Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#78      
I lost Kofi's blue binder
FI_8905 said:
There's some real concern that Kasparas Jakucionis is playing his way into a huge contract with Barco or pricing himself out in terms of an NIL package in the U.S.

Illinois put together a strong package for him. We'll see.
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I wasn’t necessarily crazy about the Kasparas thing anyway—there’s real risk in banking heavily on a player that young adjusting to the college game quickly—but this sounds extremely familiar.
 
#80      
I lost Kofi's blue binder
Second place is 1st loser said:
If he commits, you'll be wearing his jersey come October. "We didn't want him anyway" is self soothing.
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I think you’re misunderstanding me—I’ve said a few times that I wasn’t a fan of a young player from Europe being the “big fish.” And that the “we didn’t want him anyway” thing we’ve seen throughout this offseason was a way of coping with Illinois having less resources than many of us that.
 
#81      
Second place is 1st loser
I lost Kofi's blue binder said:
I think you’re misunderstanding me—I’ve said a few times that I wasn’t a fan of a young player from Europe being the “big fish.” And that the “we didn’t want him anyway” thing we’ve seen throughout this offseason was a way of coping with Illinois having less resources than many of us that.
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1000000% agree. Apologies for the misunderstandings. The whole "he's too expensive" excuse has gotten old and it's an eye opener to the fact that it doesn't look like we can compete with the top tier programs in the country.....which is what we are sold on.

We're already getting prepped for the same outcome. Someone said that our competition for both guys was BYU and Wake Forest? Was that Piper? The fact that we're even in a recruiting battle with those schools at all is bothersome.
 
#82      
Cravingschampaign
Second place is 1st loser said:
1000000% agree. Apologies for the misunderstandings. The whole "he's too expensive" excuse has gotten old and it's an eye opener to the fact that it doesn't look like we can compete with the top tier programs in the country.....which is what we are sold on.

We're already getting prepped for the same outcome. Someone said that our competition for both guys was BYU and Wake Forest? Was that Piper? The fact that we're even in a recruiting battle with those schools at all is bothersome.
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Florida and Wake Forest, Wake Forest has a Lithuanian Assistant who knows KJ
 
#83      
derrick6
doowink said:
I think it was practice....but not real sure bout that
If You Say So Wow GIF by Identity
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In those killed dreams, I think too ;)
 
#85      
derrick6
Fly Illini Fly! said:
About a week ago Indy brought up the point of:
Plan A: Watkins
Plan B: Lathon/Monsanto and Kasparas

Right now it looks like we're out on Watkins and it's:
Plan A: Kasparas
Plan B: Lathon and Monsanto

Kasparas is a fine consolation prize for Watkins. Just not very fond at the fact that we're gonna pay him just what we would've payed a guy like Watkins or Storr
...and will therefore not be able to add another quality piece - a la Monsanto.

Like his game don't get me wrong...but don't think it's reasonable to think he'll have the same impact next year as Storr will have at KU for example. He could for sure be that level maybe in 2 or 3 years down the line though...

Gotta do it to get the best players I guess...

Do we know what really caused his price tag to go up a notch like that? I mean...don't think it was 1 mil to start with...
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Definitely agree the instant impact would go to Storr, but am assuming this is Storr’s final year.

I recall the insiders saying we want to win right away, but challenge for a natty in year two. If true, I get the current cautiousness in bringing in a foundation for year 2 that adding an alpha puts us to the top.
 
#86      
Fly Illini Fly!
derrick6 said:
Definitely agree the instant impact would go to Storr, but am assuming this is Storr’s final year.

I recall the insiders saying we want to win right away, but challenge for a natty in year two. If true, I get the current cautiousness in bringing in a foundation for year 2 that adding an alpha puts us to the top.
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Assuming "year two" means year after the coming year.

If we're gonna do that - challenge for a natty - two things will need to happen IMO.

1: Keep at least 5, preferably 6 out of these 8 guys from this year's team: Kylan, DGL, Tomislav, Kasparas (assuming we land him), Booth, Morez, Tre, Ty. Hope we have the $$ for that.

2: Get that star wing - an AA level wing. The dream one for me has throughout been Dybansta but that's a 10% chance at best if not lower...

Add that star wing, bring back 6/8, and find "okay" replacements for the guys lost...

And there's no reason to believe that that team can't be REALLY REALLY GOOD!
 
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#87      
I lost Kofi's blue binder
CoalCity said:
That's a ridiculous loser take. Have you watched his games?
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I’ll freely admit that I haven’t. My concerns aren’t based on any eye test but rather the history of highly talented young players from Europe tending to struggle adjusting to the college game. Some are immediately good, like Franz Wagner. Others struggle mightily, like UCLA’s entire roster last year—most of whom were equally or more hyped than Kasparas.

That isn’t to say that Kasparas couldn’t succeed. Just that I’d be concerned if the big fish SG/wing is a young European player making the jump as opposed to a proven high-major talent like a Storr, Watkins, etc. I think that’s a fair viewpoint.
 
#89      
Fly Illini Fly!
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"Four star wing"? Uhhh...he's a five star pretty much everywhere you look?

Interesting IlliniInquirer thinks we got a shot.

Getting him seems already unlikely...if he reclasses then I guess it's completely out of the question...

Once the Kasparas deal is done (looks like it will be) we for sure won't have enough $$ left...
 
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#95      
Illinirog70
Trueblue777 said:
Derek Piper said the same thing on Illini Inquier podcast. Probably where this guy copied his info. Sounds like it’s between BYU and Illinois for Demin and wake Forest Florida and Illinois for Kasparas. I watched both play in their respective games and I still think Demin is the better of the two even though KJ stats are more impressive. Real Madrid is a very balanced team with real talent at every position so Egor doesn’t have to assert his will as much and can defer to his team-mates. Announcer raved about how calm and controlled Demin is on the court and called him a silent assassin. He finished with 14 pts 8rbs 2 asst 2 blocks in very limited action against an overmatched team.
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I like them both as well, but our need is for a ball handler when our point guard is off the floor. Kasparas is the man to play along-side as number two guard and can shift over to the point with dre coming in. we are really hurting for a second ball handler and Kasparas fills the bill. Demin is a true wing, of which we have several. Even if we land Demin we'll need another point guard.

That said, we would be fortunate to get either.
 
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