This certain guard is better than RayJ IMHO.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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I think it's more prudent to look at assist/turnover ratios than overall numbers. His was 2.8, which was around top 30 in the country. When the ball is in your hands as often as it was for Collins, you will have turnovers.
Dennis' ratio was slightly better. He is obviously a better scorer. It's not hard to see why the staff is pulling out all the stops for Dennis, but if we get Yuri as a consolation prize, consider me consoled.
Big Jack
- Decatur
You know what they say! "You can't fix stupid!"Well trillys tweet would go against what RayJ is telling people but
Assuming it’s true, all of it, why did the staff make Ray the top target and Collins the “backup plan”?
And Collins is ok being the backup plan?
And Collins is ok being the backup plan?
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Sounds like the perfect replacement for SkyyHis people are using a lot of these tactics and headlines to their advantage in negotiations …
You can say it’s not true but that’s coming from someone who is sitting at the table …
Big Jack
- Decatur
Ok enough with using my name in veinThis the same dude who told everyone Johnson was a lock to Kentucky … We saw how that turned out …
This guy don’t know Jack
I miss the old days when recruiting news was an annual Street and Smith magazine, two hours of Saturday Morning Sports Line, and one or two page B-1 stories a week in the News-Gazette.
Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
My first thought is this is a bidding war, and people need to remember that when any rumor pops up.
Regardless of rayj or collins it is a plus over last year. Remember that. Also, many believe Collins better fit anyway.
Call me not worried with either guy.
Call me not worried with either guy.
I think I remember posting yesterday that we were going to find out one way or the other ….well here is the reason for the delay…
Love our insiders but a bit frustrating that they refuse to criticize Brad + Staff. Missing on RayJ would be a massive miss and a bit of an embarrassment, let’s call it how it is
I didn't know Yuri was even on the table. It's strange that we didn't go after him immediately or he enter the transfer portal. He would have probably been recruited by every school in the nation.
I'd personally rather have Yuri than RayJ. Yuri is the best facilitator in American and an adequate scorer. RayJ is more of a lead guard who wants to be the offense. I think we have enough supporting cast that a guy who can play All Conference level defense and All American level distribution will be more valuable than a guy who wants to score 15 ppg. I think Yuri would make every player on our team a better offensive player. If he can keep the assists up around 10 and give us just 7 ppg, that would be phenomenal. I think 7 and 10 from Yuri would be more valuable than 15 and 5 from RayJ.
Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
You can say it’s not true but that’s coming from someone who is sitting at the table …
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
Probably the first nail in the RayJ coffin..
You save your criticism for after the facts are all gathered. The facts haven't been gathered. In truth, you really have to wait a few games into the season to judge.
I mean we have to get Collins first. And last year at this time we were all crazy excited about getting Skyy. Maybe Skyy was later, I don’t remember.
I'd prefer Ray J but Yuri is a solid option too.
socalini
- So Cali
Indy literally said it "ultimately falls on Brad" if things don't work out.
alamocityillini
- San Antonio
College programs reportedly contacting Antonio Reeves through back channels
Is Kentucky about to lose Reeves?
www.aseaofblue.com
Indy just said if we miss on Ray J its not due to NIL money not being there and it falls squarely on Coach Underwood. I even saw him state that more than once. Some may think BU is never wrong or miss judge situations but Indy isn't among them. Hell no ones perfect! Clearly that was beat to death on another issue in a previous recruiting thread about BU miss judging our team system at times , players, and recruiting just freshmen PGs. In spite of that BU learns and will have options and an experience PG going forward.
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a few things I think worth calling out on here that shouldn't get lost in all this:
1. Even if a recruit verbally says they're committing, etc. it is never a lock until it is a done deal. This was never a done deal and it dragged out longer than expected. Our insiders literally said lock and boom acting as if it was a done deal which was premature
2. Just because we are going to go after Yuri does not guarantee he is coming. Having money to spend doesn't guarantee that either. Almost assuredly there will be other big time programs going after him as well if he's open
3. Even if we land a solid backup PG option like a Yuri, it is not thought to be "a better fit" or a "preferred fit" to Dennis. There is a reason we didn't pursue others and left the spot purely open for him. He is better on any analytics metric as both a playmaker and shooter. Yuri might be fine, but do not buy in to the "new narrative"
1. Even if a recruit verbally says they're committing, etc. it is never a lock until it is a done deal. This was never a done deal and it dragged out longer than expected. Our insiders literally said lock and boom acting as if it was a done deal which was premature
2. Just because we are going to go after Yuri does not guarantee he is coming. Having money to spend doesn't guarantee that either. Almost assuredly there will be other big time programs going after him as well if he's open
3. Even if we land a solid backup PG option like a Yuri, it is not thought to be "a better fit" or a "preferred fit" to Dennis. There is a reason we didn't pursue others and left the spot purely open for him. He is better on any analytics metric as both a playmaker and shooter. Yuri might be fine, but do not buy in to the "new narrative"
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