Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (November-December 2017)

[Deleted member 4960]

look at Alstork, it's not been a slam dunk .... you might have an individual case where it could work. One of the problems this year is that everybody is learning the system.
I'd rather pull in a high school recruit. After next year we have Eboigbodin and Vesel... no one else. Bring in a SR transfer for next year and he's gone and we still have just two. Bring in a HS recruit and he learns the system, then the next year he's able be a part a solid rotation with Eboigbodin and Vesel, with another
FR or two to help down the stretch.

In 2019 spicy g and matic will be juniors and most likely much improved (see maverick Morgan). I agree we need a big or two out of the next couple of classes. But we won't be barren of bigs. Hopefully will get Flo Thamba. He has the body you look for in a big.

 

[imjustsooffended]

The thing about getting Okoro and Liddell is that they compliment each other so well! Okoro the down low hoss who can run the floor and block shots. Back to the basket type. Liddell the perimeter big who can do it all and stretch the floor. Ugh, please Bradley Underwood, make it happen.

 

[imjustsooffended]

EDIT: I have no idea how to embed videos but here's a couple links from Ayo. The first is the recent one against Kenwood where he dropped 51. The second is the loss against Curie. I have to say, Ayo's jumper looks improved...
Also, at the end of the Curie clip, after Morgan Park lost, Ayo is a little chippy towards Marquise Walker. I like the competitive spirit but it also made it easy to imagine why he wouldn't want to play with others from Chicago in college...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WSs9cIHGd8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RepNg_Dp9A

 

[Combo]

If we don't get a Big soon, it will likely be used against us in Liddell's recruitment. L Ellis ring a bell?

I'm a big fan of "small ball" because it works. However it still behooves us to get some legit Bigs.

 

[Joel Goodson]

EDIT: I have no idea how to embed videos but here's a couple links from Ayo. The first is the recent one against Kenwood where he dropped 51. The second is the loss against Curie. I have to say, Ayo's jumper looks improved...
Also, at the end of the Curie clip, after Morgan Park lost, Ayo is a little chippy towards Marquise Walker. I like the competitive spirit but it also made it easy to imagine why he wouldn't want to play with others from Chicago in college...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WSs9cIHGd8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RepNg_Dp9A

Hell of a takeaway.

 

[Portillos]

I am a moron so I don't remember but is Liddell the one that is friends with Mark Smith?

Also, is there a connection that the Illini have to the Okoro?

 

[CoalCity]

I am a moron so I don't remember but is Liddell the one that is friends with Mark Smith?

Also, is there a connection that the Illini have to the Okoro?

Re: Liddell. Yes. Also good friends with Malcolm.

Re: Okoro. Yes. There is a Nigerian connection with Ayo. Families are very close and Okoro considered living with the Dosunmus for high school.

 

[EJ33]

Highlights from Liddell last night

https://mobile.twitter.com/Ballislife/status/941903757738209281?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

He'll be a 5 Star by the time he signs.

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

Full Liddell highlights:
[YOUTUBE]ZJQVaByBB1Y[/YOUTUBE]

 

[hooraybeer]

Full Liddell highlights:
[YOUTUBE]ZJQVaByBB1Y[/YOUTUBE]

1. wow
2. great camera work

 

[Peoria Pipeline]

Very hard for me to believe there is 90 players better than Liddell. Obviously i want both him and Okoro, but if i had to choose i think i'd take Liddell.

 

[Illiniguy13]

Lidell turns 17 on Monday. He’s just a baby

 

[Ga65]

Have both Ayo and EJ added size and strength? Both look BIG ready.

 

[haasi]

Very nice clip of Liddell. Looks terrific. What do people think of Rev comparison?


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[Deleted member 547530]

Liddell plays angry and is looking to hurt the rim when he gets the chance. Exactly what this team needs. Didn't realize what a sweet shot he has from 3. Go get him BU.

 

[FC Illiniman]

Liddell plays angry and is looking to hurt the rim when he gets the chance. Exactly what this team needs. Didn't realize what a sweet shot he has from 3. Go get him BU.

He looked good last year only getting better. Think getting a good shot at both, we have connections, and they both have had visits. Fact that Mark Smith and Ayo, have both said they are recruiting both guys, like are chances. Long time till next November.

 

[combes]

If we don’t land a big this year, I think we could sell both of them coming here. We’d only have Spicy G, Kipper, and Matic to play in the frontcourt by the time those two got on campus and they both play on the same AAU team, if I remember correctly so I’m sure there’s some sort of friendly relationship there.

