Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Kendall Gill’s Uncle]

So the point isn't that we're slow playing, isn't that we're not recruiting hard and that yeah there is some uncertainty b/c he could be a future NBA hall of famer.

But if he wanted to be an Illini, he'd be an Illini and if his name was Phoenix Brown this all wouldn't cause anyone a second thought.

I’m not following completely but I think that’s it.

We offered and pushed for a commitment, he wasn’t ready yet, and because of that we are pushing for some guys who are more highly rated and possibly better. I mean let’s be honest, our pitch was probably that you’re going to have to come in, spend some time in the weight room and develop for a few years before you see serious tick. The kid probably is drawn to some place like IA St or NW because they’re selling more immediate playing time.

I think to call any high school kid a future HOFer is a little naive unless you’re talking about LeBron. I mean Phoenix’s dad was probably better than he will be and he wasn’t close to that.

I get loyalty to an esteemed alum, but as a program, I don’t think we are at a point as a program that we want to just be taking recruits because their dads played for us.

Also, if the kid makes a decision to go elsewhere and Illinois offered and wanted him to commit, I don’t see KG being mad at Illinois.

 

[Sedino]

Insiders, with MSU being a disappointment so far this season and Fears not getting a ton of playing time, what are the odds he becomes a transfer possibility?

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

Saw five star 2024 recruit Dylan Harper is committing to Rutgers. I think this was expected

 

[illiniguy24]

I will never understand how these bottom feeder or random schools pull a top 15 five star or two every decade or two and we can just never seem to land that

 

[Illiniguy13]

I will never understand how these bottom feeder or random schools pull a top 15 five star or two every decade or two and we can just never seem to land that

Repeat after me: “Morez Johnson”

And yes, I realize he technically is a 4-star recruit. But we are probably going to be watching play in the McDAA game

 

[GrayGhost77]

I will never understand how these bottom feeder or random schools pull a top 15 five star or two every decade or two and we can just never seem to land that

I'm okay with it as long as we continue to manage having at least one All-American on our team every year (Ayo, Kofi, TSJ).

 

[SescIllini]

Gill going to NW would be crushing.

Then having a Krndall like college development would be bad. Would be like the Curry's, Vtech offered PWO status and Stephen said no.

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

Saw five star 2024 recruit Dylan Harper is committing to Rutgers. I think this was expected

They now have the #2 and #3 kid in the class, and #2 recruiting class overall. Hope we still motorboat them at the RAC in a few years, but Pikiell has something going there. The kids really seem to love him, hopefully they either stay around .500 and those days will end, or a big school not in the B32 pulls him away.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

Not sure how you're reading that, considering Indy explicitly said it shouldn't be a shock that we are NOT putting on the full court press.

All I will say is you better be confident in your eval if you pass on a Illini HOFers son. If he goes elsewhere and has a great career, you'll look pretty stupid.

Is that any worse than the HOF'ers son coming here, not getting playing time, then wanting to transfer out?

 

[skyIdub]

Maybe you are forgetting Illinois Recruiting Math. Any recruit with an Illini commitment or Crystal Balls....subtract one star and 25 spots in your ranking.

It's the opposite of Duke and KY Recruiting Math

 

[Loyalillini10]

Not sure how you're reading that, considering Indy explicitly said it shouldn't be a shock that we are NOT putting on the full court press.

All I will say is you better be confident in your eval if you pass on a Illini HOFers son. If he goes elsewhere and has a great career, you'll look pretty stupid.

Yeah, but in your original post you used the words "slow play" when word is he was being asked to commit on his last campus visit and chose not to. That is not slow playing and is just you throwing out something for the "not happy with our last recruiting class" crowd to start a new narrative in case Gill goes elsewhere and develops into a solid player.

It is the same crowd of people who would throw BU and Co. under the bus if Gill accepted the offer, didn't develop and we missed out on other guards in the class because we took him.

 

[illiniguy24]

Repeat after me: “Morez Johnson”

And yes, I realize he technically is a 4-star recruit. But we are probably going to be watching play in the McDAA game

I’m a huge fan of Morez. But that’s exactly my point is all, our “five stars” are always in the 25-40 range. I also trust the staffs eye for talent. Just saying it would be nice to land the top 5, top 10 guy or two. Ideally coming off of a season where we made it past the first weekend

 

[jacekpardol]

Maybe you are forgetting Illinois Recruiting Math. Any recruit with an Illini commitment or Crystal Balls....subtract one star and 25 spots in your ranking.

It's the opposite of Duke and KY Recruiting Math

This is such a tiresome take.

If this is true why have all of our recruits for this coming year shot up in rankings after their commitments?

