Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2018)

[Centennial Illini]

I would rather have the 100 ranked player trending up than the 23 ranked player trending down.

Couple that with the fact that weber was much better at developing guards than bigs meant Semerau had some challenges.

I would have loved to have had Semerau this year.

 

[sacraig]

Didn't he have medical issues?

He had some kind of infection in his chest that caused him to sit out for a while if I recall correctly. That certainly didn't help. He isn't the only example of a Weber big who didn't pan out, though. Really, I can't think of many who ever grew into anything more than a role player.

 

[Monte Carlo]

He had some kind of infection in his chest that caused him to sit out for a while if I recall correctly. That certainly didn't help. He isn't the only example of a Weber big who didn't pan out, though. Really, I can't think of many who ever grew into anything more than a role player.

He only played 111 minutes total his last two seasons combined. I believe that infection actually ended his career, although it's been more than 10 years ago, so I may be remembering incorrectly.

 

[OrangeNTude]

Didn't he have medical issues?

He suffered a chest contusion which became infected and caused him to be hospitalized, and needed surgery to deal with empyema. He wasn't the same player since.

 

[illini80]

He had some kind of infection in his chest that caused him to sit out for a while if I recall correctly. That certainly didn't help. He isn't the only example of a Weber big who didn't pan out, though. Really, I can't think of many who ever grew into anything more than a role player.

James Augustine, Nanna Egwu, Meyers Leonard, Shaun Pruitt, although he couldn't shoot free throws he did develop into a good post player. I'd say Mike Tisdale developed pretty well from freshman to senior.

 

[BananaShampoo]

James Augustine, Nanna Egwu, Meyers Leonard, Shaun Pruitt, although he couldn't shoot free throws he did develop into a good post player. I'd say Mike Tisdale developed pretty well from freshman to senior.

All good examples. I'd add Mike Davis and Warren Carter. Meyers also made a nice jump from Frosh to Soph year, but it could be argued he would have anyway.

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[sacraig]

Augustine was primarily a self guy and I'd argue Egwu came into his own under Groce.

Pruitt was a great player for us.

Leonard wasn't really developed. He was a freak athlete seven footer who went to the league still raw.

Tisdale was just okay, in my opinion. He never developed much of a post game and was a slightly above average shooter. Basically he was a more consistent Michael Finke.

Davis is a good example, though I always felt his athleticism was underutilized.

I honestly forgot about Warren Carter. That's unfortunate. What I wouldn't give for another Warren Carter on the team now...

 

[Peoria Illini]

Augustine was primarily a self guy and I'd argue Egwu came into his own under Groce.

Pruitt was a great player for us.

Leonard wasn't really developed. He was a freak athlete seven footer who went to the league still raw.

Tisdale was just okay, in my opinion. He never developed much of a post game and was a slightly above average shooter. Basically he was a more consistent Michael Finke.

Davis is a good example, though I always felt his athleticism was underutilized.

I honestly forgot about Warren Carter. That's unfortunate. What I wouldn't give for another Warren Carter on the team now...

Tisdale for the most part, put up similar or better numbers than Pruitt, and wasn't a me-first player like Pruitt. Higher up on the career scoring list, 2nd or 3rd in career blocks. Pruitt rebounded better, but Tisdale played with the freak rebounder Mike Davis, LOL.

IMO, Pruitt was possibly the worst player we could have had to run Weber's motion offense. That was a good example of Weber recruiting a guy he thought he needed to recruit instead of recruiting guys for his system.

Tisdale much more of a force inside than Finke, especially defensively. Finke better shooter.

 

[ivwilsoniv]

At one point, Richard Semrau was ranked #23 nationally and was a 5 star. True story.

At one point, he and I were in Econ 103 together. True story.

 

[Newman]

BU has said repeatedly that he likes “pieces.” He covets guys that aren’t all the same. If Matic leaves, as speculated by many, this guy fills the skilled big man that he wants. Sure we want him to be able to rebound and defend as well.

You’re not crazy. If Matic can put it altogether and get stronger, he has the skills to be a solid contributor. One aspect to bear in mind is that Giorgi played on a team with multiple D1 players and a schedule also against other high D1 players so perhaps playing here in the States will help with him contributing earlier (not saying it’ll be anything miraculous, but better than Matic’s frosh year). Giorgi had 15 and 7 with two 3’s in that game against Roselle Catholic.

Matic was always going to be a project but the disappointment began when people started falsely stating that he'd be a top 40 guy if he was from the states. I have no complaint about taking a risk with offering with any bigs, even guys with a low floor, but hopefully we can have a balance of projects with guys that are projected to produce right away.

 

[BlindLoyalty]

Matic was always going to be a project but the disappointment began when people started falsely stating that he'd be a top 40 guy if he was from the states.

You read that wrong. They meant top 40 in the state (of Illinois).

On a (14-18) team desperate to give minutes to anyone over 6'7" that could breathe, Vesel managed 37 total minutes in big ten play. He had as many technicals as rebounds in big ten play. At this point calling Vesel a project is very generous.

 

[TCTORNADO]

You read that wrong. They meant top 40 in the state (of Illinois).

On a (14-18) team desperate to give minutes to anyone over 6'7" that could breathe, Vesel managed 37 total minutes in big ten play. He had as many technicals as rebounds in big ten play. At this point calling Vesel a project is very generous.

