Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Flippy]

I know these are highlights and everyone looks good on their highlight reel…
Does anyone else see this guy as what we hoped/ knew Curbelo could have been? Not quite as fast but much more polished as a shooter and decision maker. Just watch his turnaround middy and passing highlights and think about the last afro-donning PG in the blue and orange

Very tasty clip, particularly the lob. Is there a highlight film with more dishes? Speaking of dishes, there is few places in around that can match the pizza from Baked in Galesburg, and I have done my share of Euro steppin.

 

[bergd91]

Did you not see Michigan in the highlights? Put up 13 with 8 assists to 1 turnover against them. Would that be something you're interested in? Because as a team, we only had 9 total assists against them.

He averaged 6 assist per game and 2 steal. Come on people. Would change our trajectory by himself!

 

[One Man Fast Break]

No need for anyone to get defensive. They were comparing him to what a top 50 recruit delivering on potential might have been like. It’s ok to manage expectations. This is portal roulette.

Did you not see Michigan in the highlights? Put up 13 with 8 assists to 1 turnover against them. Would that be something you're interested in? Because as a team, we only had 9 total assists against them.

 

[mysterio2525]

5.8 assists to 2.0 turnovers per game last year. increased assists per game and his 3pt% each year of his career. And shot free throws last year at 77%......

 

[sacraig]

 

[AyoDos11]

Wait but I thought DGL was gonna be our starting PG! /s

 

[Illin618]

Wait but I thought DGL was gonna be our starting PG! /s

Oh trust me, his people have sent BU & Co. his OTE mixtape several times already lol

 

[Kendall Gill’s Uncle]

Wait but I thought DGL was gonna be our starting PG! /s

Well, if we don’t get him minutes, he might leave. /s

 

[1LL1NO1S]

I know these are highlights and everyone looks good on their highlight reel…
Does anyone else see this guy as what we hoped/ knew Curbelo could have been? Not quite as fast but much more polished as a shooter and decision maker. Just watch his turnaround middy and passing highlights and think about the last afro-donning PG in the blue and orange

I am MUCH more excited about possibility of RayJ after these highlights

 

[InDaAZ]

I know these are highlights and everyone looks good on their highlight reel…
Does anyone else see this guy as what we hoped/ knew Curbelo could have been? Not quite as fast but much more polished as a shooter and decision maker. Just watch his turnaround middy and passing highlights and think about the last afro-donning PG in the blue and orange

Dude’s a menace…

Let’s dance!

 

[illiniguy]

Dude’s a menace…

Let’s dance!

Looks like they’re doing the Griddy.

 

[bergd91]

Wait but I thought DGL was gonna be our starting PG! /s

He'll be fine. 6.1 160lbs. Put in the work and become all big10 at some point.

 

[madillini4]

... was also one in Rantoul.

My dads from Rantoul, we call him a Rantoul fool.

 

[aaeismacgychel]

I mean it's Toledo-level competition

For those like you worried about how him playing at Toledo would likely translate to P5 level play, RayJ's closest statistical comparable is Carlik Jones who played at Radford before going to Louisville for a year a few years back. Both players are 6'1"-6'2" 185lb PGs who played 3 years of midmajor ball and had phenomenal junior seasons before going power 5. This is how Carlik Jones' numbers changed and what we could expect from RayJ if he follows a similar track and where he would be predicted to rank in the B10 next season:

Carlik Jones: (Radford (Jr)--->Louisville (Sr), change)
OEff: 1.198-->1.057ppp (-0.141ppp)
eFG%: 53.1-->43.4% (-9.7%)
2pt%: 50.6-->42.2% (-8.4%)
3pt%: 40.4-->32.1% (-8.3%)
AstRate: 36.1-->26.1 (-10.0%)
TORate: 13.5-->12.7 (-0.8%)
STL%: 2.3-->2.2% (-0.1%)

RayJ: (Toledo (Jr)--->Illinois Predicted (Sr), change)
OEff: 1.192-->1.052ppp (-0.140ppp) [52nd in B10]
eFG%: 52.9-->43.2% (-9.7%)
2pt%: 52.3-->43.6% (-8.7%)
3pt%: 36.4-->29.1% (-7.3%)
AstRate: 32.1-->23.2 (-8.9%) [9th in B10]
TORate: 11.5-->10.8 (-0.7%) [14th in B10]
STL%: 2.5-->2.4% (-0.1%) [16th in B10]

So overall, I think some worry about how his offense and shooting might fall off in B10 play is fair based on best historical comparison, but his assist and turnover rates should still translate quite well to B10 play as should his ability to get steals on defense. That said, he would not be expected to be the go to guy on offense for us, so decrease in shooting may not mean as much if he's mainly taking higher than average quality shots due to primarily being a setup man for this team. All in all, should be a very good get for us regardless.

 

[OrangeNTude]

From the highlights…is RayJ basically what Austin Hutcherson was thought to be as a player?

