Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#2,001      
OrangeKrush1981
Hm, this knuckleball is hard to hit: we don't need any first-team All B1G guys? No winners? No team guys?

At this point, do we have any players on our roster? (Yes, we have Kylan, and Jason. Probably at least one freshman. Hopefully, maybe, Tomi)
 
#2,004      
Deacon05
nichi said:
They give their guys some sort of personality test. Then they recruit kids that score high for commitment and loyalty. Something like that.
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All the programs use personality tests. Illinois does it also.
 
#2,006      
IlliniJeevs
everyone in here freaking out over this but in reality, this was Adam Miller 2.0 where his family is delusional and gave him bad advice. Come back to this in 2 years and it will look the exact same
 
#2,008      
sadcubfan69
Yikes. 1743206707520.jpeg
 
#2,009      
201154JC
IllinitripleJ said:
Someone should tell Morez Paul Silas made a career playing defense, grabbing rebounds, especially offensive rebonds, and shooting nothing but close in shots and put backs.
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Great analogy. He won two NBA titles with Boston doing just that.
 
#2,010      
OrangeKrush1981
Dan said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1905771637703889314

podcasts.apple.com

The Drive on ESPN 93.5

Basketball Podcast · Updated Daily · The Drive is your daily Illini sports podcast from ESPN 93.5. Kurtis Allen and Evan Stone cover Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball, Illinois Fighting Illini football, the Chicago Bears, Cardina…
podcasts.apple.com podcasts.apple.com
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Amazing. I understood we wanted dawgs and defenders. But -- he can shoot, and he is not a freshman. And since we keep bleeding players like a battleship hit below waterline, I guess maybe. But ... are we turning into Iowa? All offense, no defense?
 
#2,011      
Rez
nyc_illini said:
This is gonna sound like blasphemy against the prevailing narrative against Ben on this board.

Here's the uncomfortable fact: Brad didn't take minutes from Ben and give it to Morez, because Morez just wasn't good enough to take those minutes.

Sure Morez is more athletic, a much better rebounder and overall has a higher ceiling than Ben.

And yes Ben has a lot of limitations and underperformed his expectation, especially shooting wise.

But people seem to have a revisionist view regarding how good Morez's defense was vs. Ben's. The fact is, despite all his flaws Ben was actually less lost on defense than Morez was and was just less foul prone (hence was able to be a body on the floor for longer), for a bug chunk of the season.
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Yea. I guess that's what I'm thinking. To me I guess I don't see where Morez was "wronged" by Illinois in any egregious way IMO. Unless there were promises not kept or I'm underestimating the ego part of it. IDk
 
#2,012      
zentrails
IlliniJeevs said:
According to Morez himself, he is leaving because he is “more than a rim runner and rebounder and wants to get more than just that” he also said he didn’t want to end up like Kofi. Essentially sounds like he think of himself much higher than anyone else does
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No, that is second hand info from a, ahem, interesting source, not a quote directly from Morez.
 
#2,013      
Deep
#2,014      
SescIllini
IlliniJeevs said:
I mean if you look at Ben until January, there was no reason for Morez to play over him? Revisionist history is crazy here. The turning point was the MSU game and after that Morez got nearly 25 mpg average
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Really? Who is being a revisionist. Ben had a poor game against NU...couldn't rebound or defend, he was targeted by NUs offense.

Ben had a hard time against higher div 1 teams, such as BIG opponents. Was going to be tough to keep TA recruits. not playing him as much didn't help.
 
#2,015      
illiniguy24
From Fighting Illini Facebook group:

Sorry for the long read, but, worth it…

Now that it's official, here's what has transpired. On Wednesday, I received a phone call from Morez Johnson Jr. We talked for 10 minutes before he brought his dad into the conversation. Here’s what took place.
Morez and his dad were genuinely upset with how Illinois used him as a player. In Morez Jr. words:

"Mr. Prince, I am not just a guy who can rebound, set picks, and dunk. I am more than that, but the person running the offense didn’t believe in me. No matter how many times I showed it in practice, it wasn’t enough. I can't allow my career to end up like Kofi (Cockburn) and Dain Dainja. Their development was hindered. If you remember, Kofi was asking to do more, but they wouldn’t let him. Look at the year Dain had, tell me they couldn’t have used that this season."

I replied by encouraging him to talk to the coaches and urged him to be patient.

