Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2021)

[BretMyBeachHouse]

Also anyone remember the consternation and handwringing after the staff chose Ayo (and Morgan Park) over THT and pretty much burned our relationship with Simeon?

Three years later and now Morgan Park (if we land Nimari) will have sent more top level recruits to us than Simeon has in the last 30 years.

Goes to show this staff knows what they're doing.

It was pretty limited consternation over the choice of Ayo. Like virtually no one. There was a concern about Ayo and his "handlers" apparently not wanting THT and us bowing to the pressure. Additional concern that BU didn't figure it out before the THT pursuit got so heavy.

Turns out Ayo (or his friends) had THT pretty much nailed.

 

[sdfidaho]

All’s well that ends well

 

[mhuml32]

As schools are back channeling some of our current roster to see if they are interested in transferring after this year.

We won't pay to play, but big boy recruiting never stops until the ink is dry on that NLI

I have no problem with this but we need to stop the countless posts about other programs being "shady" when we lose a recruit to a blue blood. Can't have it both ways.

 

[mhuml32]

I am just hopeful that Underwood and staff can get two of TyTy, Burnett, Boakye, and/or starting caliber big man transfer. Two of them would be a great recruiting statement after the best year in 16 years. Still have scars from the 2006-2007 recruiting class misses.

 

[bluemountain]

I’m not sure what makes you think Hamlin will make a big jump.

He was predicting Hamblin would make the big jump, not Hamlin

 

[Nappy I_L_L]

He was predicting Hamblin would make the big jump, not Hamlin

Give the guy a break. It was good insight, but I don't see Hamlin getting any better, in fact, I see him and/or BBV leaving this year due to our massive recruiting class coming in.

 

[217sports]

More news:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1370440214590685185

 

[Kofiisforclosing]

I mean we weren't even listed as teams who contacted him in Bossi's article if we want to look at real information and not just rumors: https://247sports.com/Article/TyTy-...-Maryland-Colorado-Pittsburgh-more-162228862/

If you think I'm relaying "just rumors" you haven't been following me very much.

I promise you we are in contact with Tyty. The competition will be more difficult this time around. There's a reason you might intentionally leave off Illinois and turn around and go there later.

For example a couple years ago a team was tampering with an actual player on a team and when he announced his transfer his "initial list" didn't include the school tampering. Guess what school he later ended up at? ::hint hint:: It was the school that was tampering.

 

[kyillinifan]

- it's Hamlin. not Hamblin
- for Western?
- how does Lieb remind you of Roberts? not seeing it
- Casey is doubtful, at best (I'd love to be wrong)

Well let’s see how Leon does over the summer. Sorry for the misspelling of his name.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Well let’s see how Leon does over the summer. Sorry for the misspelling of his name.

There is no Dana, only Zhoul.

 

[logjam]

But... like... how fluid?

Nice tee up job!

 

[trtl]

Delete

 

[GloryDays]

Maybe to someone who doesn’t understand recruiting.

Ok, well if it ever happens to us I expect to hear nothing but how fine a recruiting job the other team did.

I'm not upset, but the unwritten rule in basketball is you respect commitments and back off. In football that rule doesn't exist, it's a free for all, but everyone knows that.

 

[sacraig]

Ok, well if it ever happens to us I expect to hear nothing but how fine a recruiting job the other team did.

I'm not upset, but the unwritten rule in basketball is you respect commitments and back off. In football that rule doesn't exist, it's a free for all, but everyone knows that.

If? It already has. See: Gorden, Eric

 

[GloryDays]

If? It already has. See: Gorden, Eric

And we were rightfully furious

 

[sacraig]

And we were rightfully furious

Sure. But were we justified in claiming that was shady or is that actually fairly usual and we just had our orange colored glasses on and/or weren't accustomed to big boy recruiting? I'm honestly not sure anymore.

And I say that as one of the screaming Krush members in attendance that year.

 

[GloryDays]

Sure. But were we justified in claiming that was shady or is that actually fairly usual and we just had our orange colored glasses on and/or weren't accustomed to big boy recruiting? I'm honestly not sure anymore.

And I say that as one of the screaming Krush members in attendance that year.

Well I'm sure that in my opinion, it's shady.

Kid decommits, game on, but while committed other teams should back off. Those teams need to work on other recruits anyway.

I mean if the kid is texting or calling a coach they can respond, but I don't think any coaches should be reaching out to committed players.

 

[Deleted member 747903]

Well I'm sure that in my opinion, it's shady.

Kid decommits, game on, but while committed other teams should back off. Those teams need to work on other recruits anyway.

Why would a commitment mean other teams should back off? A commitment these days means zero.

 

[Calvin]

Sure. But were we justified in claiming that was shady or is that actually fairly usual and we just had our orange colored glasses on and/or weren't accustomed to big boy recruiting? I'm honestly not sure anymore.

And I say that as one of the screaming Krush members in attendance that year.

I think it was shady for several reasons:

Kelvin Sampson
BIG wasn't poaching committed recruits from it's own conference teams at the time
Lotta lying about what was happening
Kelvin Sampson
Hiring his coach as Assistant
& last but not least, Kelvin Sampson

I think the pressure to win recruiting battles, lack of enforcement, inconsistency in policing, back room deals in and outside the NCAA, and willingness of institutions to defend bad behavior, has escalated to the point where anything goes. That wasn't nearly as true back in 2005 when he originally committed. YMMV

That said, we had a squeaky clean, old-school coach who was arguably out of touch with how to handle the boundaries of big time recruiting battles. That one's on us.

 

[sacraig]

I think it was shady for several reasons:

Kelvin Sampson
BIG wasn't poaching committed recruits from it's own conference teams at the time
Lotta lying about what was happening
Kelvin Sampson
Hiring his coach as Assistant
& last but not least, Kelvin Sampson

I think the pressure to win recruiting battles, lack of enforcement, inconsistency in policing, back room deals in and outside the NCAA, and willingness of institutions to defend bad behavior, has escalated to the point where anything goes. That wasn't nearly as true back in 2005 when he originally committed. YMMV

That said, we had a squeaky clean, old-school coach who was arguably out of touch with how to handle the boundaries of big time recruiting battles. That one's on us.

I agree Sampson makes it shadier. He's obviously a sleaze who has been sanctioned in the past as a result. The "how" was shady, but I am no longer convinced that the "what" was shady.

 

[IlliniTime]

kofi is far from gone next year......

He has 3 things he could get better at to improve his NBA stock. 1. Develop a mid-range jumper. 2. Improve free-throw shooting percentage. 3. Improve ability at kicking the ball out to the open perimeter shooter. If he can't do #3 he could be a liability in the NBA. If he improves in all three categories he's a LOCK for a first round draft pick. Come back big fella!

 

[rtbritt]

Yeah, but can you name 3 things he could get better at to improve his NBA stock......again?

/s

 

[whatahack]

It's almost like visiting your sister at school and recruiting...

 

[WhiteHorseWings]

If? It already has. See: Gorden, Eric

Snider, Quentin

 

[Kofiisforclosing]

Ok, well if it ever happens to us I expect to hear nothing but how fine a recruiting job the other team did.

I'm not upset, but the unwritten rule in basketball is you respect commitments and back off. In football that rule doesn't exist, it's a free for all, but everyone knows that.

This is getting blown out of proportion. Tyty's dad REALLY liked Underwood and Ayo's development and he had a great relationship with Underwood but the concern for playing time immediately was an issue for him and while we all knew Ayo was gone after this year it's different to see it actually play out.

There's a reason he didn't sign a letter of intent.

It's not like Illinois was reaching out to TyTy on a daily basis but there was some semblance of a relationship that was maintained and it was known if TyTy ever decided to reevaluate his choice Illinois was still interested.

From what I gather, which isn't always correct, it had more to do with TyTy's dad maintaining some contact with the staff because sometimes stuff happens.