 

[TownieMatt]

I'm utterly stumped by people posting about Matic's "skills". I don't mean to call people out, but when did we see these skills? I didn't see anything from him all year that suggested he'd ever be a B1G contributor—athleticism or talent.

Giorgi has at least played high-level HS basketball in NJ. He's played against guys that are going high D1 and held his own. At this point, that's more than Matic has ever done.

 

[IlliniCaboose]

At one point, he and I were in Econ 103 together. True story.

I once had an RST lecture with Semrau, Chester, McCamey, and a few FB players. We were talking about selling beer at on campus events and Semrau was all for it saying that we'd get the fans more excited and amped up. The professor said "You know what'll get more fan excitement, scoring more than 33 points in a game!" Even McCamey was laughing, but Rich didn't seem to find it funny haha

 

[Deleted member 631370]

I'm utterly stumped by people posting about Matic's "skills". I don't mean to call people out, but when did we see these skills? I didn't see anything from him all year that suggested he'd ever be a B1G contributor—athleticism or talent.

Giorgi has at least played high-level HS basketball in NJ. He's played against guys that are going high D1 and held his own. At this point, that's more than Matic has ever done.

Yeah, I hope Matic sticks around and grows. And it's not fair to write him off this early. But if I were a betting man, I'd bet that we're going to get limited productivity from him for at least the next season.

The label "project" gets thrown out a lot, and he certainly fits the bill.


We all spoke about how John Groce's fate at Illinois would be decided by his ability to land a big time PG. That proved true. I wonder if Underwood's fate will be decided by his ability to land quality bigs. Most of these bigs show promise in an aspect or two of their game, but man......it's one project after another. I am optimistic about Kane, though.

 

[Kathy]

I know there's a growing/learning curve to college basketball, but, if we're going to rise to the top of the Big Ten we have to stay away from or limit our projects.

 

[Ga65]

I'm utterly stumped by people posting about Matic's "skills". I don't mean to call people out, but when did we see these skills? I didn't see anything from him all year that suggested he'd ever be a B1G contributor—athleticism or talent.

Giorgi has at least played high-level HS basketball in NJ. He's played against guys that are going high D1 and held his own. At this point, that's more than Matic has ever done.

I believe BU praised his shooting skills early on. Hasn't had enough playing time to make any judgement. Looked completely lost while playing.

 

[IlliniNation1010]

Hopefully this isn't too off topic.. ( not sure if that is a thing on this board) What was the deal with the Zach Norvell recruitment? I don't think I was really following this at that time and just never remember hearing a ton about him, even with him being a Simeon guy.

Just hit a huge 3 in the Gonzaga game. Recognized the name instantly, only reason I'm asking.

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We had signed JCL, DMW & AJ in the previous class. JG thought we were good at the position. He also did not pursue Isaiah Roby that year. They each would've seen plenty of playing time for us this year

 

[FiveStar]

I'm utterly stumped by people posting about Matic's "skills". I don't mean to call people out, but when did we see these skills? I didn't see anything from him all year that suggested he'd ever be a B1G contributor—athleticism or talent.

Giorgi has at least played high-level HS basketball in NJ. He's played against guys that are going high D1 and held his own. At this point, that's more than Matic has ever done.

When I said matic over giorgi I look at this way. Neither one is helping until the 19-20 season at the earliest. Giorgi has some skill, but is really unathletic. 6’9 guy, plodding movement, barely dunks on air. A below the rim 6’9 player. Nothing wrong with that if your skill set/iq overrides that.

In matic, we saw a guy who definitely doesn’t have the skills right now. However, if he and Giorgi hit the same skill level, matic’s separating factor will be his athleticism. You say you didn’t see athleticism. I think he was just so lost that he couldn’t move. But watch him run the court. He can move. He just didn’t.

In the end, my personal preference is to bet on athleticism if it is the determining factor. I will forever believe that it is easier to turn an athlete into a basketball player, than a basketball player into an athlete. Some disagree. I get it. JMO.

 

[Kramer116]

Well it is definitely looking more and more like we will have at least 5 new players next season at least.

Ayo
Griffin
Kane
?
?
? (think it is 6 in the end)

 

[FiveStar]

Well it is definitely looking more and more like we will have at least 5 new players next season at least.

Ayo
Griffin
Kane
?
?
? (think it is 6 in the end)

Smith gone, Leron gone, Alstork gone. Still waiting on official word about tjl and matic. Anyone else?

 

[BuddyJ]

Smith gone, Leron gone, Alstork gone. Still waiting on official word about tjl and matic. Anyone else?

Finke, but I think he’s going to end up staying.

I also think the only way TJL leaves is if we grab Ramey.

 

[GortTheRobot]

I think Trice takes one of those spots, and if we don''t get Jones, it may be Giorgi. I have no idea what would happen if someone else left, but I could see yet another big if it's a 5th year transfer.

 

[kuhl84]

Well it is definitely looking more and more like we will have at least 5 new players next season at least.

Ayo
Griffin
Kane
?
?
? (think it is 6 in the end)

Could be 7, if both Ramey and Jones come. Probably 6.

 

[BananaShampoo]

I once had an RST lecture with Semrau, Chester, McCamey, and a few FB players. We were talking about selling beer at on campus events and Semrau was all for it saying that we'd get the fans more excited and amped up. The professor said "You know what'll get more fan excitement, scoring more than 33 points in a game!" Even McCamey was laughing, but Rich didn't seem to find it funny haha

LOL Great story. :thumb: