Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#653      
BashCtIllini
OB positive said:
Don't know why he would ever leave unless Collins does. Most of Northwesterns players really like him as a coach.
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Bugs Bunny Money GIF by Looney Tunes
 
#654      
HailtotheChief
Second place is 1st loser said:
The problem is that our fan base, during the off-season, doesn't seem to understand this. The celebration comes with these overseas players with buildup because they're guards, exciting and we're told that they're NBA ready. They get here and they're nowhere close because while they're skilled, they are FAR behind physically.

There was, rightfully, a lot of excitement about guys like Riley, KJ and Tomi. Great talents, but just not ready physically or emotionally. They're playing like freshmen, which SHOULD be expected. I think that Brad's recruiting pitch is that we're running an NBA offense with the green light all the time with the one in, four out philosophy. That's a great recruiting tool, until you see freshmen running it against grown men.

We get pushed all over the place, especially defensively. There's no way that we're EVER going to beat a team constructed like Maryland, where we have absolutely no answers in the paint and if you double.....shooters get open looks.

We have to get older, we have to get bigger(not just height wise), we need to get FAR more physical and we have to get tougher. Sorry, but any guards coming down the lane against us need to know that they're going to pay a price. Look at what that did to us yesterday. Our kids were completely intimidated.
We need legitimate bigs badly(via portal), we need to bring some guys back for continuity (NIL) and we need to supplement the roster with what we currently have versus trying to find players all over the globe to be the "go to" guys.
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How many 18 years olds at 6'6" 200lbs can do and are built like KJ who FYI is a projected lottery pick? He nay not be "NBA ready" but he is better any college freshman guard? If he is lacking physically so much what other freshman PG is stronger? What guard was physically stronger than KJ that pushed him around? None dud that!T He played vs pros not high school kids! He played vs Frank Kaminsky and others. He is All B10 third team and so many act like he sucks and you regret having him? Give me a break! Our guards aren't perfect and need coached but the issue is not KJ, Will, or Kylan. Should Brad coach or bench KJ after dumb passes and plays YES! Kj is a stud regardless of age, he just needs coached better.
The issue is our bigs are not strong enough to guard stud big guys. They just aren't. That's why we were rolled by Duke and Maryland 2x. KJ is only a few pounds from being built like Domask is. He is bigger and strong than both first team All B10 guards and is gonna make a hell of a lot more $. He didn't build or our roster Brad did and picked Booth and the two red shirts. We needs a big bodied banger. We don't have one BU did well with our wings recruiting and I wish we had em all back.
 
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#655      
PepeSilvia
HailtotheChief said:
How many 18 years olds at 6'6" 200lbs can do and are built like KJ who FYI is a projected lottery pick? He nay not be "NBA ready" but he is better any college freshman guard? If he is lacking physically so much what other freshman PG is stronger? He isn't lacking! He played vs pros not high school kids! He played vs Frank Kaminsky and others. He is All B10 third team and so many act like he sucks and you regret having him? Give me a break! Our guards aren't perfect and need coached but the issue is not KJ, Will, or Kylan. Should Brad coach or bench KJ after dumb passes and plays YES! Kj is a stud regardless of age, he just needs coached better. The issue is our bigs are not strong enough to guard stud big guys. They just aren't. That's why we were rolled by Duke and Maryland 2x. KJ is only a few pounds from being built like Domask is. He us bigger and strong than both first team All B10 guards and is gonna make a hell of a lot more $. He didn't build orlur roster Brad did and picked Booth and the two red shirts. We needs a big bodied banger. We don't have one
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I like KJ but this post is written like you've never watched Dylan Harper play basketball.

There is some truth to the bigs not guarding well inside but the perimeter players also aren't quick or strong enough to guard well or put pressure on defense by creating a lot of separation.

Nothing wrong with anyone on an individual level but more just too many guys with similar flaws and they are unable to cover up for each other.

KJ would probably be looking a lot better if he was surrounded by athleticism and shooting but there isn't much of either to be found on this team.
 
#656      
RabidDawgClassic
NashvILLe05 said:
I hope Sarr isn’t KJ 2.0. We need toughness and college experience next season. I’m skeptical of the European players, one of whom is 21yo, after this season to say the least.
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KJ 1.0 would be great if he stayed 2-3 years. As it is, he’s a freshman asked to lead a team of mostly freshmen. Compare fifth year Trent Frazier to Freshman Trent Frazier and consider the leaps KJ could make.
 
#657      
OrangeKrush1981
All that matters in this era is what have you done lately (as in today). Everybody -- head coaches, ADs, players, and even fans -- has bought into this.
 
