Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (July 2018)

[Dan]

#Illini have jumped into the mix with an offer to top-100 forward Tray Jackson. Long, athletic lefty on MeanStreets.
Oklahoma brought him in for an OV last month. Illinois will try to gain traction during this window of opportunity.
https://247sports.com/college/illin...offer-top-100-forward-Tray-Jackson-120246208/ …

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1024364399711141888

 

[Joel Goodson]

Haha, too funny. Jackson's twitter account has a pic of Mark Smith...playing against Miznoz, of course!

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Right, the MIF's high major recruit widget machine has ruled out family input from the college decision. Oy vey.

If we want to be real about it we can acknowledge that every recruit and every recruitment are different, that these are human beings and there is no one unified theory of how all of this operates. That is the correct answer.

But the poster I responded to stated that AAU programs, MIF in particular, don't deliver players to favored schools. Let's leave aside the truth or falsehood of the statement, you'd have been laughed out of this board 3 years ago for saying something like that. But now we are in need of some words to string together to create happytalk for why losing Kahlil Whitney is not a setback for the Savior Figure, so that is the string of words that will do. Silly.

But again, let's go back to being real. The recruitment of Ayo Dosumnu is just about the only thing that has gone right with this program in the last 16-odd months. Chin Coleman was hired for a purpose, and he fulfilled that purpose. But, one of three assistant coaching spots is a heavy price to pay for one player, and a single AAU program only produces so much high-major talent. It is simply the nature of the business that that spot is only going to belong to that coach for so long as it's a favorable value proposition for the acquisition and retention of Irvin-affiliated players. Losing Whitney isn't the end of the world by any means, but that value proposition will bear keeping an eye on as we go forward.

 

[Joel Goodson]

If we want to be real about it we can acknowledge that every recruit and every recruitment are different, that these are human beings and there is no one unified theory of how all of this operates. That is the correct answer.

Indeed. I've been railing about this since the Big Bang.

 

[Illwinsagain]

But again, let's go back to being real. The recruitment of Ayo Dosumnu is just about the only thing that has gone right with this program in the last 16-odd months. Chin Coleman was hired for a purpose, and he fulfilled that purpose. But, one of three assistant coaching spots is a heavy price to pay for one player, and a single AAU program only produces so much high-major talent. It is simply the nature of the business that that spot is only going to belong to that coach for so long as it's a favorable value proposition for the acquisition and retention of Irvin-affiliated players. Losing Whitney isn't the end of the world by any means, but that value proposition will bear keeping an eye on as we go forward.

I appreciate your sense of realism, but the bolded statement is over the top, even for you. The Spring scramble, as unfortunate as it was to be necessary, I feel went quite well. Also, Kipper and Trent are two players that have shown that they belong in the B1G and I am anxiously looking forward to seeing more of the rest of the returning roster.

 

[Joel Goodson]

But the poster I responded to stated that AAU programs, MIF in particular, don't deliver players to favored schools. Let's leave aside the truth or falsehood of the statement, you'd have been laughed out of this board 3 years ago for saying something like that. But now we are in need of some words to string together to create happytalk for why losing Kahlil Whitney is not a setback for the Savior Figure, so that is the string of words that will do. Silly.

Anyone who thought Whitney was a lock, was fooling themselves. Even the previous iteration, the 4 star Whitney, was no lock.

"Savior Figure?" GMAB

 

[ChiefIllini]

Personally, the most I think you can ask for out of the MIF is hoping they suggest UIUC over any non-blue blood, or at least give multiple reasons why UI might be a better choice. If someone has a legit argument as to why, purely from a basketball sense, going to UI over Duke is more beneficial for a player who is capable of playing at that high of a level (i.e. Whitney), then I'd love to hear it.

I appreciate your sense of realism, but the bolded statement is over the top, even for you. The Spring scramble, as unfortunate as it was to be necessary, I feel went quite well. Also, Kipper and Trent are two players that have shown that they belong in the B1G and I am anxiously looking forward to seeing more of the rest of the returning roster.

I agree there was a little hyperbole in saying Ayo was the only right thing, but its pretty close. And I agree you can't forget Fraizer and Kipper. Other than that, most other things have been neutral at best. Sure Jones and Feliz seem to be solid gets, Kane may be, but the rest were leftovers. Now that doesn't necessarily mean they are/will be wastes, and I hate to overreact (too late I guess ), but based on losing the amount of guys we did (whether or not you thought they fit in the B1G), I see these as band aids, rather than cures. Now maybe similar to the fb program, blowing up the roster and starting fresh is the best way to go about it, but it certainly looks rough from this side of coaches office.

