Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Illinivek23]

Are we recruiting any bigs?? Don't get me wrong, I love a plethora of wings, but are we potentially rolling with just Payne and Hawkins next season?

Dainja

 

[HensonHall71]

Would love to get him and don't dispute he would make us better, but am confident either way because for the first time in too long a time we have a staff and platform (facilities upgrades, rabid fan base/NIL opportunities, competing for BIG titles and high seeds, etc) that should attract great talent looking for development, college wins and professional opportunities.

Throwback and a different era, but worth remembering that Lou survived quite nicely in the mid 1980's when a Champaign local (son of a UI prof) and 1984 McDonald's AA spurned the Illini for Cincinnati, where he took advantage of an engineering co-op program he was interested in (and where former Illini assistant and recruiter Tony Yates was head coach) . Link

I completely agree - the program is headed in the right direction and the future is bright for the Illini. But that doesn't mean this doesn't hurt any less when you have a chance for the hometown hero to come back home, plus he seemed to be a great fit for our program/system

Thank you for the link - I remember Roger McClendon and it's good to hear he ended up a success beyond basketball

 

[WhiteHorseWings]

Dainja

Vessel

 

[Illiniam1984]

Boswell after reading this board. Lol

 

[Peoriapipeline]

I’m my opinion we should have took fears if he was ready to commit feel like Boswell was a gamble

 

[OurMottoisOskeeWowWow]

Dainja

 

[DMWSuperFan]

I’m my opinion we should have took fears if he was ready to commit feel like Boswell was a gamble

Gotta risk it at some point.

 

[Illiniam1984]

I’m my opinion we should have took fears if he was ready to commit feel like Boswell was a gamble

I agree we should’ve taken him even though he said he wanted to start right away.

 

[DMWSuperFan]

Yes but we also want the players we want to want us back. By all accounts Fears wanted us, but we passed. Are you saying that was a mistake?

I wanted to play on the roster too. Should’ve given me a scholly and a spot on the team.

But I do think the point he’s trying to make is fair - if someone doesn’t want to be here, we dont particularly want that scenario.

 

[Bigtex]

I have no idea why we just cooled on him and I have no idea why he picked MSU to begin with.

Fears was ready to commit. Illinois wanted to see more/evaluate more (especially outside shot)

 

[Rich]

 

[foby]

Adrame Diongue, Boswell’s teammate. Outside of that there’s the portal and Dainja.

And the NIL fueled return of the King.

Loyalty needs

 

[the juiceman cometh]

I wanted to play on the roster too. Should’ve given me a scholly and a spot on the team.

But I do think the point he’s trying to make is fair - if someone doesn’t want to be here, we dont particularly want that scenario.

Sure but I'm guessing when you get to the point where you're picking between two schools you'd probably be happy at either, and are just figuring out which one is the best fit.

Also, didn't D-Will want to go to UNC and Georgia Tech over us, but they didn't work out? I for one am glad we took him anyway.

 

[alexander58]

I’m my opinion we should have took fears if he was ready to commit feel like Boswell was a gamble

 

[ginabackes00]

I didn’t see all of the Fears talk coming under these circumstances /s

 

[blife]

As long as there are not 3 hats on the table at the announcement, I am good with whatever decision the young man makes. It's his life and his future not ours.

 

[SouthFarmLlama]

I think the poor game that he saw probably stuck in his head. Terrible game.

 

[Noblesville Illini]

Kylan,

 

[IlliniDawgs]

I’m my opinion we should have took fears if he was ready to commit feel like Boswell was a gamble

I prefer my undersized guards to be able to shoot.

 

[CV Illini]

I think the poor game that he saw probably stuck in his head. Terrible game.

Thank goodness Kofi saw a good one on his official.........

 

[IlliniDawgs]

I think the poor game that he saw probably stuck in his head. Terrible game.

This is probably the furthest thing from the truth, Kofi committed to us after we lost to Florida International on his OV.

Edit: or Florida Atlantic. They were so bad I can’t even remember.

 

[IlliniKat91]

I think the poor game that he saw probably stuck in his head. Terrible game.

Because watching #2 Arizona be taken down to the wire by an unranked Oregon team was so much better.

Oregon > NU, but let's not throw ourselves too deeply into the hyperbole pool just yet. Save it for Sunday night.

 

[goillini316]

I choose to believe the crystal ball predictions are the equivalent to a Brian Cook jersey being worn to school until proven otherwise.

 

[Poe's Law]

 

[azillini1]

Thank goodness Kofi saw a good one on his official.........

I remember watching Kofi on some national broadcasts at Oak Hill. He was big, but not all that impressive (at least against the competition I saw him play against). He was out of shape and very slow up and down the court. I remember thinking, "why did we give him a ride."

At U of I, he has really improved, and his physical conditioning/transformation should impress any big recruit!!! Kudos to Fletch and the coaching staff. Go Kofi!