Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I guess this didn't age well....
NBA Draft
- Status
I understand the money aspect of it, but if CoHawk can’t get drafted in this years draft, he’s not getting drafted in next years draft. Maybe he knows that. Idk
The idea of seeing him in another college team's uniform is heartbreaking to me
I have no direct information, but my guess would be that it is more about NIL $$ and honestly maybe just ready for change. He gave four years. Sort of like NBA free agent, just wants a fresh start. I will miss him, but I can't be mad at him. Best of luck to him for sure.
I feel like the writings been on the wall for a while here but I also don't think CoHawk is the 1st/2nd option on a championship team.
I hope he gets the bag and wins a lot of games, he gave a lot to this school and deserves to make his $ like any other grad, the biggest bummer is that he won't be known as an Illini professionally.
I hope he gets his bag... Was just hoping it was in the NBA. Him going to another school will suck... For me. Wish him well
InDaAZ
- Eugene, Oregon
I know, I know - the proverbial ship has sailed,
but…
do y’all not start salivating over a hypothetical starting five of Boswell, Jakucionis, Humrichous, Ivisic and Hawkins?
I've heard him say this reason and it seems a lot like BS to me. Unless he's going somewhere with no power forward on the roster then he is taking someone's minutes. It sounds nice but makes no sense when you think about it.
And I really question why Illinois doesn't spend what's needed to keep him. He could certainly slot in at the 3/4 spot, he wouldn't have to play center, and it would show how loyal we are to players who have been loyal to us. Seems like everything should point towards the staff going above and beyond to get it done. Instead we've been told "both sides" are ready to move on. Makes no sense. If we pay him(and remove the center minutes) Hawkins stays. So Brad absolutely did not prioritize him. Seems like a VERY questionable decision in an offseason with some other risky moves. I know we now all act like the guys we have gotten are top level but there is a reason why we got them. We got outbid on most of our primary targets. Maybe the guys we got will be great, but let's not act like Booth and White are definite or even expected upgrades over Hawkins. They are unknown risks. We are losing a known producer/leader/culture guy. We can try to gloss over that, but in an offseason of plenty of misses this stands out. We lost a guy we should have started in the pole position to keep. Does it go back to underpaying him last year when he came back? His interview with Goodman seemed to allude to that, but certainly didn't come right and say it directly. Said that he was told he would be paid like Shannon. Seemed like he maybe wasn't. Have to wonder if that played a part? Whatever the reason it is a major fail by our staff.
Doubt it. He said after the UConn game that’s it was likely his last game in an Illinois uniform. Sometimes it’s just time to move on and seems like both he and Brad knew it.
Seeing his name pop up in the 2025 Draft but without Illinois next to it is going to hurt so bad.
Hurts.
Picked up by a number of sources now. Unfortunate, but it’s business.
https://x.com/champaign_room/status/1795995664859398225?s=46
https://x.com/champaign_room/status/1795995664859398225?s=46
Would also love to hear from insiders. We will raise $$ and make a run; or has the Coleman returning to Illinois in 2025 ship sailed?
Who of KJ, Hum, Morez & Boswell are you cutting for Hawkins?
You guys aren't thinking logically about this. We had to recruit under the assumption that he wouldn't be back (it wouldn't have been prudent to do otherwise). We spent a lot of NIL on multiple guys that he would be competing with for PT (front line players Ivisic, Hum, Booth, White, Morez, as well as returning Ty Rogers). Now, with those guys on board, it wouldn't make much sense for us to pay Coleman big bucks. He may be better than all those guys, but likely not by that much. Those guys are all going to play. And from his POV, he should go for big bucks. Which again, it doesn't behoove us to offer him.
Logically it doesn't add up for him to return. (Unless there is some big donor who happens to personally like Coleman so much that he's willing to match every other team's offer).
Lol hum of course
What if...and I'm sure this is a crazy thought...he wants to try something/some place new? 4 years is a long time. I love Coleman and I'd love it if he suited up for us next year but let's all be honest - he could be frustrating too. It's probably best that he and BU enjoyed the good times that they've had and see other people.
Can we be happy for him no matter what he does, given all that he's done for the beloved?
What sucks the most to me is from now on (at the draft or whatever else) he'll be "Coleman Hawkins, Forward from UNC" (or wherever), and not Illinois
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
First off...that's 4 and includes a guy likely not starting in Morez. But Humricious seems like the obvious pick there...and I really like him actually. But you know he was a 14 ppg scorer on a 17-18 Evansville team last year right? He isn't some proven superstar. But if you wanted to expand the list to all of our newcomers I would certainly put Booth front and center and include White as well. There are definitely options to be had
You probably have to cut 2, notice how Shams says he will lead the market in NIL?
Coleman is smaller (just measured at 6-8), has a worse 3%, similar assist %, and is best as a 3rd option on O. He's likely better on D, but there's a reason why there was a lot of competition for Hum.
What don't you get about we had to add players assuming he was not going to return?
- Status