Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#677      
RayJ thinks being the alpha on a mid Pac 12 team will help his draft stock … Because so many NBA GMs are tuned in to 11 PM tip for Utah vs Oregon State …

Being serious … There is no logical reason for him to pick Utah … I have no idea what he’s thinking …

Turning down $300,000+ …

I thought Kofi’s advisors were bad … This might be worse …
Baffling.

We’ve got 2 guys at the combine, so he’d have talent to work with.

He’d be able to directly compare how he could elevate our team from last year without a PG. If he comes in and rocks it, on a bigger stage btw, he can say “That was me.”

Unless he doesn’t think he can do it 🤷‍♂️
 
#678      
Breakout the nut punch gifs. Time to move on, and hope that maybe NIL and Portal will be recognized as the complete nonsense that it is, to someone with half a brain in the powers that be
 
#681      
I’m genuinely curious (and I feel foolish for missing the joke): is it correct that only a very small number of people genuinely thought Dwayne Wade said “dominant erupt” and the vast majority did, in fact correctly hear “diamond in the rough”??

Second question: has it been posited that RayJ felt slighted over not being recruited by the Illini previously? Like the scene in Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts heads back to the snooty boutique with bags of expensive cloths bought elsewhere.
 
#682      
IMHO, it’s a bad decision on his part. Don’t know who’s advising him but he should do some searching on that but either way, I don’t feel as bad about this because one he didn’t end up at another big ten school, etc and I know Brad and company are going to find someone else so it’s all good.
 
#683      
I do think this opens more NIL money for Coleman/Shannon, which is a good thing. They know the staff will get a good point guard. There are going to be a lot of interested grad transfers that will have a great opportunity to make some money.

And yes, Tyger has already been contacted. Could be a long shot, but TA has serious connections and he would make way more here than overseas
 
#684      
We certainly put a lot of eggs in RayJ basket. I agree with others not a good look. Hopefully there is a plan B because the 22-23 version wasn't that enjoyable to watch and follow.
Just frustrating, many posters were told to stop questioning and that RayJ was a guarantee a month ago.. shows nothing is a guarantee and how fluid recruiting truly is when it comes to D1 recruiting. Really gotta hope plan B pans out if in fact he is going to Utah because as you say, 22-23 was very rough due to PG play.
 
#685      
I’m genuinely curious (and I feel foolish for missing the joke): is it correct that only a very small number of people genuinely thought Dwayne Wade said “dominant erupt” and the vast majority did, in fact correctly hear “diamond in the rough”??

Second question: has it been posited that RayJ felt slighted over not being recruited by the Illini previously? Like the scene in Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts heads back to the snooty boutique with bags of expensive cloths bought elsewhere.
I believe the term originated from this tweet:
As far as I know, exactly one person heard it as "dominant erupt"
 
#690      

GrayGhost77

Centennial, CO
RayJ is likely going to Utah. Have zero idea what he's thinking there, just an awful decision for both business and basketball reasons. The staff has contacted a grad transfer and I expect things to pick up their pretty quickly. Still feeling good about Shannon and they are still talking to Hawkins
team america vomit GIF
 
#695      

Illynois

Chicago
The Utes just recently got Deivon Smith from GT which made me surprised about this Utah decision. Smith is definitely not someone you refuse to recruit over, especially given his shooting numbers at the collegiate level, but was a top 60ish prospect in high-school, is a superb athlete, and can really only play point because of his size... who knows anymore
 
#696      

DeonThomas

South Carolina
RayJ thinks being the alpha on a mid Pac 12 team will help his draft stock … Because so many NBA GMs are tuned in to 11 PM tip for Utah vs Oregon State …

Being serious … There is no logical reason for him to pick Utah … I have no idea what he’s thinking …

Turning down $300,000+ …

I thought Kofi’s advisors were bad … This might be worse …
I actually buy into this. It's not necessarily the right decision and it's certainly not the decision that any of us want, but there are so many things that a young basketball player has to consider. Just think of all the things that might weigh into one's portal decision:

- Being the alpha on a lesser team in a lesser conference vs. competing for points and exposure on a really good team
- Geography (i.e. he's already lived in the Rocky Mountains)
- Influence of those around him (handlers, family, etc.)
- Rapport with coaching staff
- Team's emphasis on Offense vs. Defense; coach's philosophy & playing style
- Chances of playing in the Big Dance
- $$$ / NIL
- National TV exposure
- Proximity to one's family (ability for them to watch him play)

Point is, you just never know which of these carries the most weight.
 
#698      
We certainly put a lot of eggs in RayJ basket. I agree with others not a good look. Hopefully there is a plan B because the 22-23 version wasn't that enjoyable to watch and follow.
I thought the 22-23 version was extremely entertaining to watch, until MM’s head bounced off the floor almost higher than his vertical, and then he went 1 for 30-ish from 3 until the end.
 
#699      
It’s a bit of a head scratcher IMO why Dennis wouldn’t choose Illinois. interested in hearing what he has to say when he does choose if not Illinois. Illinois has the NIL, all the minutes he can handle at point. Tournament team. Close to home. Outside looking in Illini have everything you think one would want.
Except you won’t be “the man.” Also, who knows what kind of feedback he got by going through draft process. He may not think that the Illinois situation (offense, role) is the best place to show improvement in those areas that were cited as needing work.
 
#700      
Classic loyalty. Do you all realize the optimism you‘re using to excuse your disappointment is setting yourselves up for the next nutpunch.

Very little reason to assume TSJ, and Coleman will be back, or there is some super secret better PG option lined up. Just allow yourselves to be disappointed.
 
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