Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#226      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Hey guys, as the interloping Baylor fan around these parts, figured I'd give you some insight on your newest commit (writing this while sitting on the tarmac at SPI). First off, congrats on nabbing Dain.

The thread from Baylor's board linked earlier in this thread is a pretty accurate summation of the collective Baylor reaction. Dain has a TON of potential. Whether he'll ever be able to realize that potential is the million-dollar question.

The Good:
Crazy skilled on the offensive end. Elite post-up moves. Length for days. As mentioned earlier, took a redshirt last year, but was engaged from the bench in every game and seemed from all accounts to be a great teammate. I had high hopes he would give us 10-12 minutes/game this season.

The Not-So Good:
Took the redshirt because of academic issues. Injured his foot (never a good sign for a guy his size) and got very out of condition while rehabbing the injury. Couldn't crack our rotation this year despite the fact that we lost 4 starters from last season. He looked pretty doughy in his limited appearances for Baylor this year.

Bottom Line:
Dain was a bit of an odd fit for the way that Baylor has constructed rosters the last several years. He's a traditional big who needs post touches, which isn't really the way we route our offensive system. We also usually prefer to have hyper-athletes who defend multiple positions in our "switch everything" defense. Dain has the length to be a good defender, but the word was he maybe wasn't the most willing defender, and didn't seem to be super motivated to put the work in that would be necessary from a conditioning/weight room standpoint.

Obviously, take that with a massive grain of salt, because I don't have firsthand knowledge of his work ethic, and it's easy to sound like sour grapes with a guy who just didn't work out, which is absolutely not what I want to come across as.

Last thing - I saw some references to the Illini S&C program and the hope that he can improve his body/conditioning with time in the program. I would note that Baylor's program under Charlie Melton is no slouch, as evidenced by our complete bodying of Gonzaga in the championship game last year. So, it's not as though he's coming from a program that didn't have high-level S&C. For whatever reason, he wasn't able to benefit from it. Maybe all he needs is a change of scenery. Best of luck to him, and to you all this season!
Great post, thanks.

I think the collective is hoping that having experienced some setbacks (academic & slow hoops start) will result in a different mind set. Change of scenery should help there.

That said, this take is not without risk. But the potential reward far outweighs the risk, IMO.
 
#227      
Hey guys, as the interloping Baylor fan around these parts, figured I'd give you some insight on your newest commit (writing this while sitting on the tarmac at SPI). First off, congrats on nabbing Dain.

The thread from Baylor's board linked earlier in this thread is a pretty accurate summation of the collective Baylor reaction. Dain has a TON of potential. Whether he'll ever be able to realize that potential is the million-dollar question.

The Good:
Crazy skilled on the offensive end. Elite post-up moves. Length for days. As mentioned earlier, took a redshirt last year, but was engaged from the bench in every game and seemed from all accounts to be a great teammate. I had high hopes he would give us 10-12 minutes/game this season.

The Not-So Good:
Took the redshirt because of academic issues. Injured his foot (never a good sign for a guy his size) and got very out of condition while rehabbing the injury. Couldn't crack our rotation this year despite the fact that we lost 4 starters from last season. He looked pretty doughy in his limited appearances for Baylor this year.

Bottom Line:
Dain was a bit of an odd fit for the way that Baylor has constructed rosters the last several years. He's a traditional big who needs post touches, which isn't really the way we route our offensive system. We also usually prefer to have hyper-athletes who defend multiple positions in our "switch everything" defense. Dain has the length to be a good defender, but the word was he maybe wasn't the most willing defender, and didn't seem to be super motivated to put the work in that would be necessary from a conditioning/weight room standpoint.

Obviously, take that with a massive grain of salt, because I don't have firsthand knowledge of his work ethic, and it's easy to sound like sour grapes with a guy who just didn't work out, which is absolutely not what I want to come across as.

Last thing - I saw some references to the Illini S&C program and the hope that he can improve his body/conditioning with time in the program. I would note that Baylor's program under Charlie Melton is no slouch, as evidenced by our complete bodying of Gonzaga in the championship game last year. So, it's not as though he's coming from a program that didn't have high-level S&C. For whatever reason, he wasn't able to benefit from it. Maybe all he needs is a change of scenery. Best of luck to him, and to you all this season!
Shouldn't we ban this guy for suggesting that any other S & C coach could reside in the same solar system as Fletch?
 
#230      
So after ruminating on this a bit and reading Baylor’s comments, I do have some concerns about how Dain fits on this roster.

We continue to pull in high level guards. And I think that’s where we will rely on the bulk of our scoring. I’m thinking our ideal bigs are mobile athletic rebounders who can protect the paint and catch lobs. Right now Payne is the only 5 like that on the roster and so far he’s been underwhelming.

Kofi works with the way we play because he is a transcendently good athlete for his size. Brad always says he’s the fastest guy on the team and I think he had something insane like the 3rd fastest 3/4 court spring of all players at the nba combine. Dain has long arms but doesn’t look overly athletic and at least right now doesn’t seem like he can get up and down the court the way we want.

