Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (May-June 2018)

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#976      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
As of right now I would take Tevian without a doubt. Feel Tevian is the type of player we haven't gotten often (6'7 with uber athleticism, good bb skills).
THT type players are available, solid college players but that skill type and measurables typically don't equate to major college success. Look at Wayne Blackshear (Louisville) and Sergio McClain.


Tevian a better fit for the BU offense and defense IMHO. But in two years who knows, he may end up like a DJ Williams (doubt it) and THT turn into Marcus Smart.


These two might not have been superstars but both of these guys were really good college players. Unquestioned starters on Elite Eight teams that were both in the running for best defensive players in the country. If Tevian became Wayne Blackshear, we should be happy.
 
#977      

EJ33

San Francisco
https://247sports.com/Season/2019-Basketball/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool

New 247 Rankings for 2019

28 Whitney
38 Cockburn
47 Watts
48 Okoro
77 Timme
83 Liddell

Kahlil obviously a huge riser. But I'm sure many will be shocked as I was about Liddell dropping. Seemed like most thought he would end up being top 30 ish. Instead of dropping 20. Okoro dropped 7

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

This ends in tears

Sadly, I agree.

I'd expect a little more positive buzz around Liddell if we had a great chance at landing him and Whitney is going to have a lot of really good offers closer to his new East Coast home.
 
#980      

t7nich

Central IL
Couple of Points


1. Getting a player like Whitney against the field is always going to be difficult. Going to a blue blood may not be his best interest as he might be the 3-4 best player recruited just in that year (Kentucky, Duke, Kansas). Illinois gets him heavy minutes to go along with a very good group of Trent, Damonte, Ayo, Kipper, Tevian, General. That group might be the best crop of guards and wings in the big ten in two years.


2. The THT stuff has to come to an end. Who would trade Tevian for THT? I think THT is a less effective Mark Smith, and I like Mark Smith the player/person. I think Griffin gives you the D and 3 at the wing and SG. Not sure what role THT would fit in the BU offense.

:eek:
 
#982      
It is hard to believe that once upon a time (1989) Illinois owned the state and especially Chicago. When Jimmy Collins was recruiting Chicago, he got almost anybody he wanted. Efrem Whinters, Marcus Liberty, Nick Smith to name a few. My hope is Chin Coleman can become close to the next Jimmy Collins. Not a bad start with Ayo, now lets get Whitney and Miller to add to his legacy.

I assume you meant Nick Anderson.
 
#983      

TownieMatt

CU Expat
Chicago
Care to elaborate ?

THT is just a better college prospect at this stage. His skill level is higher than Tevian's. THT is a plus ballhandler and passer as a wing, and has grown a ton as a scorer this past year. He's also a very underrated athlete. Once he gets in a college weight/nutrition program, he has a chance to take his game to another level.

I'm not knocking Jones at all. The most impressive thing our staff did in this class was go get Jones after the THT thing fell apart. I just think you'd be hard-pressed to find a coach/scout that would rank Jones ahead of THT at this point.
 
#985      

Dren1

Glenview, IL
And Trent Frazier was ?
I am not saying that the rankings are completely predictive, I am merely saying that if the evaluators think that highly of THT, he has a decent chance of being pretty good. The OP does not seem to agree with that stance.
 
#987      

TownieMatt

CU Expat
Chicago
The actual question (if you believe everything you read) is who would trade Ayo and Trevian for THT in which case I would hope the answer is no one.

Depends, would we then have signed a 100-ish ranked PG with THT? If so, I might do that deal. Especially given what's already on the roster.
 
#988      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
THT is just a better college prospect at this stage. His skill level is higher than Tevian's. THT is a plus ballhandler and passer as a wing, and has grown a ton as a scorer this past year. He's also a very underrated athlete. Once he gets in a college weight/nutrition program, he has a chance to take his game to another level.

I'm not knocking Jones at all. The most impressive thing our staff did in this class was go get Jones after the THT thing fell apart. I just think you'd be hard-pressed to find a coach/scout that would rank Jones ahead of THT at this point.

Got it. Having not seen either in person - only highlight tapes - my early concern with THT was that his skills were "mature for HS", but would not carry as well into high level college. I admit those were early (pre-Ayo commit) highlights - they show'd alot of scoop type shots as he was barging his way to the hoop as I recall. Probably out of date by now. It will be interesting to watch as we all we awed by Mark Smith taking the ball to the rim and shooting well beyond the 3 in HS.

But it is what makes this transition process interesting - not many called TF first team Frosh in the B1G
 
#990      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
All these declarations, but I don't see anyone throwing their beach houses down! :D
 
#991      

Hands Malone

Quad-Cities, IL
THT is just a better college prospect at this stage. His skill level is higher than Tevian's. THT is a plus ballhandler and passer as a wing, and has grown a ton as a scorer this past year. He's also a very underrated athlete. Once he gets in a college weight/nutrition program, he has a chance to take his game to another level.

I'm not knocking Jones at all. The most impressive thing our staff did in this class was go get Jones after the THT thing fell apart. I just think you'd be hard-pressed to find a coach/scout that would rank Jones ahead of THT at this point.