#658      
HailtotheChief
PepeSilvia said:
I like KJ but this post is written like you've never watched Dylan Harper play basketball.

There is some truth to the bigs not guarding well inside but the perimeter players also aren't quick or strong enough to guard well or put pressure on defense by creating a lot of separation.

Nothing wrong with anyone on an individual level but more just too many guys with similar flaws and they are unable to cover up for each other.

KJ would probably be looking a lot better if he was surrounded by athleticism and shooting but there isn't much of either to be found on this team.
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Omg. The one and only player that's a better freshman guard! KJ third team all B10 but too slow and sucks in your eyes but us going to be a lottery pick! Will, kylan, Rez, Tre are not athletic enough. We should have 5 LeBrons! Kylan shoots like Ty...I get it....You love Ty and not KJ or Kylan. Your glass is half empty! Adios! Have realistic expecting when a freshman lottery pick and another 1st round freshman like Riley aren't good enough for you.
 
#659      
HailtotheChief
RabidDawgClassic said:
KJ 1.0 would be great if he stayed 2-3 years. As it is, he’s a freshman asked to lead a team of mostly freshmen. Compare fifth year Trent Frazier to Freshman Trent Frazier and consider the leaps KJ could make.
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I loved Trent but Freshman KJ is better. Trent was great but was never All B10. Kj is his first and only year.
 
#663      
STLflyinIllini
sharpshot16 said:
Role yes - money no. Brad is willing to pay him around the same amount.

But also will be raising our budget for next year with the revenue sharing in there. This year we put in around 4.5 mil and next its looking more like 6m+ with possibly going higher.
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Unless that amount is $100 and tuition, I"d say pass.
 
#664      
HailtotheChief
OrangeKrush1981 said:
T

Thanks for the vote of confidence from a fellow NBA scout.
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No, I am not nor do I pretend to be. I listen to experts which you clearly do not. But how many slow first round picks much less lottery picks has Illinois ever had? How many 19 year old guard lottery pucks are too slow for the B10 even though they were All B10? If I knew you I'd bet you and take your money. He a first round pick man and the best freshman 1 n done in Illini history and Riley right after. Good grief dude! I'm not a scout. They are! Thank goodness most fans are supportive and not so damn critical of an elite 18 year old All B10 player. The first one and done in Illini History.
 
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#665      
Second place is 1st loser
OrangeKrush1981 said:
You got it in one, Chief. Too slow.

I wish it was otherwise. It's not. Don't tell me he's 18: that only means he'll get slower.
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Agree. His biggest hurdle, outside of overcoming wildly bad decision making, is going to be overcoming a lack of athleticism. He can't change that. He doesn't stay in front of his man defensively, he doesn't have blowby speed offensively and he doesn't finish well.

That reads terribly because it sounds like I'm saying that he's not a good player. He's a very, very good player, but I do believe this talk of being a lottery pick needs to stop. As we sit here TODAY, you love the size, you can see the skill.....but you really have to squint to see him playing against the athletes in the NBA.

Maybe some of our insiders have more updated info, but is there any talk of him coming back to school(even if it's not Illinois)? He's going to be paid incredibly well. Otherwise, he's at least a two year G-Leaguer
 
#666      
OrangeKrush1981
I am going to state an obvious, dumb, tautology: coaching in the coming year is what will matter. A roster chosen for character, athleticism, skill, and experience. Let's see if the guy our school has hired is able to move things to a significantly higher level of achievement next year.
 
#668      
OrangeKrush1981
I had great hopes for KJ when he was brought in last June-July. He was the knight on a white horse for the first couple of months of the season, too. I think he is going to play in the NBA for years to come, I think he will not be what a lottery pick is hoped to be and so I don't think he will be a lottery pick any longer. So? He'll still be a solid pro, in the league.

But the absence of quickness is not going to be overcome. KJ will do fine, just not great. We need to move forward now.
 
#670      
pweo
Second place is 1st loser said:
I do believe this talk of being a lottery pick needs to stop. As we sit here TODAY, you love the size, you can see the skill.....but you really have to squint to see him playing against the athletes in the NBA.

Maybe some of our insiders have more updated info, but is there any talk of him coming back to school(even if it's not Illinois)? He's going to be paid incredibly well. Otherwise, he's at least a two year G-Leaguer
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He's consistently mocked in the top ten in this class. I totally expect him and Flagg to run it back in college next year :rolleyes:
 
#675      
steelmen72
Illinois doesn't need more guys who can "SHOOT" but can't play defense or isn't physical and soft. NOBODY on this Iowa team represents any of those things.
 
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