Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
#378      
BashCtIllini
SescIllini said:
I dont see Kofi staying. He needs to make his move to the pro ranks
Click to expand...
depends how much NLI money he's making.

He is likely not an NBA player unless he shows some range. So if we assume his career is in Europe, if we can get him enough NLI money so that it is comparable to a European salary, he might as well get his degree.
 
#379      
ElGran
Hopingfor500 said:
Yeah, I think that it was extremely premature to put him in the "win column". Hope we land him, but seems that recruitment has a ways to go.
Click to expand...
Until they sign a LOI (and show up on campus healthy and eligible), it's absolutely premature. We seem to be the favorite, but this is no done deal.
 
#385      
ChiefIllinois
There's obviously areas Kofi can improve on, but I think it's a similar story as Ayos-- it's probably going to be time. Not sure how much else he can show in the college game. He's added a jumper (work in progress, but hasn't looked terrible so far), had some excellent growth in the passing game, and has seemingly improved his ft form.

I'd absolutely love him back, but I think he's out after this year. In any case, we need an impact 5 transfer.
 
#386      
the juiceman cometh
ChiefIllinois said:
There's obviously areas Kofi can improve on, but I think it's a similar story as Ayos-- it's probably going to be time. Not sure how much else he can show in the college game. He's added a jumper (work in progress, but hasn't looked terrible so far), had some excellent growth in the passing game, and has seemingly improved his ft form.

I'd absolutely love him back, but I think he's out after this year. In any case, we need an impact 5 transfer.
Click to expand...
I guess the question is, if NIL $ is better than G-League $, and he's not projecting much better in the draft than he did this go-around, why not put off the G-League another year and bank more NIL $?
 
#388      
ChiefIllinois
the juiceman cometh said:
I guess the question is, if NIL $ is better than G-League $, and he's not projecting much better in the draft than he did this go-around, why not put off the G-League another year and bank more NIL $?
Click to expand...
Yeah I get that. If they're comparable sure, but I think there are other benefits of being a pro that are appealing for a guy like Kofi. He's going to fully be focused on basketball, play with better players, play against better competition, presumably have access to better training and equipment and perhaps even coaching. At the very least coaching that have the best insight into what it takes to make it in the pro game.

Not saying he couldn't come back, get better, make more money, whatever, but I feel like he's close to a ceiling in the college game.
 
#389      
the juiceman cometh
ChiefIllinois said:
Yeah I get that. If they're comparable sure, but I think there are other benefits of being a pro that are appealing for a guy like Kofi. He's going to fully be focused on basketball, play with better players, play against better competition, presumably have access to better training and equipment and perhaps even coaching. At the very least coaching that have the best insight into what it takes to make it in the pro game.

Not saying he couldn't come back, get better, make more money, whatever, but I feel like he's close to a ceiling in the college game.
Click to expand...
I agree, if he comes back it's almost certainly a money decision rather than a development decision. Though I think that's not all that different from the decision he made to come back this season, tbh.
 
#390      
EyeoftheIllini
the juiceman cometh said:
I guess the question is, if NIL $ is better than G-League $, and he's not projecting much better in the draft than he did this go-around, why not put off the G-League another year and bank more NIL $?
Click to expand...
If there is an incredibly large difference, then yes maybe stay and collect the NIL money. But if the improvements he’s showing thus far this year aren’t enough to get him closer to his dream of playing in NBA, then another year of college likely isn’t going to either. So would he be better off using a different tactic — playing in summer league, going through a training camp, and playing in G league — in an effort to convince NBA people?
 
#392      
BalloonsTheElephant
If money is the same, I can't see Kofi staying. Being able to focus entirely on basketball in a pro system is what he needs to grow to his full potential. He's shown serious improvement, but true immersion into basketball without classes or other distractions is what is best for his development.
 
#393      
GBIllini
When Kofi is 100% healthy he is the most dominant big man in all of college basketball. In the NBA the offenses are more spread out and I wouldn't think he would see as many double teams as there are usually so many other good players on the floor. I believe there is no way he doesn't play in the NBA, but I have been wrong before.
 
#394      
Hopingfor500
GBIllini said:
When Kofi is 100% healthy he is the most dominant big man in all of college basketball. In the NBA the offenses are more spread out and I wouldn't think he would see as many double teams as there are usually so many other good players on the floor. I believe there is no way he doesn't play in the NBA, but I have been wrong before.
Click to expand...
In the NBA, who is Kofi going to guard defensively? He's not quick enough to get out and recover.

On the offensive side, we saw what happened when an NBA caliber big man defended him. He got stuffed, a few times.

Unfortunately, for Kofi and players of the like, the days of the traditional, back to the basket, center is gone.

He could be a depth guy off the bench, but those guys aren't 1st round picks, which is where the guaranteed money is.

I don't know if he enjoys classes or really cares about getting his degree. Nobody, but he, knows that. All money being equal, the decision is whether he wants to go to Europe to play overseas next year or play collegiately and get his degree. Again, assuming all money being equal.
 
#399      
GBIllini
Hopingfor500 said:
In the NBA, who is Kofi going to guard defensively? He's not quick enough to get out and recover.

On the offensive side, we saw what happened when an NBA caliber big man defended him. He got stuffed, a few times.

Unfortunately, for Kofi and players of the like, the days of the traditional, back to the basket, center is gone.

He could be a depth guy off the bench, but those guys aren't 1st round picks, which is where the guaranteed money is.

I don't know if he enjoys classes or really cares about getting his degree. Nobody, but he, knows that. All money being equal, the decision is whether he wants to go to Europe to play overseas next year or play collegiately and get his degree. Again, assuming all money being equal.
Click to expand...
He could gaurd Garza or Dickinson if he gets in.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back