I would have to think the answer is yes. Even if the staff was over some of his “antics”…the optics of running off your most loyal player to date would be pretty bad no? Especially given he is no scrub
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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I agree that I don't think we will ever get a definitive answer but I think Coleman was pretty dead set on going pro and ended up getting much worse feedback then he expected.
I am kind of curious if Coleman is regretting publicly saying that he is done at Illinois though. If he hadn't publicly closed the door on a return I wonder if Brad might be getting some pressure from donors about pushing out an incoming transfer to open up a spot for his return.
In my opinion, a lot of the desirable destinations for Coleman seem to have dried up with Arkansas bringing back Brazile(thought they were a great fit), cancelling his visit to Louisville, and no noise about either UNC or UConn being in.
Seems like the only major conference program in it now is K-State. Which would be kind of interesting fit with Achor and Onyenso and he would probably get minutes at the 3(would be curious to see if Coleman, Achor, and Onyenso could play at the same time). However, the guards/wings are all huge question marks at this level after Dug McDaniel.
Nothing against the AAC but it seems like it would be a bit sad to step down from the Big10 to the AAC and join Memphis or SMU. SMU added Traore and a couple guards but I don't see much there. He could reunite with Dain and play alongside Cisse at Memphis but they look pretty mediocre to me.
Maybe I'm missing something but I think Illinois is a better situation then any of those and the AAC options seem like an anticlimactic way to end a college career coming off an elite 8 run. Maybe playing on the wing at K-state is better for his NBA chances.
Sorry for the essay.
SMU will be in the ACC next season, but yeah, they will still have a mid-major feel to them
I believe SMU will start playing in the ACC this year.
Its still a pretty significant step down.
No one outside of Dallas thinks Enfield is an elite coach
From all indications from people close to the situation- it was a mutual decision for Coleman and Illinois to part ways for the good of both parties, so I don’t think his return was in the cards no matter what
I'd be shocked to hear the feedback Coleman just got from the NBA differed from the staff's.
Coleman made it obvious in 23 he's a glue guy, not a star. Then in 24 the staff played him out of position and he was hurt.
They achieved an E8 together. I don't blame Brad for being done or Coleman for maxing his bag or finding another staff. Irony is if we dont sign riley/catchings he'd slot in well with what we have
Loyalillini10
- Urbana, IL
Are you sure anyone IN Dallas knows SMU has a basketball team?
Coleman seems like a smart young man but a terrible poker player. Wish him well and hope he gets his bag.... And goes to the nba
I'm not aware of what really happened but I don't think it would make sense for Brad and the staff to push Coleman out.
I feel like Coleman was done with college and ready to move on and Brad couldn't afford to wait one way or another so basically had to recruit like he was gone.
Hawkins is wanting to play at a school where he is the main focus not in developing his overall game. He didn't get that at Illinois because BU wants a team first concept. It looks to me that Hawkins may get buried even further with thoughts of playing for Louisville, SMU or Kansas State. He could have been a star at Illinois but too many times he cried foul. I think the NBA saw that too. I for one don't want him back at Illinois.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Sei Italiano? La tua scrittura era molto corretta . . .
Come back home, Coleman.
Yeah having two ex-Purdue guys buried on the bench will really burn them. Like how Indiana played the Illini by snatching up Luke.
LadyLoyalty
- Indian Wells, CA
I think taking one of their highest rated recruits ever is a little different than taking DGL. It’s like them taking Jase Butler, ok ho hum, but then snatching Jeremiah Fears the next year.
he came back to college for lots & lots of money . that’s all
The sleepers guys alluded to how NIL works at Purdue in one of their videos that it’s pooled and players share it equally? It’s going to be really hard for them to compete for talent in this new world in that model - for transfers or HS recruits
It will be interesting to see their trajectory going forward
Sleeper way off on CH situation.Illini played their hand correctly and are thrilled with their current bigs.Hope things work out well for CH also.
Good luck to him, but it’s time to move on.
He'll be fine and we'll be fine.
Can I say, if Coleman's options are SMU, Louisville, and KSU, maybe he isn't as coveted as we thought. Did the blue bloods actually sniff around?
I assume his growth plates are closed.
Edey’s NIL wasn’t shared
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