Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[WyattEarp]

Who would've thought Podz over Whitmore

Nostradamus totally nailed it in one of his last quatrains in the mid-1560s.

“A youth born to the Northlands of Beer’ and Cheese “
“Will rise unceremoniously through the sporting masses of the day”
“He will show surprising vigor in the contest of fruit baskets”
“He will find refuse in a land of gold”

…but he still won’t be able to defend against his god-durn shadow”

 

[logjam]

 

[HailtotheChief]

Is Podz Underwood's highest draft pick ever?

Well no, as an assistant he had Beasley. Still point taken. 19th overall pick was on our bench and rarely played only a year ago. Thats just wild. I'm happy for the kid. Ever since the interview where he gave Trent props for being a role model for hard work during his time with Trent as a teamate. I like Podz and wish him luck.
Let's go add a shooting PG and let's win u
The B10.

 

[KingWolf11]

In the last 33 years there has been two Illini drafted higher than Podz.

Anyone that loved his game is an idiot though because he couldn't guard in scrimmages.

 

[logjam]

Let’s bury the Podz talk. If Trent and Damonte don’t come back for their super senior years, Podz would have played more his freshman year and maybe he would of stayed?

Is anybody upset that Trent and Williams came back? I’m not… so let’s chalk it up to extenuating circumstances.

If he was demanding a starting slot or he walked, then the staff made the right call to not guarantee it. Those starting spots should be earned by the play in practice and in games. This is Illinois.

Why bury the Podz talk...he's a former Illini that just got drafted in the 1st rd....what is the reason...?

 

[Bogey99]

Why bury the Podz talk...he's a former Illini that just got drafted in the 1st rd....what is the reason...?

Because we’re not recruiting him? There’s an NBA thread in Sports Talk.

 

[Illini2018]

 

[skyIdub]

This is a remarkably well-done gif if you ignore the fingers.

Now I only see the fingers.......

 

[Manual3for4peat]

In the last 33 years there has been two Illini drafted higher than Podz.

Anyone that loved his game is an idiot though because he couldn't guard in scrimmages.

Yeah, the people that are still throwing shade about him because of how he looked in scrimmages clearly know more about basketball than the Warriors front office.....

 

[Deep]

Bad look for BU with Podz being allowed to leave and year later going to warriors with 19th pick

 

[logjam]

View attachment 26709
Good for you, Podz. Who would have predicted this a year ago? None of us. This is a good day for him and very well earned!

Name checks out...

 

[warhog6g]

Bad look for BU with Podz being allowed to leave and year later going to warriors with 19th pick

Not really. He got way more opportunities at Santa Clara than he would have gotten here. If he stayed, he would still be here for the upcoming season. Besides, he ruffled a few feathers here so maybe best for both parties than he went elsewhere.

 

[Illinimark]

We don't know that he could not guard in scrimmages. That is just the narrative that has emerged since he has made such a miraculous recovery after leaving Illinois. There were so many moving parts at guard two years ago that he just got shuffled to the rear. His transfer turned out great for him and not so great for us. The talent evaluators on the team missed on Brandon. There is just no other way to put it. "Podz" is going to make a boatload of money whether he thrives or not. Being picked at 19 is a dream come true. Way to go, kid!

 

[Deep]

Not really. He got way more opportunities at Santa Clara than he would have gotten here. If he stayed, he would still be here for the upcoming season. Besides, he ruffled a few feathers here so maybe best for both parties than he went elsewhere.

You made my point.
A 1st round picks should be getting opportunities at Illinois.

Its not like we have/had 1st round picks blocking him.

Bad on BU and his staff.

 

[FreshlySqueezed]

Can shoot, but is also a good ball handler and passer, and he can play above the rim. Defense needs to improve.

He's a very mediocre ball handler and passer by NBA standards.

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

Not really. He got way more opportunities at Santa Clara than he would have gotten here. If he stayed, he would still be here for the upcoming season. Besides, he ruffled a few feathers here so maybe best for both parties than he went elsewhere.

The reasons he didn't play wasn't the OPs point. It's not a good look for the program. I'm not saying it's the end all of negatives, but some people will look at this as a failure on the coach.

 

[azillini1]

We don't know that he could not guard in scrimmages. That is just the narrative that has emerged since he has made such a miraculous recovery after leaving Illinois. There were so many moving parts at guard two years ago that he just got shuffled to the rear. His transfer turned out great for him and not so great for us. The talent evaluators on the team missed on Brandon. There is just no other way to put it. "Podz" is going to make a boatload of money whether he thrives or not. Being picked at 19 is a dream come true. Way to go, kid!

He could have certainly helped us last year, but probably he doesn't get the opportunity he did at San Jose. However, how BU and staff couldn't keep him or see the talent is beyond me. If I remember, his dad use to post on here and was initially a supporter of BU. Just a shame.

 

[Illinimark]

He's a very mediocre ball handler and passer by NBA standards.

Sour grapes much. The Warrior staff begs to differ.

 

[warhog6g]

You made my point.
A 1st round picks should be getting opportunities at Illinois.

Its not like we have/had 1st round picks blocking him.

Bad on BU and his staff.

I didn't make your point.

He was not a first round pick here. He averaged 1.4 points and less than 1 rebound here his freshman year. He left because he wanted to be a starter. He was not going to start with numbers like that. Besides, who was he going to start over?

TSJ? Nope
Mayer? Nope
Hawkins? Nope
RJ (without the benefit of hindsight)? Nope
Dain? Nope
He's not a point guard so whoever you want to put at PG - Nope

There were some off the court issues as well and he wasn't exactly endearing to his coaches and teammates. I'm not going to get into specifics. Underwood deserves plenty of blame for things, but this is not one of them.

 

[FreshlySqueezed]

But he faired well against Gonzaga and St Mary’s who would be above average P5 teams. The young man had a great season and tonight should be a special night for him as well.

…We now resume the recruiting thread already in progress.

No, he didn't. He had 2 of his worst games of the season against them.

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

He's a very mediocre ball handler and passer by NBA standards.

Not sure about his handles, but his passing is one of the things that has driven his draft position.

 

[WyattEarp]

He's a very mediocre ball handler and passer by NBA standards.

Did you watch our team last year?

 

[Deep]

A

I didn't make your point.

He was not a first round pick here. He averaged 1.4 points and less than 1 rebound here his freshman year. He left because he wanted to be a starter. He was not going to start with numbers like that. Besides, who was he going to start over?

TSJ? Nope
Mayer? Nope
Hawkins? Nope
RJ (without the benefit of hindsight)? Nope
Dain? Nope
He's not a point guard so whoever you want to put at PG - Nope

There were some off the court issues as well and he wasn't exactly endearing to his coaches and teammates. I'm not going to get into specifics. Underwood deserves plenty of blame for things, but this is not one of them.

Anytime a kid moves on from Illinois and does well at other places "issues" is used a lot when referring to his time at Illinois.

When you have a kid with talent, who winds up being a 1st round pick, you find a way for him to play.

BU and his staff messed up.
Very simple

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

He left because he wanted to be a starter.

I call BS on this. We had an "insider" here state that, but I just don't buy it. Of course every player wants to be a starter. As a fan, I want all my recruits to want it.

But the idea that he came to BU and said that he'd transfer if he wasn't guaranteed a starting job is just BS. At the time, the chatter was about how he was told he'd never see the court, not that he couldn't start.

 

[FreshlySqueezed]

In the last 33 years there has been two Illini drafted higher than Podz.

Anyone that loved his game is an idiot though because he couldn't guard in scrimmages.

Every single major conference coach passed on him. Basically twice.

And he couldn't guard in games either.