Morez top 80ish >top 35
Chase UR > 130s
Jatskys 180s > 113

 

[grue2]

I’m a huge fan of Morez. But that’s exactly my point is all, our “five stars” are always in the 25-40 range. I also trust the staffs eye for talent. Just saying it would be nice to land the top 5, top 10 guy or two. Ideally coming off of a season where we made it past the first weekend

I'd much rather have the Ayos and TSJs than the 1 and done. More importantly, I'd rather have the kid who knows they still have some work to do and expects at least 2 years to get it done vs. the headcase who thinks (whose posse thinks) that everyone should kiss their *bleep* for deigning to spend time at their college on the way to the NBA.

 

[illiniguy24]

I'd much rather have the Ayos and TSJs than the 1 and done. More importantly, I'd rather have the kid who knows they still have some work to do and expects at least 2 years to get it done vs. the headcase who thinks (whose posse thinks) that everyone should kiss their *bleep* for deigning to spend time at their college on the way to the NBA.

Sure, everyone wants the kids that will stay and develop. I do too. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add a sure fire NBA first round draft pick to the mix every few years. There is a reason the blue bloods win championships and make final fours.

 

[alaskaillini]

Sure, everyone wants the kids that will stay and develop. I do too. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add a sure fire NBA first round draft pick to the mix every few years. There is a reason the blue bloods win championships and make final fours.

There are also bluebloods that end up like N Carolina last year (preseason #1, didn't make tourney), or Duke so far this year, where the stars don't mesh. Having 5 stars does not always translate to a better team.

 

[nyc_illini]

There are also bluebloods that end up like N Carolina last year (preseason #1, didn't make tourney), or Duke so far this year, where the stars don't mesh. Having 5 stars does not always translate to a better team.

“Always” doesn’t matter.

It’s all about probability/how often they go deep in the dance though. The top-touted talents enable the blue bloods to get there more often than the rest of us. It’s a numbers game.

 

[illiniguy24]

There are also bluebloods that end up like N Carolina last year (preseason #1, didn't make tourney), or Duke so far this year, where the stars don't mesh. Having 5 stars does not always translate to a better team.

Yes but realistically we will never be a team full of incoming 5 stars. At least any time soon. That’s why I’m repeating myself saying just one or two lol

 

[IlliniwekKDR]

I think Calipari has shown us that rinse and repeating one and done guys doesn't mean success. I like the idea mentioned of a handful of 3-4 year guys with a star player that can go early as the centerpiece. Makes me think of 03 Syracuse with guys like Hakim Warrick and McNamara while Carmelo Anthony dazzled as a star freshman

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

I will never understand how these bottom feeder or random schools pull a top 15 five star or two every decade or two and we can just never seem to land that

You do realize Dylan Harper is Ron Harper’s boy, as in Ron Harper Jr.’s little bro, as in has known coach Pikiell since he was in grade school, and been to a hundred Rutgers games, right?

 

[rtbritt]

I think Calipari has shown us that rinse and repeating one and done guys doesn't mean success. I like the idea mentioned of a handful of 3-4 year guys with a star player that can go early as the centerpiece. Makes me think of 03 Syracuse with guys like Hakim Warrick and McNamara while Carmelo Anthony dazzled as a star freshman

While, this doesn't much change what you said, I was thinking that McNamara and Anthony were both star freshmen that year, and Warrick definitely blossomed with them on the team that season.

Obviously, Melo was the huge, stud recruit aka 1 and done.

 

[IlliniwekKDR]

While, this doesn't much change what you said, I was thinking that McNamara and Anthony were both star freshmen that year, and Warrick definitely blossomed with them on the team that season.

Obviously, Melo was the huge, stud recruit aka 1 and done.

You are correct, he was a freshman. And Warrick was a sophomore. But the point I was getting at was simply they were long term guys for Syracuse and not top-level one and done talent. I suppose I could've used a better example, but it goes to show how much young talent that team did have!

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

I think Calipari has shown us that rinse and repeating one and done guys doesn't mean success. I like the idea mentioned of a handful of 3-4 year guys with a star player that can go early as the centerpiece. Makes me think of 03 Syracuse with guys like Hakim Warrick and McNamara while Carmelo Anthony dazzled as a star freshman

I think Cal’s odyssey is more instructive on the variance of the tournament. It’s not like he’s never won it all with a collection of top recruits. It’s a 64 team single elimination and only 1 team is happy with how it ends.
If the Melo Syracuse team had a bunch of lessons to be learned from, Boeheim would probably have more than one.
You keep getting invited to the party with a capable crew and if you are lucky, you string 6 in a row.

 

[alaskaillini]

“Always” doesn’t matter.

It’s all about probability/how often they go deep in the dance though. The top-touted talents enable the blue bloods to get there more often than the rest of us. It’s a numbers game.

How many 5 stars played in the Final Four last year?

 

[AZILL]

How many 5 stars played in the Final Four last year?

CBB isn't what it was, even a few years ago. Completely new ballgame. And I'm happy that our staff/admin seem to be at the forefront nowadays......