Morez Sr. then added:
"No, we're not doing that. We played 30 games here, we know what they think of my son. Go back and look at the Kentucky game, KP. My son took his first mid-range shot of the season, missed it, and was immediately taken out. He sat for the next 9 or 10 minutes. They told Tomislav Ivisic to come back, and the offense ran through him again. Look at how they used the Gibbs boy, he could score, but they had him sit in the corner. Or Tre, he couldn't shoot mid-range shots only threes. Or Ty Rodgers, he can shoot, but they didn’t let him. I can’t put my son in that position again. We respect Coach Underwood, it’s not him he's a great coach, but he doesn’t control the offense."

Morez has received some bad advice from someone, which could lead to a poor decision if he ends up at a particular destination. He has already been offered $1.8 million. I’ll add more details as questions arise.
 
#2,016      
Thaillini22
IllinitripleJ said:
Someone should tell Morez Paul Silas made a career playing defense, grabbing rebounds, especially offensive rebonds, and shooting nothing but close in shots and put backs.
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Yeah, but dude, i've seen, like, precisely ZERO Reels of Paul Silas doing that boring stuff!
 
#2,017      
Deep
illiniguy24 said:
From Fighting Illini Facebook group:

Sorry for the long read, but, worth it…

Now that it's official, here's what has transpired. On Wednesday, I received a phone call from Morez Johnson Jr. We talked for 10 minutes before he brought his dad into the conversation. Here’s what took place.
Morez and his dad were genuinely upset with how Illinois used him as a player. In Morez Jr. words:

"Mr. Prince, I am not just a guy who can rebound, set picks, and dunk. I am more than that, but the person running the offense didn’t believe in me. No matter how many times I showed it in practice, it wasn’t enough. I can't allow my career to end up like Kofi (Cockburn) and Dain Dainja. Their development was hindered. If you remember, Kofi was asking to do more, but they wouldn’t let him. Look at the year Dain had, tell me they couldn’t have used that this season."

I replied by encouraging him to talk to the coaches and urged him to be patient.

Morez Sr. then added:
"No, we're not doing that. We played 30 games here, we know what they think of my son. Go back and look at the Kentucky game, KP. My son took his first mid-range shot of the season, missed it, and was immediately taken out. He sat for the next 9 or 10 minutes. They told Tomislav Ivisic to come back, and the offense ran through him again. Look at how they used the Gibbs boy, he could score, but they had him sit in the corner. Or Tre, he couldn't shoot mid-range shots only threes. Or Ty Rodgers, he can shoot, but they didn’t let him. I can’t put my son in that position again. We respect Coach Underwood, it’s not him he's a great coach, but he doesn’t control the offense."

Morez has received some bad advice from someone, which could lead to a poor decision if he ends up at a particular destination. He has already been offered $1.8 million. I’ll add more details as questions arise.
Click to expand...
Pretty damning
 
#2,018      
Oranges
illiniguy24 said:
From Fighting Illini Facebook group:

Sorry for the long read, but, worth it…

Now that it's official, here's what has transpired. On Wednesday, I received a phone call from Morez Johnson Jr. We talked for 10 minutes before he brought his dad into the conversation. Here’s what took place.
Morez and his dad were genuinely upset with how Illinois used him as a player. In Morez Jr. words:

"Mr. Prince, I am not just a guy who can rebound, set picks, and dunk. I am more than that, but the person running the offense didn’t believe in me. No matter how many times I showed it in practice, it wasn’t enough. I can't allow my career to end up like Kofi (Cockburn) and Dain Dainja. Their development was hindered. If you remember, Kofi was asking to do more, but they wouldn’t let him. Look at the year Dain had, tell me they couldn’t have used that this season."

I replied by encouraging him to talk to the coaches and urged him to be patient.

Morez Sr. then added:
"No, we're not doing that. We played 30 games here, we know what they think of my son. Go back and look at the Kentucky game, KP. My son took his first mid-range shot of the season, missed it, and was immediately taken out. He sat for the next 9 or 10 minutes. They told Tomislav Ivisic to come back, and the offense ran through him again. Look at how they used the Gibbs boy, he could score, but they had him sit in the corner. Or Tre, he couldn't shoot mid-range shots only threes. Or Ty Rodgers, he can shoot, but they didn’t let him. I can’t put my son in that position again. We respect Coach Underwood, it’s not him he's a great coach, but he doesn’t control the offense."

Morez has received some bad advice from someone, which could lead to a poor decision if he ends up at a particular destination. He has already been offered $1.8 million. I’ll add more details as questions arise.
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If this is real then LOL “I don’t want to end up like Kofi”. God forbid you end up an all American
 
#2,019      
ChiIllini75
SescIllini said:
Remember that Morez was a true 18 year old freshmen. Queen was 19-20 year old freshmen. Dain had to get weight control and develop over 3-4 years. Morez going to have the sophomore leap, hope he goes to BYU and we don't play them.
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I think Queen is an entirely different level of player without age being a factor, and that's not a knock on Morez.
 
