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Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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"Ty Rodgers missed this with an injury. No word yet on how long the Illinois recruit will be out."
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Are we not feeling like we have a chance anymore? If not, what has changed?
Our interest hasn't changed, but interest in him has changed... a lot. He can pretty much pick from a list of....every program in America.
Saw both Thomas and Pence games streamed yesterday. Both played very poorly. In Thomas case, Rolling Meadows good team. Pence stunk up the gym against Gridley. Pass on both from an armchair talent evaluator.
Couldn't agree more. We're losing Frazier, Williams and Plummer. I'd hate to lose Grandison as well.
If you're going to use one game as your entire evaluation, it would be smart to stay on the armchair.
Everyone has bad games. I view Thomas as a specialist for us. A specialist, ala Sean Harrington, that can be very valuable. If he does grow to 6'11" like some are hoping, he could be a game changer.
Pence on the other hand, I've been pretty vocal about being anti small school guards/wings unless they have showed it in AAU or just come off the screen in their play.
Tacomallini
- Washington State
I'm by no means some expert on analyzing high school players. Like you, I'm an armchair evaluator myself. But it was just 1 game evaluated so let's take it with a grain of salt....
With that said, I still think Thomas has that "it factor" and can be a major player at the next level. Some college team is gonna get a good one with this kid. I love his size (and presumed to be still growing) and his ability to shoot from deep with such a quick release and good accuracy. These type of players are exactly what BU looks for in a backcourt/wing type of player. So if he can demonstrate the ability to defend, then I think BU will go after him hard.
As far as Pence is concerned, unless he just continues to rise at a meteoric type of level then I'm not sure how serious BU is with wanting him. He's a fantastic small school guard/wing. But having watched Class A type of basketball over the last 30+ years, very seldomly do players like him flourish at a P5 program. They just don't see the stiff competition that the bigger high school programs do. So unless he blows up on the AAU circuit or leads his HS team to state titles, I'm just hesitant. I hate writing this kid off as he could continue on to something really special at the next level. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
JMO. But what the hell do I know?!?
He’s a top 15 player in the country. Wasn’t he always believed to have his choice of anywhere he wanted? I guess I’m just hoping the draw of playing in front of his family works in our favor.
You aren't wrong, but I think a lot of staffs have just recently shifted focus from 2022 to 2023. We were on him early, so we had his ear. Now he is probably hearing from everyone.
(Just my guess... Not an Insider)
We also really need to take into consideration what recruits will be looking at these days. It's not just coach, style of play, location, family considerations, available PT, etc. It's now cold hard cash.
If you are sitting there saying I'm down to Illinois a potential top 15 team who says they can't get me 500k, and UCLA, Kentucky, Duke, pick your blue blood, a potential top 5 team who says they can get me 1 M, where are you going?
This is why I'm concerned the NIL rule will ruin college basketball. Yes there are a lot of good players, but if a handful of teams are able to offer every top player more than anyone else, where do we think all the top kids are going to go?
If you are sitting there saying I'm down to Illinois a potential top 15 team who says they can't get me 500k, and UCLA, Kentucky, Duke, pick your blue blood, a potential top 5 team who says they can get me 1 M, where are you going?
This is why I'm concerned the NIL rule will ruin college basketball. Yes there are a lot of good players, but if a handful of teams are able to offer every top player more than anyone else, where do we think all the top kids are going to go?
There's really no reason that other teams can't compete with blue bloods for NIL money. It obviously remains to be seen but available money from the U of I alumni base should be at the top of the list for basketball schools. We just need people to put up the money.
Not to mention, there may well be a monetary incentive to be the star player on a lesser p5 team than one of many on a Kentucky. Particularly if you're talking about someone ranked 10-15 who'd be sharing the court with a top 5 guy.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
I'm not disagreeing with your thoughts , but a handful of teams have been able to offer recruits more than anyone else for a long time now.........I am old school and think the greed has ruined what college BB should mean and be all about ................I guess I am saying this new NIL rule at least gives some immunity to many other schools who would have been hammered for doing exactly the same thing and been caught doing it........................
Seems we have come a long way since a $ 10 pizza was such an abhorrent act ...........
BTW , I watched part of the Old Satan vs. Young Satan game last night....( Auburn vs . LSU ).........Had to turn it off as my stomach got real queasy watching those coaches on their sidelines seemingly unnerved by the FBI results and the NCAA actions pending................Will probably get a decision on Wade in next 5-10 yrs....Old Satan's penalty probably had him laughing at the cruel and unusual harshness ...........ssssssssss//////////////
Why did Dr. Pepper offer over $1 M to a pretty mediocre Fr. QB for Clemson? Why would a national company based in Texas choose Clemson? There were better QBs out there. Answer, because Clemson typically gets more air time by all the talking heads. They tend to win more and get more publicity than others.
That will happen in basketball too I'd imagine. The blue bloods get more air time. That air time is valuable to national companies, and thus it makes it easier for blue bloods to get more NIL money. Fans buying a shirt can't compete with that.
I think Whitman needs to get on the phone with State Farm and get some players in more limited run State Farm commercials: Rodgers, Mahomes, Chris Paul, and Kofi. It makes perfect sense. It will be interesting to see if big companies associated with colleges start taking an active part to making their team great.
The rumor that we have “cooled” on Jeremy Fears because of his size/shooting combo is comical to me. You shouldn’t have any hesitation welcoming in a top 30 player that has clear interest. Especially at the most important position of PG. That’s just me…
Very fair reply. Talent evaluators fall into three categories, pro, novice and amateur. I happen to be the latter. Seems they just did not pass the eye test with me
sacraig
- The desert
This assumes that the coaches agree that he is a top 30 player. What our coaches think of a player does not necessarily agree with what 247 or Rivals think.
hes a very good player-but when you are making unrealistic demands of your freshman year it's a different story
Unrealistic expectations for freshmen is the job of Loyalty.
The size part really cracks me up. Trent and Plummer aren't exactly Akeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. People have said two short guards are not going to work (Epps and Fears), but this year its Curbelo, Trent and Plummer. Even thought Trent and Plummer are good shooters. Have to trust the staff though. They know what they want.
Will be interesting to see how the donors' direct NIL player investments compete with same donors' athletic program $ investments.
I would expect AD net donor receipts may go down a little as more donors channel support dollars directly to players.
On balance....I would expect the Harvards of the world, have potential for largest NIL investments.
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