 

[the national]

I know these are highlights and everyone looks good on their highlight reel…
Does anyone else see this guy as what we hoped/ knew Curbelo could have been? Not quite as fast but much more polished as a shooter and decision maker. Just watch his turnaround middy and passing highlights and think about the last afro-donning PG in the blue and orange

I thought the same thing watching this highlight reel and then I read your comment . I concur with your assessment

 

[the national]

 

[Snyder005]

For those like you worried about how him playing at Toledo would likely translate to P5 level play, RayJ's closest statistical comparable is Carlik Jones who played at Radford before going to Louisville for a year a few years back. Both players are 6'1"-6'2" 185lb PGs who played 3 years of midmajor ball and had phenomenal junior seasons before going power 5. This is how Carlik Jones' numbers changed and what we could expect from RayJ if he follows a similar track and where he would be predicted to rank in the B10 next season:

Carlik Jones: (Radford (Jr)--->Louisville (Sr), change)
OEff: 1.198-->1.057ppp (-0.141ppp)
eFG%: 53.1-->43.4% (-9.7%)
2pt%: 50.6-->42.2% (-8.4%)
3pt%: 40.4-->32.1% (-8.3%)
AstRate: 36.1-->26.1 (-10.0%)
TORate: 13.5-->12.7 (-0.8%)
STL%: 2.3-->2.2% (-0.1%)

RayJ: (Toledo (Jr)--->Illinois Predicted (Sr), change)
OEff: 1.192-->1.052ppp (-0.140ppp) [52nd in B10]
eFG%: 52.9-->43.2% (-9.7%)
2pt%: 52.3-->43.6% (-8.7%)
3pt%: 36.4-->29.1% (-7.3%)
AstRate: 32.1-->23.2 (-8.9%) [9th in B10]
TORate: 11.5-->10.8 (-0.7%) [14th in B10]
STL%: 2.5-->2.4% (-0.1%) [16th in B10]

So overall, I think some worry about how his offense and shooting might fall off in B10 play is fair based on best historical comparison, but his assist and turnover rates should still translate quite well to B10 play as should his ability to get steals on defense. That said, he would not be expected to be the go to guy on offense for us, so decrease in shooting may not mean as much if he's mainly taking higher than average quality shots due to primarily being a setup man for this team. All in all, should be a very good get for us regardless.

This is a great demonstration on why the lay person does not understand statistics. Extrapolation is a fool's errand.

 

[3nDGuy]

For those like you worried about how him playing at Toledo would likely translate to P5 level play, RayJ's closest statistical comparable is Carlik Jones who played at Radford before going to Louisville for a year a few years back. Both players are 6'1"-6'2" 185lb PGs who played 3 years of midmajor ball and had phenomenal junior seasons before going power 5. This is how Carlik Jones' numbers changed and what we could expect from RayJ if he follows a similar track and where he would be predicted to rank in the B10 next season:

Carlik Jones: (Radford (Jr)--->Louisville (Sr), change)
OEff: 1.198-->1.057ppp (-0.141ppp)
eFG%: 53.1-->43.4% (-9.7%)
2pt%: 50.6-->42.2% (-8.4%)
3pt%: 40.4-->32.1% (-8.3%)
AstRate: 36.1-->26.1 (-10.0%)
TORate: 13.5-->12.7 (-0.8%)
STL%: 2.3-->2.2% (-0.1%)

RayJ: (Toledo (Jr)--->Illinois Predicted (Sr), change)
OEff: 1.192-->1.052ppp (-0.140ppp) [52nd in B10]
eFG%: 52.9-->43.2% (-9.7%)
2pt%: 52.3-->43.6% (-8.7%)
3pt%: 36.4-->29.1% (-7.3%)
AstRate: 32.1-->23.2 (-8.9%) [9th in B10]
TORate: 11.5-->10.8 (-0.7%) [14th in B10]
STL%: 2.5-->2.4% (-0.1%) [16th in B10]

So overall, I think some worry about how his offense and shooting might fall off in B10 play is fair based on best historical comparison, but his assist and turnover rates should still translate quite well to B10 play as should his ability to get steals on defense. That said, he would not be expected to be the go to guy on offense for us, so decrease in shooting may not mean as much if he's mainly taking higher than average quality shots due to primarily being a setup man for this team. All in all, should be a very good get for us regardless.

Thanks for the analysis.
Carlik Jones was first team All ACC and damn good in his one year at Louisville.

 

[DeonThomas]

RayJ ---- 5.8 assists to 2.0 turnovers per game last year. increased assists per game and his 3pt% each year of his career. And shot free throws last year at 77%......

Deron Williams in his final season:

12.5 points per game
6.8 Assists per game
2.8 TO's per game
68% FT's
42% FG's
36% from 3-pt

Selected 3rd in the NBA draft.....

 

[CoachHooleyHoo]

From the highlights…is RayJ basically what Austin Hutcherson was thought to be as a player?

 

[TCTORNADO]

Torvik's PRPG (basically MLB's WAR) which is points above replacement player, has RayJ at a gaudy 5.0. Putting it in proper perspective, Shannons' PRPG was 4.3. Davis' projection would be 2nd team All BIG.
He's a good one.

 

[Poe's Law]

From the highlights…is RayJ basically what Austin Hutcherson was thought to be as a player?

Um no. Hutch’s ceiling was somewhere between Kobe and practice Alex Legion. I’ll try to keep my expectations for Ray J a little more reasonable… until he makes it official

 

[Krombopulos_Michael]

Um no. Hutch’s ceiling was somewhere between Kobe and practice Alex Legion. I’ll try to keep my expectations for Ray J a little more reasonable… until he makes it official

Kobe being the low end of that scale correct?

 

[Illini in Italy]

My dads from Rantoul, we call him a Rantoul fool.

I spent three years sentenced to Chanute AFB during my time at the UI (My wife was an active duty AF nurse while I went school after my first 7 years on active duty). Rantoul only had a few redeeming qualities back then:

- Its' proximity to CU and the University;
- Garcia's Pizza (still one of the best pizza's I had outside of Italy); and
- The Hitchin' Post right outside the main gate of the base, where Ethyl and the Octanes frequently played.