make.

Jericho......now that would be a home run if it comes to fruition! (But I'll remain skeptical.)

some sites have him as a 3 star

 

[ratdawg]

Nice call on this one!

Eboig........nice improvement in his game over the past two years. Can't recall the last time we recruited a 2-star, however. Just glad it's not my decision to make.

Jericho......now that would be a home run if it comes to fruition! (But I'll remain skeptical.)

Jericho? forgive me if I'm lost on what we're talking about here... Only Jericho I know of is Jericho sims... He is a Texas recuit... Is there something i'm missing? He opt out? or is this someone else?

 

[FiveStar]

Appears to have some hops. A project big for sure but seems decent.

I like that he seems comfortable handling the ball in space. BIG deal for the 5 in BU's offense is the ability to score off the dribble from the high post when the defense cheats.

 

[Calvin]

if you look at the dates on the videos, all the others I had seen of him were from 2015, meaning he had been playing basketball for 2 years, this one from 2017 shows a ton of improvement in a year and a half from the others.

+1

Night and day

 

[Obelix]

According to the article I read all those guys I listed didn't start playing basketball until the ages of 14-15. I didn't say anywhere Ebo was comparable to any of them. Just making the comparison that a 'novice', but athletic, big can surprise on occasion. Not many people compile lists of 'Athletic big men who started baskeball in HS and did okay' vs 'made the NBA'. I put Nnanna in that group because I feel BU would be ecstatic to have an Egwu type player on the roster right now.

There is a huge difference to start playing basketball at 14-16 and by senior in HS you are the top ranked player in the country (Amare), or top 16 recruited and committed to powerhouse Kansas (Embiid), or top-6 on the Junior National Team of Turkey and already playing pro at a Euroleague powerhouse (Fener) and turning down offers from other Euroleague powerhouses (Olympiacos) and having started at 14-16 and by end of senior year your are ranked 400+ or unranked. Two different lists and categories.

The most relevant list would be the big men that were ranked 400+ or unranked in HS and made a big impact in college. The names you mentioned are not part of that list. Not impossible, Eboigbodin could end up a decent player (best of luck to him wherever he ends up), just that the statistical odds are heavily stacked against him. The odds on the names you mentioned (at the same stage) were heavily in their favor. Big difference.

 

[foby]

There have been plenty of athletic bigs come to the game late that have blossomed after a few years. The Dream, Amare Stoudamire, Enos Kanter, Joel Embiiid, Festus Ezeli, Marcin Gortat, even our very own Nnanna Egwu. I'd be willing to take a chance on this kid for just that reason. You just never know.

I think in terms of ranking and size we would hope he has a similar career to Mike Davis.

 

[FiveStar]

I think in terms of ranking and size we would hope he has a similar career to Mike Davis.

I'd be ecstatic.

 

[SimonHoffman]

Much specalution on Sims. Alot depends if Bowen goes to Texas. They had a returnee from NBA, Mamba commit and if Bowen goes there they will be loaded. Sims might not be in line for PT. So alot into him leaving depends on Bowens, then he would have to ask out. Shaka and Texas would have to release him.. Alot of Ifs.

Sims' high school coach tweeted that he will be reporting to Austin in two weeks. Nothing to see here.

 

[robjilla]

I mentioned sims yesterday. I heard his name mentioned as a possibility... but this former uic commit looks to be coming.