 

[hoopsfan47]

Just want to add a positive thought to the job this recruiting staff has done. A lot of hard work, travel, and thought has produced offers to 44 young men in the class of 2019. Seemingly no position is being shorted, but PG, such a shortcoming in the Groce era, has only three offers but a handful of such types will suit up for the Illini next season so that is far from critical. This is the kind of work we have not seen in a long time, and does stem from the fact that the Illini hoops program can no longer just choose the best players from Illinois to come to Champaign. Sure, like most here, I hope that can be re-established as the norm, but good players are everywhere as is good coaching and facilities. In this present college hardwood environment, teams looking to rebuild cannot afford to limit their offers. BU and staff have a type of player for which they look at every position and are willing to offer and try to build a relationship with any young man who fits the mold. Given the circumstances when he took over, IMHO BU and staff have exceeded recruiting expectations but are not blowing it our of the park.....yet. Lets hope they can sign 3 kids for next year that will fill gaps and upgrade their position on the way to challenging for the B1G upper echelon over the next 3 seasons.

 

[skyIdub]

Personally, the most I think you can ask for out of the MIF is hoping they suggest UIUC over any non-blue blood, or at least give multiple reasons why UI might be a better choice. If someone has a legit argument as to why, purely from a basketball sense, going to UI over Duke is more beneficial for a player who is capable of playing at that high of a level (i.e. Whitney), then I'd love to hear it.



I agree there was a little hyperbole in saying Ayo was the only right thing, but its pretty close. And I agree you can't forget Fraizer and Kipper. Other than that, most other things have been neutral at best. Sure Jones and Feliz seem to be solid gets, Kane may be, but the rest were leftovers. Now that doesn't necessarily mean they are/will be wastes, and I hate to overreact (too late I guess ), but based on losing the amount of guys we did (whether or not you thought they fit in the B1G), I see these as band aids, rather than cures. Now maybe similar to the fb program, blowing up the roster and starting fresh is the best way to go about it, but it certainly looks rough from this side of coaches office.

Somebody tweet this crap to Griffin. Stat.

 

[Obelix]

I agree with almost all of this but one aspect I disagree with is that maybe some players get "sent" but its more likely that if the people that surround a kid are in our corner then they help get us a seat at the table by having a positive view of the program. The reverse is true, when coaches/a kids mentor for several years consistently pushes a kid away from a program that can have significant impact as well. Some kids may ignore the advice either way, but most are influenced by the people around them either positively or negatively.

Most of the recruiting these days in done through AAU and shoe sponsored events with multiple recruits and coaches in attendance. It is actually pretty easy to influence kids towards schools as these programs control most of the recruiting relationships. Furthermore, they have built a relationship of trust with recruits and families. The easiest of all is to steer a recruit away from a school.

The best advertising for an AAU program is for their players to have success in college, so it is not that AAU programs/coaches are influencing kids towards bad choices. That rarely happens. But for every recruit there are multiple schools that can be a good fit, and that is where the coaches influence has the biggest impact. Furthermore, playing for top programs is a great advertising for AAU programs. The same way that UK claims that they "send many kids to the NBA" or a HS claims that they "send many kids to Ivy league schools", the same way AAU programs use to their advantage their history of "sending kids to blue bloods and the top basketball programs." That will not change.

Having a relationship with MIF increases our chances of landing a recruit, but having a relationship does not mean exclusivity as many think. Many top programs have strong relationships with MIF as well, and reality is that MIF needs those top programs more than they need UI right now. That does not mean that their players ending up at UK, Duke, Kansas, etc. is a bad choice or against their will.

 

[t7nich]

Speaking of AAU, sounds like they could have slightly less involvement moving forward. This CBS article does a pretty good job of outlining the very possible changes coming to basketball recruiting.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...s-complained-about-changing-recruiting-rules/

 

[ChiefIllini]

Somebody tweet this crap to Griffin. Stat.

He's already playing with a chip on his shoulder, not sure a keyboard warriors comments will fuel him anymore, but if it makes him a better player I'm all for it

You can't possibly tell me he was option A-E. Late bloomer, diamond in the rough, whatever you want to call it those are rare cases. I hope he is, and reports sound good, but considering his best offer besides us was St. Joihn's makes me dubious. We targeted at least 3/4 other similar guys before Griffin committed. He might be the best choice, he was not the first choice. That's my point.