Well he’s not coming here so everyone should just move on instead of setting their diapers.
 
#992      

TownieMatt

CU Expat
Chicago
Got it. Having not seen either in person - only highlight tapes - my early concern with THT was that his skills were "mature for HS", but would not carry as well into high level college. I admit those were early (pre-Ayo commit) highlights - they show'd alot of scoop type shots as he was barging his way to the hoop as I recall. Probably out of date by now. It will be interesting to watch as we all we awed by Mark Smith taking the ball to the rim and shooting well beyond the 3 in HS.

But it is what makes this transition process interesting - not many called TF first team Frosh in the B1G

Yea, I think your analysis is missing the development he's made over the last 12 months. Just google "Talen Horton-Tucker dunk". Here's one:

[YOUTUBE]EBrkk7qGnoI?start=48[/YOUTUBE]

Interestingly, Mark Smith was utterly shut down by THT and Simeon in high school. Looking back, I've heard a couple people mention that there was some foreshadowing between that game and his struggles against high major guards in the B1G.
 
#993      
THT is just a better college prospect at this stage. His skill level is higher than Tevian's. THT is a plus ballhandler and passer as a wing, and has grown a ton as a scorer this past year. He's also a very underrated athlete. Once he gets in a college weight/nutrition program, he has a chance to take his game to another level.

I'm not knocking Jones at all. The most impressive thing our staff did in this class was go get Jones after the THT thing fell apart. I just think you'd be hard-pressed to find a coach/scout that would rank Jones ahead of THT at this point.

Agree with this assessment. I'm not aware of an independent ranking that has Tevian higher than THT, and THT has a very impressive offer list.

That said, I think Tevian plays at a faster speed, and could see him developing an elite first step. He's rail thin now, but he'll get bigger. I like his ceiling.
 
#994      
It is hard to believe that once upon a time (1989) Illinois owned the state and especially Chicago. When Jimmy Collins was recruiting Chicago, he got almost anybody he wanted. Efrem Whinters, Marcus Liberty, Nick Smith to name a few. My hope is Chin Coleman can become close to the next Jimmy Collins. Not a bad start with Ayo, now lets get Whitney and Miller to add to his legacy.

Actually, Jimmy Collins was not here when we got Efrem. That was Tony Yates. Also, Nick Smith was a Lon Kruger recruit from Florida. You might be thinking of Nick Anderson? Tony Yates came here with Gene Bartow in 1974 and stayed on with Henson though 1982-83. Collins replaced Yates, who accepted the head job at Cincinnati, in 1983-84. Yates started the turnaround by recruiting Audie Matthews in 1974 and Levi Cobb in 1975.
 
#995      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Agree with this assessment. I'm not aware of an independent ranking that has Tevian higher than THT, and THT has a very impressive offer list.

That said, I think Tevian plays at a faster speed, and could see him developing an elite first step. He's rail thin now, but he'll get bigger. I like his ceiling.


He's pretty close to Kendall Gill's size. I like his ceiling too!

KENDALL GILL COMP! :eek::illinois:
 
#996      
THT reminds me of Sergio McCain. Also seems he overpowers people at this level but going to be different in college. Never saw him in person though.
 
#997      
THT reminds me of Sergio McCain. Also seems he overpowers people at this level but going to be different in college. Never saw him in person though.

More Nick Anderson, his drive to hoop , with body control. Like the TJ /Gill comparison, would be awesome if he's any where close. ;):illinois:
 
#998      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
All the ratings, even by scouts and coaches are subjective. This is the way it appears to you, and perhaps for most. That doesn't mean it will turn out that way. Every coach has taken players that didn't quite work out the way they thought. Duke, NC, UK, over the decades have taken 5 star mcD All Americans who never played all that much or developed. Rankings are good for discussion, but when they blow it on players ranked 200 something like Shawn Marion, and on mcDees who don't do squat....and it has happened hundreds of times. Why would anyone think that a Wermer, or Sturdy, or any of those people have this great gift when they watch the players at different times, vs. different competition, and have no idea what team they will end up with, and how their game fits in with that team? It is a team game, and how a players skills fits in is paramount.
Impossible to say THT is underrated until he plays in college. He has been hyped to beat hell by the Chicago media/crowd, as all of them are.

We have TJ and we don't have THT.....I'm glad we have TJ.....I'm happy with our recruiting class and if we add more I'll be even happier....

Can't wait for the season to begin and I know it's 4-6 month's away....All this comparing is ok but I'd rather hear about who we have and how their preparations for college and summer workouts are going...JMHO
 
#999      
I think the problem is a lot of fans still think it’s 2004-2005.....but it’s not. I’m super stoked with this recruiting class!!
 
#1,000      
I'm rolling over my winnings from declaring Trent Frazier being underrated to declare that Tevian Jones is underrated.

I would still go THT. Pugnacity is a wonderful quality in a basketball player.
Not sure why the THT and TJ compare. Its not like we took one or the other. Both have great potential.

AG is my call for the steal of our class (TF was last years' steal).
 
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