But super skilled, looks to be a great passer. Kofi also looked pretty plodding in high school before Fletch got a hold of him. Hopefully he’s committed to transforming his body. If so I think he can contribute. A different piece than Payne to be sure. But at think point the jury is still far from out on whether Payne is the shot blocking rim runner we need.
 
#231      
Does Dain have a brother named Rodney?

Dont Laugh Oops GIF by Rodney Dangerfield
 
#235      

The Sprouting Divot

Invisible and Bulletproof
Miracle Mile
#236      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
I love Whitmore. Would have been a great get. But getting Rodgers is probably the best fallback ever (in Illini recruiting). And that we weren't even on him until very late in the game? Boggle!

Rodgers' fit with Underwood's scheme should be hand in glove. Super duper stoked.
 
#238      
So after ruminating on this a bit and reading Baylor’s comments, I do have some concerns about how Dain fits on this roster.

We continue to pull in high level guards. And I think that’s where we will rely on the bulk of our scoring. I’m thinking our ideal bigs are mobile athletic rebounders who can protect the paint and catch lobs. Right now Payne is the only 5 like that on the roster and so far he’s been underwhelming.

Kofi works with the way we play because he is a transcendently good athlete for his size. Brad always says he’s the fastest guy on the team and I think he had something insane like the 3rd fastest 3/4 court spring of all players at the nba combine. Dain has long arms but doesn’t look overly athletic and at least right now doesn’t seem like he can get up and down the court the way we want.

But super skilled, looks to be a great passer. Kofi also looked pretty plodding in high school before Fletch got a hold of him. Hopefully he’s committed to transforming his body. If so I think he can contribute. A different piece than Payne to be sure. But at think point the jury is still far from out on whether Payne is the shot blocking rim runner we need.
Hope Fletch body will give him the motor but not sure that isn’t more of a personality characteristic. Think he has the physical abilities but does he have the competitive drive?
 
#239      
Hope Fletch body will give him the motor but not sure that isn’t more of a personality characteristic. Think he has the physical abilities but does he have the competitive drive?
This is the difference between Underwood and our previous coaches.

Taking one risky player won't set our program back 4 years like you saw with Weber. We also have shown an ability to backfill those 'misses' with 4 stars that didn't exist under Groce & Weber.
 
#240      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
Not one damn Kenny Loggins reference
Especially given the way he spells it I feel like this is the correct reference


Anyway, given the profile (big recruit, Baylor, redshirt, transfer due to lack of PT) I am surprised and pleased to see that he's a super-skilled good hands and feet back to the basket guy. I love players like that and in a college context I feel like they have more upside than clumsy pogo stick types who raise eyebrows with their athleticism.
 
#242      
To all the skeptics about D.D., a couple questions:
1.)What player, who is a better fit. do we have a legitimate chance of bringing in next year?
2.)Barring a Kofi senior season, would D.D. Have a legitimate shot at staring at the 5 next year?
From what I can gather
1.) No one (other than potential transfers, who won’t be able to work with the team all spring)
2.) Absolutely
 
#244      
To all the skeptics about D.D., a couple questions:
1.)What player, who is a better fit. do we have a legitimate chance of bringing in next year?
2.)Barring a Kofi senior season, would D.D. Have a legitimate shot at staring at the 5 next year?
From what I can gather
1.) No one (other than potential transfers, who won’t be able to work with the team all spring)
2.) Absolutely
Obviously a transfer. The play by staff is that Dainja in hand is better than the chance we have in the post season transfer market.

I think if we have a good season there will be better transfer bigs available to us. But it's all speculation. Of course we likely will still target another big but the sell will be a bit different with Payne and Dainja already on the roster.

You left off question number 3. If Dainja is our starter at the 5 how good do you think we'll be next year?
 
#245      

TwoElevenEastDaniel

Cochrane's-Orchid-Tonic
Especially given the way he spells it I feel like this is the correct reference


Anyway, given the profile (big recruit, Baylor, redshirt, transfer due to lack of PT) I am surprised and pleased to see that he's a super-skilled good hands and feet back to the basket guy. I love players like that and in a college context I feel like they have more upside than clumsy pogo stick types who raise eyebrows with their athleticism.

A Danger deep cut.

 
#246      
To all the skeptics about D.D., a couple questions:
1.)What player, who is a better fit. do we have a legitimate chance of bringing in next year?
2.)Barring a Kofi senior season, would D.D. Have a legitimate shot at staring at the 5 next year?
From what I can gather
1.) No one (other than potential transfers, who won’t be able to work with the team all spring)
2.) Absolutely
You mean a kofi junior season?
 
#247      
Kofi wasn't in the best of shape either out of high school. Look forward to what Fletch can do with him. Welcome to the team Dainja.
I’ll never forget this place after his game on ESPNU where he looked really bad and disinterested. People were calling him a bust before he ever stepped on campus. It’s amazing what college coaches and strength and conditioning programs can do for kids.
 
#250      

Power

Little Wabash River , Southern IL.
All this Danger talk and memes ... I prefer Great Dain
 
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