I’d add Nick Anderson
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
- Status
That’s awesome that they made you say that. But no, I am not wrong. You are objectively wrong my man.
Every single stat you can think of shows that kids going into the NBA and playing in college today are significantly faster, quicker, stronger, and can jump higher than kids even 10-15 years ago and DEFINITELY more than kids 20-30 years ago. That is the objective truth. Don’t believe me, google is free.
Relative to who they were playing at the time, sure maybe more athletic. In a straight up comparison 1 on 1 to TSJ, no. Maybe because the people they were playing were so unathletic compared to kids today, they LOOKED more athletic but that’s about it.
Last edited:
Can we throw a little robert Bennett on the mix as well
You could have stopped with Dike Eddleman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_Eddleman
Thomas Dwight "Dike" Eddleman (December 27, 1922 – August 1, 2001) was an American athlete who was generally considered the greatest athlete in the history of athletics at the University of Illinois.[1]
I’ll leave this here for you:
The NBA has kept combine stats since 00-01, every single player you’ve named except Randle played before then, but that’s fine. Let’s start with Randle’s class.
TSJ stats ranked if he was in the 08-09 class with Randle:
LAT: 10.36 1st
3/4 Court Sprint: 3.06 4th (.01 behind DRose)
Max Vert: 37.5 tied for 10th
Now none of the other players you named have combine stats, or at least none I could find. They were all before 00-01, but I am going to use the stats from that year even though it worsens my case because it was after they left Illinois.
LAT: 1st
3/4 Sprint Tied 1st with Speedy Claxton
Max Vert: Tied for 7th
So going back just 23 years to the year 2000, after almost every player you named has played, TSJ would be arguably the most athletic player in those ENTIRE draft classes.
No, objectively speaking no one you named is more athletic than TSJ, and his stats at next years combine will more than likely be even better.
Last edited:
You are wrong. Nick Anderson was 6’5” 225 piece of granite that was possibly faster and could jump higher.
He weighed 205.
Also was absolutely not faster. Jump higher? Maybe.
I get you old heads want to think that bAcK iN YoUr dAy the players could have kept up, but they simply could not have. You can watch highlights from every era and watch as the players become faster, stronger, and overall more athletic. The same will happen 10 years from now to people playing now, and then 10 years after that to people playing then. The growth of technology and science backed workout/recovery programs will continue to push the peak of human athleticism higher and higher.
Last edited:
Please tell me he can shoot free throws better than 70%.
this +2
I’d put TSJ about 5th amongst this group of guys.
You can put him wherever you like, doesn’t change the fact that they are clearly not as fast or athletic and the numbers clearly support that. Believe whatever you’d like though my man.
Not saying TSJ is or is not the best U of I basketball athlete ever, but I saw in person Notree do stuff that I didn’t know a 6’3”- 6’4” G/F could possibly do. The dude would appear to jump out of the arena. Mad explosiveness and high riser.
Also, if those guys had what the athletes now have in the way of nutrition, strength coaches, etc……… good god.
Plus, athletes now will have better combine numbers, of course. They train to do well at those drills. No one trained for those drills back in the day.
Also, combine numbers does not an athlete make. What did you do with your athleticism?
Plus, athletes now will have better combine numbers, of course. They train to do well at those drills. No one trained for those drills back in the day.
Also, combine numbers does not an athlete make. What did you do with your athleticism?
Your first point proves the entire point I’ve been making lmao. Problem is they didn’t have those things, and were not able to take their athletic gifts to the same lengths as modern athletes, and were therefore less athletic at their peak.
Yes, they absolutely did train to jump higher, run faster and move quicker. Just not as well, see point above.
Combine numbers don’t make the athlete, but every highlight you’ve given from every single player i have seen TSJ do. As for my athleticism? I played JuCo baseball for 2 years, as a 5’10 white kid I’d say that ain’t half bad.
Last edited:
Someone saiyd he shoots over 50% from 3 so unless he pulls a DaMonte I’d assume he’s a very solid free throw shooter.
funny, you use a metric that eliminates most of the best players in Illinois history. You're also using measurements that aren't necessarily a measure of "athleticism" as fans look at it. TSJ scores better than LaVine in LAT and 3/4. Do you think he's a better athlete than LaVine?I’ll leave this here for you:
The NBA has kept combine stats since 00-01, every single player you’ve named except Randle played before then, but that’s fine. Let’s start with Randle’s class.
TSJ stats ranked if he was in the 08-09 class with Randle:
LAT: 10.36 1st
3/4 Court Sprint: 3.06 4th (.01 behind DRose)
Max Vert: 37.5 tied for 10th
Now none of the other players you named have combine stats, or at least none I could find. They were all before 00-01, but I am going to use the stats from that year even though it worsens my case because it was after they left Illinois.
LAT: 1st
3/4 Sprint Tied 1st with Speedy Claxton
Max Vert: Tied for 7th
So going back just 23 years to the year 2000, after almost every player you named has played, TSJ would be arguably the most athletic player in those ENTIRE draft classes.
No, objectively speaking no one you named is more athletic than TSJ, and his stats at next years combine will more than likely be even better.
Shannon's vertical is an inch shy of Luther Head's. So I'd put that measurement for Head who's three inches shorter as a objective number that makes Luther more athletic.
I can't speak to Spoon, so I'll let others grab that. But Gill, Anderson, and Battle we're in a class above TSJ.
In this persons world Michael Jordan would be an average Joe in todays NBA. What a joke Sedino
Just say no to drugs!!! Does K Battle,K Gill, N Anderson ring a bell just to name a few
TSJ wouldn’t have started on none of those teams!!! Stop playing!!
Preston Pearson. 6-1 high school center from Freeport. Made the Illinois basketball team as a walkon. Started in the backcourt as a junior and senior.
Very strong, very athletic. Once saw him miss a dunk. The ball careened off the back rim, went airborne, and came down about mid court.
Ace defender, one of the few to block Lew Alcindor's sky hook.
After college, played 14 years in the NFL as a running back, receiver, and kick returner.
.
Sedino
Every single stat you can think of shows that kids going into the NBA and playing in college today are significantly faster, quicker, stronger, and can jump higher than kids even 10-15 years ago and DEFINITELY more than kids 20-30 years ago. That is the objective truth. Don’t believe me, google is free.
Now you've changed things up. How about Shaq? Someone stronger? Who? Shawn Kemp? Jump higher? Mugsy Bogues 5'3 or 5 and won a Slam Dunk comp. LeBron 21 years in the league. There are many more. I believe that fits your criteria.
Now if you want to say taller with more ability or fame. I'll give that one like Giannis. Jokic, Tatum, Embiid.
Show me a video of Dike Eddleman dunking like TSJ
Edit: Spelling
Nah you are wrong and old. TSJ is the best athlete this team has ever seen
Link a video of something TSJ has done that no one else has done?
Can you share a video of TSJ's best dunk? You've mentioned a few times that you've seen him do everything that past Illinois players have done (360s, reverses, double pumps, put backs, posterizing taller players ) however, I've seen every play he's made in an Illini uniform and I can't recall any of that.
- Status