 

[Calvin]

Speaking of AAU, sounds like they could have slightly less involvement moving forward. This CBS article does a pretty good job of outlining the very possible changes coming to basketball recruiting.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...s-complained-about-changing-recruiting-rules/

The NCAA wants to make a buck off recruiting by sanctioning events....Shocking. I don't see that changing how the market for talent works, especially at the level we aspire to.

The NBA might actually help programs if they go back to letting kids go straight out of h.s. Anything that skims off the truly elite players, IMO helps parity by rewarding development, coaching, etc. just that little bit more.

 

[skyIdub]

He's already playing with a chip on his shoulder, not sure a keyboard warriors comments will fuel him anymore, but if it makes him a better player I'm all for it

You can't possibly tell me he was option A-E. Late bloomer, diamond in the rough, whatever you want to call it those are rare cases. I hope he is, and reports sound good, but considering his best offer besides us was St. Joihn's makes me dubious. We targeted at least 3/4 other similar guys before Griffin committed. He might be the best choice, he was not the first choice. That's my point.

You never know what could stick in a guy's craw.

 

[Dbell1981]

He's already playing with a chip on his shoulder, not sure a keyboard warriors comments will fuel him anymore, but if it makes him a better player I'm all for it

You can't possibly tell me he was option A-E. Late bloomer, diamond in the rough, whatever you want to call it those are rare cases. I hope he is, and reports sound good, but considering his best offer besides us was St. Joihn's makes me dubious. We targeted at least 3/4 other similar guys before Griffin committed. He might be the best choice, he was not the first choice. That's my point.

Heck we didn't even recruit Ray Rice out of high school. I watched him play his senior year and thought "this guy is as good as everyone we were recruiting" and he went to Drake. 3 star under the radar player to say the least. Look what he ended up turning into. Griffin could be that for us in time as well. As far as plan A-E you are correct, I wanted DJ Stewart from Mississippi myself. Kid had ridiculous hops and crazy range. Tevian seems like the same style player just not as much range i thought. Either way go ILLINI.

 

[Goldtop]

But the poster I responded to stated that AAU programs, MIF in particular, don't deliver players to favored schools. Let's leave aside the truth or falsehood of the statement, you'd have been laughed out of this board 3 years ago for saying something like that.

No, that is not what I said, and I quote "We talk like the MIF choose where these kids go to school. I am sure they have an influence, but at the end of the day the family makes the call."

Sure coaches have an influence. Are you trying to say that the parents of the players don't?

 

[jrichisamazing]

I feel like Liddell is taking the Jalen Brunson recruiting path. Good relationship early, all of a sudden things go cold, this board comes to terms with not getting him, all of a sudden things heat back up late in the process, this board freaks out thinking we have a legit chance again.

Hopefully this one ends differently.

 

[Deleted member 649710]

Terrence Shannon will be the next MIF recruit to end up at Illinois.

And we all should be thrilled if that happens.

 

[PlayAZ]

Maybe that is the new tagline for recruits coming here from Mac Irvin Fire...so and so chose Illinois, I bet he is MIF'd.

 

[TCTORNADO]

Whitney dropping his final 8 tonight at 8:00 pm.

 

[sacraig]

Right, that's completely intellectually honest and consistent with what we said about MIF players pre-Chin Coleman. Oy vey.

Just because message board fans claimed something ridiculous in the past doesn't make it true, then or now.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

No, that is not what I said, and I quote "We talk like the MIF choose where these kids go to school. I am sure they have an influence, but at the end of the day the family makes the call."

Sure coaches have an influence. Are you trying to say that the parents of the players don't?

Every recruit is different. But SOME of them are delivered with a bow by their AAU coaches, with little if any input from the parents. Something this board was once very passionate about understanding.

Sometimes Mom pulls all the strings, sometimes it's Dad. Sometimes it's the brother, or the high school coach, or the girlfriend, or whoever. But the one constant on this board is that the ones pushing for Illinois are always pure of heart and morals even when it's [checks notes] Nick Irvin.

 

[TCTORNADO]

Whitney's Final 8! We made the list.
Illinois, FSU, Ky, Georgetown, Miami, Oregon, SMU and LVille

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Whitney's Final 8! We made the list.
Illinois, FSU, Ky, Georgetown, Miami, Oregon, SMU and LVille

Very interesting. Knew Georgetown, ILL, KY, and Louisville would make it. Very surprised by the other 4.

SMU?

If he leaves Lexington uncommitted I like the chances. I still think it will come down to Cal vs BU.

 

[WhiteRhino]

But the one constant on this board is that the ones pushing for Illinois are always pure of heart and morals even when it's [checks notes] Nick Irvin.

Well, if they steer them to Illinois, it is always in the player's best interest