One is a center. The other is a forward. They would fit me rly together.

 

[Illini Beer 4 All]

He looked good last year only getting better. Think getting a good shot at both, we have connections, and they both have had visits. Fact that Mark Smith and Ayo, have both said they are recruiting both guys, like are chances. Long time till next November.

It will be Illinois or Missouri. Think ultimately Liddell realizes he is a perfect fit for Underwood's offense and wears orange and blue.



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[PlayAZ]

Black's play and development should appeal to Liddell's recruitment. Okoro is a NEED, next year how about looking at Jamal Gaines if Flo don't work out for us?

Ranked 235, ranked Top 20 in Texas by some, a little KD in his game...pinch post shooter?

 

[jrichisamazing]

Is it Lidddell and Okoro or bust?

Feels like we are already building towards that.

Liddell is another slightly undersized 4. He plays a lot like Kipper, and looks a little longer. Getting both would be amazing. Getting just Okoro would be great. Getting just Liddell would not be enough. But I think you've been here long enough to know that more 5's will show up on the radar next summer.

 

[IlliniDent]

Liddell is another slightly undersized 4. He plays a lot like Kipper, and looks a little longer. Getting both would be amazing. Getting just Okoro would be great. Getting just Liddell would not be enough. But I think you've been here long enough to know that more 5's will show up on the radar next summer.

It's not them or bust but let's be honest, both would fill massive holes in this team and definitely give us more status in Illinois as the place to be.

 

[Obelix]

Liddell is another slightly undersized 4. He plays a lot like Kipper, and looks a little longer. Getting both would be amazing. Getting just Okoro would be great. Getting just Liddell would not be enough. But I think you've been here long enough to know that more 5's will show up on the radar next summer.

I have seen Liddell many times and he plays nothing like Kipper IMO. Liddell is actually a prototypical PF, who has also extended the range on his shot. He would be perfect for our offense, and while by himself may not be enough, neither would be Okoro (need more bigs, especially with Black/Finke graduating). We need some urgent help this recruiting season.

The problem with EJ Liddell is that Mizzou is also heavily involved, and blue bloods and other very good programs will become more involved. He is that kind of talent. Same with Okoro. Those recruitments will likely go the distance.

 

[PlayAZ]

2018 Possible B1G Recruits

Who's left, who would we prefer, who could we still get?

24/7 Rankings state the following are still available/realistic possibilities/needs for us?

EJ Montgomery 6-10" 200-20 offers, "cold" on all of them as of now.
Bryan Penn-Johnson 7-0" 22 offers, warmer with DePaul, warm with us + 4.
Ezekial Richards 6-11 1 offer, three * from California?
Flo Thamba 6-9" ILLINI in final 4, last visit in January?
Jamal Gaines 6-9 200, 0 Offers to date?
Maurice Calloo 6-8" 6 offers including ILLINI, cool on all as of now.

All are listed in order of 24/7 listing and all are between Ayo rank and Pearson who has been discussed on here prior. Exceptions are Montgomery is ranked slightly higher than Ayo, and Calloo is ranked slightly lower than Pearson.

Who is our best shot to actually land if any, I would love to see what is up with Montgomery, obviously BPJ is interesting, as well as FLO.....actually see FLO the best possible land, but I think Gaines could fill the need as well?

 

[imjustsooffended]

Who's left, who would we prefer, who could we still get?

24/7 Rankings state the following are still available/realistic possibilities/needs for us?

EJ Montgomery 6-10" 200-20 offers, "cold" on all of them as of now.
Bryan Penn-Johnson 7-0" 22 offers, warmer with DePaul, warm with us + 4.
Ezekial Richards 6-11 1 offer, three * from California?
Flo Thamba 6-9" ILLINI in final 4, last visit in January?
Jamal Gaines 6-9 200, 0 Offers to date?
Maurice Calloo 6-8" 6 offers including ILLINI, cool on all as of now.

All are listed in order of 24/7 listing and all are between Ayo rank and Pearson who has been discussed on here prior. Exceptions are Montgomery is ranked slightly higher than Ayo, and Calloo is ranked slightly lower than Pearson.

Who is our best shot to actually land if any, I would love to see what is up with Montgomery, obviously BPJ is interesting, as well as FLO.....actually see FLO the best possible land, but I think Gaines could fill the need as well?

BPJ is out for us and we need to stop talking about him as if we actually have a chance

 

[PlayAZ]

BPJ is out for us and we need to stop talking about him as if we actually have a chance

Until he commits, he is listed as "warm", so I am saying there's a chance..:thumb: