Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (Week of April 12th, 2021)

[RockfordIllini]

Interestingly Richey from News Gazette didn’t think Plummer and Frazier would co-exist. First I’d heard that, as most speculation was more related to TF back and Plummer vs AM.

Thoughts?

Good Morning, Illini Nation: News this weekend?

Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll offer up insights every morning

www.news-gazette.com

Definitely a concern but I think Frazier and Plummer can both play with the ball in their hands. Although maybe not true PGs, I think either could initiate offense when Belo sits.

I think it could work provided the primary strategy is to minimize the time all 3 are out together. With 80 minutes between 2 spots, we should be able to give all 3 25-30 MPG. I don’t think I agree with Richey on this one.

 

[Fanview]

Interestingly Richey from News Gazette didn’t think Plummer and Frazier would co-exist. First I’d heard that, as most speculation was more related to TF back and Plummer vs AM.

Thoughts?

Good Morning, Illini Nation: News this weekend?

Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll offer up insights every morning

www.news-gazette.com

I disagree with Richey. We're notorious for playing more than one guard. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lineup of Curbelo, Frazier, Plummer, Payne, and Kofi every now and then. The two big men compensating for that short lineup. Trent also already alternates between being the lead guard and a wing so this wouldn't be out of the ordinary.

 

[Fr8trn16]

That's pretty good, right?

Yessir! He's one of the best shooters of our modern day! I'm definitely intrigued in this kids ability...

 

[ElGran]

Definitely a concern but I think Frazier and Plummer can both play with the ball in their hands. Although maybe not true PGs, I think either could initiate offense when Belo sits.

I think it could work provided the primary strategy is to minimize the time all 3 are out together. With 80 minutes between 2 spots, we should be able to give all 3 25-30 MPG. I don’t think I agree with Richey on this one.

That's how I see it - three guys for two spots (assuming all are healthy) equals roughly 25-30 min/game for each which is perfect. That's not a lot of depth, considering they'd be the only true guards on the team (not counting walk-ons). Occasionally might play all three at once.

 

[Deep]

Am I the only one that is concerned with a potential back court of......
6'1 Fraizer
6'0 Curbelo
6'1 Plummer

Bigger guards will have their way with us...........

The defense worries me with these guys. I know TF will play D but last year you had 3 guys that were D'ing people up in TF, AYO, and AM

 

[Illwinsagain]

That's how I see it - three guys for two spots (assuming all are healthy) equals roughly 25-30 min/game for each which is perfect. That's not a lot of depth, considering they'd be the only true guards on the team (not counting walk-ons). Occasionally might play all three at once.

Podz says that he is a "2". And, he played point this year for his HS team.

 

[RockfordIllini]

Am I the only one that is concerned with a potential back court of......
6'1 Fraizer
6'0 Curbelo
6'1 Plummer

Bigger guards will have their way with us...........

The defense worries me with these guys. I know TF will play D but last year you had 3 guys that were D'ing people up in TF, AYO, and AM

Yes, it’s not ideal. But if you limit the time all 3 are in together then pair with one of Hutch/Grandi/One of the freshman at 3, not a huge difference size wise between what we put out last year.

Would prefer if Plummer was 6’5, but if he was 6’5 he’d probably be in the league! I think he’s the perfect 1 year stop gap so we don’t have to bank on any of the freshman making an immediate impact. Get through next year with Plummer and we have 5 wings, none shorter than 6’4/6’5.

 

[Fr8trn16]

I think Curbelo will be backed up by Plummer, Trent will be backed up by Podziemski, Hutcherson will be backed up by Melendez and Goode, Grandison will be backed up by Hawkins and Goode and Verdonk, and Payne could also be interchangeable here, and Kofi will be backed up by Payne and Lieb most likely... I don't know if Hamlin will stay... if he does then he could also be involved like Lieb. But the team can interchange a lot of positions... specifically guard wise... and forwards...

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Am I the only one that is concerned with a potential back court of......
6'1 Fraizer
6'0 Curbelo
6'1 Plummer

Bigger guards will have their way with us...........

The defense worries me with these guys. I know TF will play D but last year you had 3 guys that were D'ing people up in TF, AYO, and AM

We know Trent can D up the other teams best player. AC was playing in crunch time more often than not last year, and we were able to get stops. I anticipate him improving his defense this offseason. (Most players do between Fr -Soph seasons)
I won't pretend to know about the culture of Utah basketball, but in Champaign, you play hard on defense or you are a spectator. Maybe Plummer hasn't been challenged to get better on that end because they needed him to score. He won't have that luxury here.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Am I the only one that is concerned with a potential back court of......
6'1 Fraizer
6'0 Curbelo
6'1 Plummer

Bigger guards will have their way with us...........

The defense worries me with these guys. I know TF will play D but last year you had 3 guys that were D'ing people up in TF, AYO, and AM

Like pissing into the wind, Underwood won't be playing those 3 together when the matchups dictate otherwise. We also have 6' 7" Hutch and 6' 6" Podz. Not too worried about your hypothetical.

 

[Deleted member 747903]

Like pissing into the wind, Underwood won't be playing those 3 together when the matchups dictate otherwise. We also have 6' 7" Hutch and 6' 6" Podz. Not too worried about your hypothetical.

Plummer will be a poor man's Feliz for us if he signs. Need him to be a bulldog.

 

[Deep]

Like pissing into the wind, Underwood won't be playing those 3 together when the matchups dictate otherwise. We also have 6' 7" Hutch and 6' 6" Podz. Not too worried about your hypothetical.