#2,020      
Captain 14
illiniguy24 said:
From Fighting Illini Facebook group:

Sorry for the long read, but, worth it…

Now that it's official, here's what has transpired. On Wednesday, I received a phone call from Morez Johnson Jr. We talked for 10 minutes before he brought his dad into the conversation. Here’s what took place.
Morez and his dad were genuinely upset with how Illinois used him as a player. In Morez Jr. words:

"Mr. Prince, I am not just a guy who can rebound, set picks, and dunk. I am more than that, but the person running the offense didn’t believe in me. No matter how many times I showed it in practice, it wasn’t enough. I can't allow my career to end up like Kofi (Cockburn) and Dain Dainja. Their development was hindered. If you remember, Kofi was asking to do more, but they wouldn’t let him. Look at the year Dain had, tell me they couldn’t have used that this season."

I replied by encouraging him to talk to the coaches and urged him to be patient.

Morez Sr. then added:
"No, we're not doing that. We played 30 games here, we know what they think of my son. Go back and look at the Kentucky game, KP. My son took his first mid-range shot of the season, missed it, and was immediately taken out. He sat for the next 9 or 10 minutes. They told Tomislav Ivisic to come back, and the offense ran through him again. Look at how they used the Gibbs boy, he could score, but they had him sit in the corner. Or Tre, he couldn't shoot mid-range shots only threes. Or Ty Rodgers, he can shoot, but they didn’t let him. I can’t put my son in that position again. We respect Coach Underwood, it’s not him he's a great coach, but he doesn’t control the offense."

Morez has received some bad advice from someone, which could lead to a poor decision if he ends up at a particular destination. He has already been offered $1.8 million. I’ll add more details as questions arise.
Click to expand...
This happened?
 
#2,022      
fishbed
ORANGEANDBLUE2011 said:
He’s a good ball player and fun to watch, but honestly, the combination of his “circle” drama and wanting more pay…isn’t worth it in today’s free agent market.
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I agree with this. I am reminded of this years Kansas Jayhawks. They spent big money on Hunter D*ckhead and AJ Storr ( I don't have the exact numbers). That got them a pre-season #1 ranking. How did the rest turn out for ol' Bucknell Bill ?

Now I'm hearing Freeman is getting $2 mil from Creighton ?

In this market today it should be "Buyer beware".
 
#2,024      
uofi7477
Plus in general the women play as a team, listen to the coaches and can run set plays.
 
#2,025      
Thaillini22
illiniguy24 said:
From Fighting Illini Facebook group:

Sorry for the long read, but, worth it…

Now that it's official, here's what has transpired. On Wednesday, I received a phone call from Morez Johnson Jr. We talked for 10 minutes before he brought his dad into the conversation. Here’s what took place.
Morez and his dad were genuinely upset with how Illinois used him as a player. In Morez Jr. words:

"Mr. Prince, I am not just a guy who can rebound, set picks, and dunk. I am more than that, but the person running the offense didn’t believe in me. No matter how many times I showed it in practice, it wasn’t enough. I can't allow my career to end up like Kofi (Cockburn) and Dain Dainja. Their development was hindered. If you remember, Kofi was asking to do more, but they wouldn’t let him. Look at the year Dain had, tell me they couldn’t have used that this season."

I replied by encouraging him to talk to the coaches and urged him to be patient.

Morez Sr. then added:
"No, we're not doing that. We played 30 games here, we know what they think of my son. Go back and look at the Kentucky game, KP. My son took his first mid-range shot of the season, missed it, and was immediately taken out. He sat for the next 9 or 10 minutes. They told Tomislav Ivisic to come back, and the offense ran through him again. Look at how they used the Gibbs boy, he could score, but they had him sit in the corner. Or Tre, he couldn't shoot mid-range shots only threes. Or Ty Rodgers, he can shoot, but they didn’t let him. I can’t put my son in that position again. We respect Coach Underwood, it’s not him he's a great coach, but he doesn’t control the offense."

Morez has received some bad advice from someone, which could lead to a poor decision if he ends up at a particular destination. He has already been offered $1.8 million. I’ll add more details as questions arise.
Click to expand...
Who you callin' boy! Lol this is hilarious and so indicative of our "I know better than the experts" culture.
 
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