A pure shooter is on their list for next year for sure. I would expect a guard to pair with Epps, 2 wings, and a 4 man. I've heard a name floating around as to who the 4 could be, and if true,
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Good news is we will return a lot of experience and talent next year. Epps, Ty, Dain, Sincere, and Goode are a great baseline. Think Moretti will be a good player too
Does Steph curry have an eligibility left? Gotta be him
Will they be as totally bought-in to the culture as this year's team?
Not sure how to feel about this. I mean, I know we will have gaps to fill so I guess we don't have a choice. But I'd rather be in a position where we are just adding those one or two missing pieces to an established roster rather than half our rotation being new each year.
I suppose getting a couple transfers with 2-3 years of eligibility left would be a good thing long term. Just not sold on bringing in multiple rental players in a single class.
In theory, this is true. In practice, I hope the in-season departures are done for this year. I'm also interested to hear from the insiders what positions these transfer candidates play. Guessing at least one big, one deadeye outside shooter, and one ballhandler.
Ideally we are bringing in great transfers, but those transfers end up getting battled hard and mostly beat for the role that our current players provide (think Grandison for Duke this year). If we can get a formula like this I would be super excited as I think this would also help with decreasing the likelihood a higher turnover each year while taking full advantage of the plug and play pieces in the portal (not to mention always getting stronger with the core players we are hopefully recruiting out of high school).
I have no problem with us bringing in multiple transfers, as long as we aren't leaning on them to provide leadership or an offensive identity. I am hopeful this is the last time that is the case.
We replaced the talent Trent and Demonte brought to the program, but not the standard. This is likely the most talented Illini team in 15 years, but one of the least connected.
We replaced the talent Trent and Demonte brought to the program, but not the standard. This is likely the most talented Illini team in 15 years, but one of the least connected.
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I know he does not plan to come back, but does Shannon technically have a year of eligibility left?
blackdog
- Champaign
Hopefully having the core group of dawgs (Rodgers, Harris, Epps, Goode) stick around will provide that identity (at least defensively) and leadership.
Our 2020-21 team was more talented. But even if this year's team is 2nd, that's a sad commentary on our talent over the past 15 years.
This team is fairly talented on paper, if you look at the 247 composite and rsci ranks. It's even a half decent blend of talent. If Goode had been healthy, Clark had worked out, and Perrin had enrolled last fall ...
There are other issues too, not unique to our program.
LarryGotFouled
- Plano, TX
A pure shooter is on their list for next year for sure. I would expect a guard to pair with Epps, 2 wings, and a 4 man. I've heard a name floating around as to who the 4 could be, and if true,
Bryce Hopkins speculation...the SEQUEL!
We know of the ‘Five Tool Player’ from the Game of Baseball.
So let’s consider this idea as a ‘Five roundball Tool Player’:
1. Good Shooter/Scorer
2. Good Passer
3. Good Rebounder
4. Good Defender
5. Good Leader aka ‘Glue Guy’ aka Mr. Consistent
The current Illini group has talent. But is there anything close to a ‘Five Tool Player’ in the group? Of course, not all of them could ever be such a thing. But any really good team has one or two guys (or more) that get closer to meeting this high standard. And that’s what separates the top 8 teams or so from the rest of the pack.
Each of the current Illini players has a strong game in one or two areas. But the Illini are missing that 5-Tool guy. Like the kind of player Ayo strives to be and works hard to achieve.
Shannon and Epps maybe come the closest right now to a 'Fiver'. But they are not now the ‘Five’-tool kind of player. (Epps looks like he could be in the future).
What Coach Underwood has been trying to do all Season is to take the strong points of each guy’s game and meld that into a cohesive floor unit. And we have all seen the mixed results. Sometimes putting the pieces together works and some times it doesn’t.
The Dance this year will be a big poker hand deal to and by the Illini. We can hope that they are dealt promising match-ups and that the Illini mix of talents can prevail over the hands they are dealt by the Madness gods.
I got a feeling Ace or AJ storr may be linking back up with the beloved. We shall see, I think the latter is more likely
The other that has been subtly eluded to may be Jaden Schutt.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
I'll raise your elude with allude. Good speculation.
Can he make a jump shot? please lord tell me he can shoot?
No thanks on Ace or Schutt.
You’ll probably be safe there
A pure shooter is on their list for next year for sure. I would expect a guard to pair with Epps, 2 wings, and a 4 man. I've heard a name floating around as to who the 4 could be, and if true,
Can we get a hint?
He’s probably 6’7-6’9.
And a leftie....He’s probably 6’7-6’9.
After how the recruitment went we won't touch Schutt with a 10 foot pole.
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