I respect your opinion brother but I have a hard time relying on a Freshmen and a unproven player who has never played D 1 ball to D up guys. Again, I'm not trying to be the sky is falling crowd but it is a small concern.

 

[ElGran]

Like pissing into the wind, Underwood won't be playing those 3 together when the matchups dictate otherwise. We also have 6' 7" Hutch and 6' 6" Podz. Not too worried about your hypothetical.

Yup. They wouldn't play together very often. Two guys for three positions is 25-30 min for each, which is fine. All could put up good numbers with those minutes.

It would be awesome if Podz could contribute as a FR, but I'm not counting on it.

 

[RockfordIllini]

Yup. They wouldn't play together very often. Two guys for three positions is 25-30 min for each, which is fine. All could put up good numbers with those minutes.

It would be awesome if Podz could contribute as a FR, but I'm not counting on it.

Don’t forget about Grandison sliding over to the 3 and a decent chance DMW comes back too which would ease a lot of worry defensively

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

This kid Alfonso Plummer broke Klay Thompson's record for most 3's in a Pac-12 game. Wow! What a shooter!

I like Plummer and think he would be a nice add, but I wonder if those who are heaping effusive praise on here for him are doing so based on looking at some highlight videos or having actually watched him in games. I watched the game when he set the record (Oregon state actually won the game on a 3-pointer), as well as his two games against OSU this year. He was crazy hot in the record-setting game. He looked terrible in the first game against the Beavers this year when he went 0 for 7 from three and 1 for 11 overall. In the second game this year against OSU he was solid+. That game was the only one where I thought he really showed much more than being a spot up shooter. As for D, I don’t remember him being a liability but I also don’t remember him being a huge positive. So I’d expect him to be fairly solid on D, maybe solid+, but not as good as Miller or TF.

Again, I think Plummer will be a nice addition to team, but at least from what I’ve seen of him in 3 full games — including his best one offensively — I think some people are over selling him a bit. He can definitely get hot from distance, and overall he is solid from three, so he’s a nice replacement for AM if that comes to be. I just don’t see him creating his shot that often or equaling AM defensively. Though playing on a good team with Curbelo and not having to do as much as he had to do at Utah could elevate his performance. Regardless, would be happy to see him in the O&B.

 

[Illwinsagain]

I respect your opinion brother but I have a hard time relying on a Freshmen and a unproven player who has never played D 1 ball to D up guys. Again, I'm not trying to be the sky is falling crowd but it is a small concern.

Not directed to you alone, but I have come to expect freshman to contribute, but offensively and defensively.

 

[Homecoming 2019]

Underrated fact about Plummer is he's only a sophomore, assuming things go well he could be here for another 2 or 3 years. The jumps players take in those final years of college can be huge. I much prefer that scenario over taking a 5th/6th year senior who has a few months to learn BU's system and be a contributor with no leeway for mistakes and learning from them.
Oh and also he makes his free throws.
EDIT: He's a senior , didn't see it listed in his bballreference page.

 

[RockfordIllini]

Underrated fact about Plummer is he's only a sophomore, assuming things go well he could be here for another 2 or 3 years. The jumps players take in those final years of college can be huge. I much prefer that scenario over taking a 5th/6th year senior who has a few months to learn BU's system and be a contributor with no leeway for mistakes and learning from them.
Oh and also he makes his free throws.

Listed as a senior. Believe he played 2 years of juco ball.

 

[Illiniprime]

Underrated fact about Plummer is he's only a sophomore, assuming things go well he could be here for another 2 or 3 years. The jumps players take in those final years of college can be huge. I much prefer that scenario over taking a 5th/6th year senior who has a few months to learn BU's system and be a contributor with no leeway for mistakes and learning from them.
Oh and also he makes his free throws.

Thought he attended JUCO before Utah?

 

[TheFameProtector]

The defense worries me with these guys. I know TF will play D but last year you had 3 guys that were D'ing people up in TF, AYO, and AM

I agree with this, though I do think Belo's defense is often overlooked. He gives up a lot size-wise but his advanced stats are actually slightly better than Trent's. Plummer playing behind those guys as a sixth-ish man could have a lot of value, but I also think there will be matchups where he gives up too much. If he's coming here to play an Adam Flagler-sized role (~22 min/game), then I am 110% on board (not that BU is asking for my opinion lol).

 

[mhuml32]

Since he's mulling a return and it then relates to recruiting, I'll mention this here: If Trent Frazier comes back in 21-22 he has a healthy chance to finish his career in the top-10 of all-time leading scorers at Illinois. A repeat of last year puts him in the 5-6-7 area (Cook-Bradford-McCamey). Also has a chance to be top-10 in assists and top-5 in steals (already 7th).

 

[armo859]

Plummer actually graded out as a good defender last season. He is small yes, but he can defend.

Trent is roughly the same size and has been consistently ranked as one of, if not THE, best defender in the B1G.

 

[BigMuddyMonster]

Like others, I do hope Plummer signs. I don't think it is a pipe dream either...

I just hope that it's off the bench as a gunner. I would not want to see him starting with the other two small guards. Curbelo, Frazier, Hutcherson at the 1-2-3 would be nice. This is assuming Hutcherson is as good as advertised.

 

[Takeittothehoop]

I think the Illini get either Plummer or TF, but not both.

 

[TCTORNADO]

Some of you should put your protective gear on now.