Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (September 2018)

[tpbradley]

Huge weekend in recruiting obviously. Anyone know when the signing period is? Would like a verbal but getting them to sign on the dotted line would be better. Thanks

You can't play in the man's game, you can't close them—go home and tell your wife your troubles. Because only one thing counts in this life: get them to sign on the line which is dotted.

 

[IlliniinIowa]

Bayron Matos, 2020 big man is one of today's visits.

Have we heard is Oscar still visiting this weekend?

 

[Joel Goodson]

Well said.

What is so hard to determine is how hard these guys are going to work when they get here.

Needs to work on handles and shot is a lot like what many would have said about Luther. He put in the work to improve. Others not so much

Want to is one thing. A very, very important component. But innate talent is just as important.

 

[Obelix]

Well said.

What is so hard to determine is how hard these guys are going to work when they get here.

Needs to work on handles and shot is a lot like what many would have said about Luther. He put in the work to improve. Others not so much

I agree. On Luther, I thought his improvement on his shot was remarkable, yet his handles were never that great even in college. He was touted as PG out of Manley but never got the handles.

I have mentioned it many times, but IMO ballhandling is the hardest skill to improve once you get past HS. Easier to improve the rest (e.g., shooting, rebounding, even passing). I always tell younger players to focus on ballhandling, develop the muscle memory skills for quick handles without looking at the ball/floor. Yet, most young players are still fascinated with the 3-point shot.

 

[Deleted member 2050]

Yet, most young players are still fascinated with the 3-point shot.

The Steph Curry effect is stronger than ever

 

[rtbritt]

The Steph Curry effect is stronger than ever

Yep, and his ball-handling sucks.

 

[TCTORNADO]

Have we heard is Oscar still visiting this weekend?

I would see why not, that KY offer is just not quite commitable yet. KY is dabbling with lots of 2019 Big men right now.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Morning all! appear to be in really good shape with TSJ, hearing some visits being done today with a couple other guys, a 2019 big for one, then back to metro east for visit tonight with EJ. OffIcial Visit still on the calendar!!

Does "visits being done" mean visits being scheduled for later or visits actually happening? On campus, in home, what's going on here?

 

[TCTORNADO]

Yep. Also Jason jitoboh. Busy day for Jamal

HS teammates. Speaking of Jitoboh he will OV to LVille in November.

 

[stuemke5]

Does "visits being done" mean visits being scheduled for later or visits actually happening? On campus, in home, what's going on here?

In home

 

[sacraig]

I would see why not, that KY offer is just not quite commitable yet. KY is dabbling with lots of 2019 Big men right now.

I don't think that UK has to worry about making offers that are or aren't commitable. It seems like a school like that has the luxury of waiting to offer a second or third choice kid for them (which is still a first choice for us) until said offer would be commitable.

 

[Deleted member 643761]

I don't think that UK has to worry about making offers that are or aren't commitable. It seems like a school like that has the luxury of waiting to offer a second or third choice kid for them (which is still a first choice for us) until said offer would be commitable.

It's not about the school. It's about the kid being able to go out there and say he's got an offer from Kentucky.

No kid wants to say "School X is waiting on Player A before deciding whether I get an offer."

 

[sacraig]

It's not about the school. It's about the kid being able to go out there and say he's got an offer from Kentucky.

No kid wants to say "School X is waiting on Player A before deciding whether I get an offer."

No kid wants to say that, but most kids aren't going to care when it is a school like UK. Every high school basketball prospect is just waiting on that Kentucky offer. I hate it, but it's often true. Kentucky has that ability to come in late, make an offer to their plan C, and still land them.

 

[Calvin]

No kid wants to say that, but most kids aren't going to care when it is a school like UK. Every high school basketball prospect is just waiting on that Kentucky offer. I hate it, but it's often true. Kentucky has that ability to come in late, make an offer to their plan C, and still land them.

Judging by how many top-10 guys wind up there, I don't think they have too many Plan C issues. Of course, when you have top-10 guys, you only have them for a year, so you have to keep doing it every year....which they somehow do.

 

[IlliniinIowa]

It's not about the school. It's about the kid being able to go out there and say he's got an offer from Kentucky.

No kid wants to say "School X is waiting on Player A before deciding whether I get an offer."

So.....Oscar is the recruit we've been waiting for years to get that Kentucky offer and then commit to Illinois!!

Yes!!

 

[Obelix]

It's not about the school. It's about the kid being able to go out there and say he's got an offer from Kentucky.

No kid wants to say "School X is waiting on Player A before deciding whether I get an offer."

Yes, it is goodwill between both sides and it does help the player. At the same time, the practice builds relationships with coaching staff.

But more importantly, the reason of mention in this thread has nothing to do with KU's strategy, but more importantly with the fact that Oscar T will not commit until his OV to Illinois as UK will likely wait to see what (at least) Wiseman does, who is not expected to make a decision until then. At the same time, it also means that a possible commitment to Illinois is not likely for the same reasons even after his visit if he really wants Kentucky (i.e., he will also wait for Wiseman's decision).

