Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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TwoElevenEastDaniel
- Cochrane's-Orchid-Tonic
A really talented young man with immense potential chose another path. I can't be mad at him for that. I hope he and his family continue to succeed. Having two sons with high-end power five potential is always something to be proud of. I think Fears is a stud and will be a stud wherever he goes. But Illinois is so well-positioned to continue to accrue elite talent that I don't worry about the on-court fallout.
It's a risk for a small-ish guard to enter power conference hoops a year early. I hope it works out well for the young man. Glad he is empowered with options and supported by a quality family unit.
It's a risk for a small-ish guard to enter power conference hoops a year early. I hope it works out well for the young man. Glad he is empowered with options and supported by a quality family unit.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
I said that there is no reason that Boswell and Kasparis can't play together.
It's just playing Boswell means you lose the size advantage that you get when you have a rare 6'5 pg at the college level. And Kasparis is an actual PG too not the hybrid Domask played last year.
I'm not saying Boswell isnt going to be good or get minutes. Just that a lineup of all 6'5+ guys really puts a ton of pressure on opposing defenses to matchup and creates mismatches.
For example let's say the Illini are playing Purdue. If they play a lineup of Kasparis, Riley, Ty/Tre, Hum, and Ivisic/Morez. You force Smith into a matchup where he's giving up 5+ inches to anyone he's guarding. Who does Fletcher Loyer guard? He's likely getting cooked by Kasparis or Riley and there is no way Loyer is boxing out Ty.
Lineups are fluid
I'm not a huge fan of guys reclassing but especially smaller guards. Long and athletic wings seem to make the easiest transition which makes sense because size helps cover up deficiencies on both ends.
Now as a guard you're reclassing and going to be facing a ton of guys 3 or 4 years older than you that are bigger and stronger than you.
I think there could be some value to reclassing as a guard and redshirting though if programs would take you. You maintain a year of eligibility in case things don't go as planned for the NBA right away, can start making some NIL money even if it's reduced for redshirting, and you get a full year of being in a college weight room with strength and conditioning coaches and get to practice against and develop with D1 players all year.
Unpopular opinion coming. If there's anything that sticks in my craw with this new system, it's that decommitting / recruiting over is still allowed to be a thing.
Harbor no hate for Fears or the coaching staff here - it's the system in place and both are free to use it as they wish - but why are we still doing this in the NIL era? Contracts, please. We want both sides to be putting their skin in the game here, yes?
Harbor no hate for Fears or the coaching staff here - it's the system in place and both are free to use it as they wish - but why are we still doing this in the NIL era? Contracts, please. We want both sides to be putting their skin in the game here, yes?
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Not saying we haven't or never will Crean a player, but Fears is not a Crean. We recruited him for 2025 and he chose to reclassify to a year that we had someone better. As others have said, why play for free if someone will pay you, so I get the money side of his decision. But our staff always anticipated and had a 25 spot open for him - therefore not a Crean.
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I think there's a limit to a reasonable contract that Fears would exceed. He wanted to reclass and enroll 2024. I highly doubt you could draw up a contract with someone saying "You will enroll 2025. You will not try going to school earlier."
The scholarship offers they sign in the months leading up to their enrollment date are their contracts.
I've been pounding that drum, especially in football. There should be no such thing as a verbal commitment. When you commit, you sign the letterer that day. When the letter is signed, the coach is bound by it. The commit, then de-commit drama is a circus. Both sides roll the dice. If you take a commitment from a junior and he blows up and gets the entire SEC in on him....tough. Conversely, if he commits and he's awful his Senior year....tough.
Now that there's money on the table, once you take the job and get the bonus, you're bound by it for at least a year. The only way out is if the coach leaves. At that point, the terms of the contract has changed and it's void.
These dramatic off seasons are idiotic.
Honestly I'm surprised to still see preps committing so early. I almost expect preps to start to wait until late in their senior season to commit potentially before the transfer portal opens or even during it.
That way you have a better idea of the situation/players on a team you're going to and you could potentially use the NIL money transfers are getting to negotiate and boost your own earnings.
Though I guess you could still just commit early and then reopen if you see an opportunity like a lot of guys are doing.
I think you are giving us alot of rope on that one. haha.
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
probably should have said EOD...............lol.......
I think he’s gonna wind up following a career path similar to Adam Miller …
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The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Fan Since '70
- OBS, Florida
that's rather harsh
Based on what I saw in the FIBA tourney, DGL would be the superior option to Fears at this moment in most phases of the game (with the exception of passing and possibly ballhandling). Also, DGL has bought into the system that requires hard work on defense, which is a huge plus.
I also would bet that DGL is much lower NIL $$.
Given that hoops these days is a 1 year at a time proposition, DGL is a much better value to the Illini for 2024, and possibly in 2025 and 2026 as well.
I also would bet that DGL is much lower NIL $$.
Given that hoops these days is a 1 year at a time proposition, DGL is a much better value to the Illini for 2024, and possibly in 2025 and 2026 as well.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Well… he’s already gotten a head start on that trajectory, so…
They're committing so early to reserve a spot somewhere until something potentially better or more lucrative comes along. They can get out of these commitments at the drop of a hat without recourse. What's the downside to committing early? It's insurance.
To pick up on this...
so neither Jasper nor Riley really truly liked their KY visit?
If truly the case...
goodness...Pope ain't it...
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Think we are ready for another summer scrimmage highlight reel.
Agreed.
DGL right now is likely the more superior option...
might be the more superior option for some time into the future too...
and the fact that he'll be making much less...way better value.
here's my thought and observation from my minutes of film study. Boswell is a little out of shape, hasn't
worked hard on his body ever (or at least for a number of months) and needs a summer of Fletch and
top level scrimmaging to be up to speed. by October, he'll be ready to roll.
worked hard on his body ever (or at least for a number of months) and needs a summer of Fletch and
top level scrimmaging to be up to speed. by October, he'll be ready to roll.
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