I like MJ. And I really can't adequately express how much I like that script "Illinois" logo. Am so glad the DIA revived it from the late '70s. It's a direct association with our program ascending these past several years to its proper, historical stature. The two are linked and I dig that.
I think that we have been very good with NIL expectations (offers) in comparison to some other P5 schools landing some very good recruits that we typically would strike out on....probably....and I say probably these P5 schools were caught a little off guard as to the effects of NIL....thinking the old way of doing business was still good enough to bring in the top recruits....but as these schools become more efficient with NIL offers, will this again level the playing field for top 100 recruits...kind of going back to the way it was before?? Maybe.....but as long as we have the coaching staff that we currently have, I believe we will continue to have a leg up so to speak with many of these top recruits....I've been an Illini follower for 60+ years and this current recruiting success is the best I can remember
I think that there have been many great points made.
Agree. Absent a transcendent talent like a KD or Zion (when healthy), I think the trend in college has generally been an upperclassman who is borderline NBA level (like TSJ) generally has an advantage over a 5 star frosh who will be picked in the lottery. Who ultimately has a better pro career/makes more money is a different issue.
This is the trap every developing program has to face (and it's what tanked Weber). Calipari at Memphis is probably the gold standard. Built a roster & culture of his dudes (mostly top 25-100) and then went big game hunting (Evans/Rose/Etc). Wright more recently with Villanova did the same.
I get what you are saying - we're good again in basketball so why can't we get the top 15 kids like Duke, KY, Kansas. In reality, even in our hayday under Henson or Kruger or Self we didn't get top 15 kids and the rare ones we did get were IL kids. The decline in IL HS basketball talent is one very obvious culprit. Chicago used to produce some of the top HS talent in the country, that's just not true anymore, IN has been a better source of talent recently than IL. But Brad and staff have done a good job expanding our reach throughout the MW and even some east coast kids, but our bread and butter for pulling in top kids and winning against the elite schools will always be Midwest kids that grew up watching IL
yes pleaseKid has some bounce and gets to the rak with ease. Hard take…
I don’t know if it is that we haven’t targeted them — or at least offered them — but I think it takes time to pull those players in. Takes time to build relationships and it really hasn’t been that long since the Illini are back on the national stage. Have to remember these kids are young and the Flying Illini and such don’t mean I thing to them.
AWESOME............................
I agree with this. I also look at the talent that has left the state for one reason or another for the past few years. Kids have gone to Donda, La Lumiere, Montverde, and other schools to escape Illinois. They want to play and practice against the best of the best. They go to these powerhouse schools and get noticed even more while being on the big stage. Like you mentioned, hopefully with NIL & Tim Anderson on these streets, things should be better.
I was referencing the conversation on the previous page of this thread that started with a poster commenting that our sweet spot was 30-100 ranked players and wondering why the staff didn't target the elite 5 star types.
We offer plenty of 5*, we just don't often get them in the door.
Sky Clark was considered a 5* when we were recruiting him this spring.
Trey McKenney (taking his unofficial this weekend) is a fringe 4-5*
wasted inches in his neck are cut his head out of the picture lol....
For sure.
Shaw ended up at Bradley, stayed at De Lasalle all 4 years but when I look at those names the first thing that jumps out is transfers! JJ should have just stayed put at Morgan Park.