 

[UofIChE06]

I don't think that UK has to worry about making offers that are or aren't commitable. It seems like a school like that has the luxury of waiting to offer a second or third choice kid for them (which is still a first choice for us) until said offer would be commitable.

I mean it is a really easy decision.... you extend the offer and say you would like to have the recruit to campus before committing if you think he might jump on the offer but you as a coaching staff aren't ready for that. Then you just have "scheduling issues" or schedule the visit out several weeks to delay everything. It really isn't rocket science how to both extend and offer and not get a commitment.

 

[DeeForThr33]

It has nothing to do with nitpicking. I have not seen any posts yet claiming anything different than Shannon can help and that he would be a really nice get. Was it nitpicking when people were discussing JCL's lack of PG skills? Or Finke's lack of low-post moves?

Understanding a recruit's strong points and also areas that need improvement (independent of whether he ends up at UI of not) is a critical part of keeping expectations grounded and also understanding additional recruiting needs. Rather than unrealistically building recruits up only to bring them down harshly when some of those areas become apparent, which happens quite often, including some of the aforementioned players.

well said indeed, and i agree with your points. after watching tapes, he does need to improve his handles while driving to the lane if he wants to be successful at the next level. I don’t know any of his stats regarding his jumpshot, but it looks okay to me in terms of form, obviously there’s always things he could do to fix it, like keeping his elbow tucked, but that’s what we pay our staff the big bucks to take care of.
This board is just so all over the place sometimes. Either way, next fall having wings like Shannon/Jones/Kipper along with the returning backcourt in Ayo/Feliz/DWill/Trent and growth from Griffin this team could really take a huge leap in terms of skill/size/athleticism. Exciting times! I-L-L baby

 

[Ga65]

well said indeed, and i agree with your points. after watching tapes, he does need to improve his handles while driving to the lane if he wants to be successful at the next level. I don’t know any of his stats regarding his jumpshot, but it looks okay to me in terms of form, obviously there’s always things he could do to fix it, like keeping his elbow tucked, but that’s what we pay our staff the big bucks to take care of.
This board is just so all over the place sometimes. Either way, next fall having wings like Shannon/Jones/Kipper along with the returning backcourt in Ayo/Feliz/DWill/Trent and growth from Griffin this team could really take a huge leap in terms of skill/size/athleticism. Exciting times! I-L-L baby

Need two of Liddell, Timme, or Oscar T and we are back in the National rankings.

 

[Deleted member 643761]

Yes, it is goodwill between both sides and it does help the player. At the same time, the practice builds relationships with coaching staff.

But more importantly, the reason of mention in this thread has nothing to do with KU's strategy, but more importantly with the fact that Oscar T will not commit until his OV to Illinois as UK will likely wait to see what (at least) Wiseman does, who is not expected to make a decision until then. At the same time, it also means that a possible commitment to Illinois is not likely for the same reasons even after his visit if he really wants Kentucky (i.e., he will also wait for Wiseman's decision).

To clarify. The OP was saying Kentucky doesn't have to do conditional offers. Which is pretty much true. But the kids want the conditional offers, although they won't publicly disclose that they're conditional.

 

[Joel Goodson]

I mean it is a really easy decision.... you extend the offer and say you would like to have the recruit to campus before committing if you think he might jump on the offer but you as a coaching staff aren't ready for that. Then you just have "scheduling issues" or schedule the visit out several weeks to delay everything. It really isn't rocket science how to both extend and offer and not get a commitment.

This.

WRT Tshiebwe, UK pretty much had to offer, even if it's non-commitable. But, yeah, slow play city. Must be nice. That said, I think he's going elsewhere (famous last words, lulz).

 

[Obelix]

To clarify. The OP was saying Kentucky doesn't have to do conditional offers. Which is pretty much true. But the kids want the conditional offers, although they won't publicly disclose that they're conditional.

I understood that, but as I said in my post (and previous post in earlier years about the same discussion, #1917) there is a benefit to both player and program (e.g., UK, KU and the like). It is not just need to do. You do it, because later on the HS/AAU coaches will return the favor.

 

[Deleted member 2050]

Need two of Liddell, Timme, or Oscar T and we are back in the National rankings.

Let's win some games and push into the tourney before worrying about that little number next to our name

 

[jrichisamazing]

Yes, it is goodwill between both sides and it does help the player. At the same time, the practice builds relationships with coaching staff.

But more importantly, the reason of mention in this thread has nothing to do with KU's strategy, but more importantly with the fact that Oscar T will not commit until his OV to Illinois as UK will likely wait to see what (at least) Wiseman does, who is not expected to make a decision until then. At the same time, it also means that a possible commitment to Illinois is not likely for the same reasons even after his visit if he really wants Kentucky (i.e., he will also wait for Wiseman's decision).

Plus he’s almost certainly getting to West Virginia considering they’ve been on him the longest.

 

[TCTORNADO]

So.....Oscar is the recruit we've been waiting for years to get that Kentucky offer and then commit to Illinois!!

Yes!!

Mark Smith.