If you want to add athleticism, he would definitely do it. Ridiculously quick and explosive leaper.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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I'm skeptical about his return too. However, at age 19, I don't think going to the NBA is in his best interest. Sure, he'll get paid and have everything which comes with being a player in the NBA, including the pressure to succeed. He obviously needs to bulk up, and while a 19-year-old is a man, he's a young man going into a billion-dollar business which demands results. Sure, I'd like to see him return for selfish reasons, but I think he should really stay another year in college ball. When I was in college I couldn't wait to graduate and start making money, now I look back at college as something I didn't fully appreciate. If I had a say in it, I'd tell him to stay another year, collect his NIL money, take out an insurance policy against a career ending injury and have fun winning games.
If he gets a top 25 guarantee, gone. If not, he seems like he likes it here, he stays a takes the bag of $. However, other than strength program being a plus, does he think, as a “player” he will develop more and be put in a position to look better with us? If not, there will be big bags elsewhere also.
So many? I think the vast majority think he's off to the NBA.
To summarize the Riley situation...is it more likely than not he stays in the draft? Yes. But the people who are going "zero chance, not even a possibility" are just not accurate.
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very very few players will stick around for another year of college ball if there is an 80% chance they get picked in the first round
I think we might see a couple of commits somewhat soon....then the last two spots will be for the biggest targets.
Illini Nation watching the Ivisic twins arrive…
Edit: does Doublemint gum do NIL deals?
Asking for a twin.
2 NLs... er I mean NIL deals... is better than 1... it really really is
Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
I keep forgetting Ty Rodgers is back.
It's huge.
It's huge.
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
right. if he's projected past ~23 and no club gives him a guarantee, that's the grey area. just might be enough to prompt him to run it back and get into next year's lottery
Hey Pru - just glad you are safe and posting after the heavy rains in your area.
I like Ty but I hope we add a couple better players at the wing and 4 so that Ty is coming off the bench. Trey and Rez are gone and I hope we find guys better than them to fill their shoes in the rotation at the 4 and as a wing. I'm glad we have the twins to cover all the minutes at the 5 and a few at the 4. I'd love to see David Mirkovic at the 4 is all ready 6'9" 250+ and could get bigger after an offseason in the gym and Riley, Sarr or Storr or even a shooting combo guard that can defend. I wonder if Ville is referring to Thorton as a possible target.
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biggest thing imo is that hopefully the staff is prepared with the $$$ situation if he wants to come back.
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
Soooo, where does TY fit in if the Illini get Storr? Sarr? Thiero doesn’t affect his position, right? (I’m at my granddaughter’s State tumbling meet with hundreds of kids, and my mind isn’t working very well).
I would assume he’s a collegiate 2 million + to stay. Big man on campus, free room and board, probably free vehicle? The collegiate benefits can add up. 82 games as a pro is a grind and a real job.
Sounds good but maybe we should just go ahead and take what we can get. The big targets always seem to elude us. If we come across others that can get the job done that might not be as sexy we should take them. Tired of waiting on the big fish while missing out on other quality players. Need to turn things around and show them we are not into the waiting game anymore.
matt1all
- Chicago, IL
small ball 4 when our starting 4 is out. Ty + 3 shooters + an ivisic
and imo he needs to be on the floor for rebounding/defense/toughness if you want to try and play both ivisics at the same time for 5-10 min a game
I was looking at the NBA rookie salary scale this morning and it strikes me that if you are not a top 10 pick (maybe even higher) that it is basically breakeven in college if you can get paid over $2m per year. Now I know that is not guaranteed multi-year but it gave me hope that Riley could be back if he is around #20/25 in the first round. Another year to grow and get bigger, enjoy college vs the demands of the NBA and move up to top 10. My point is that with NIL, the NBA is not as clear cut any more. If it were my son I think I would be 50/50 on the options depending on training and plan a college coach offers my son.
I don't know how accurate these interactive mock drafts are, but I just let one run where Will Riley slipped into the second round at #36 and KJ was the 23rd pick in the first round. Also, the talking heads estimate the #233 pick to get paid approximately $2.3M while a second round pick in Riley's range drops off to between $1.3M - $1.5M. It's all speculative as I really don't follow the NBA, other than to check in on former Illini players from time to time, but with NIL, neither of these figures overly impress me in the days of NIL. That being said, if I was ever offered that kind of money for my first job out of college, I would say, "Where do I sign?"
It will definitely rain tomorrow. Maybe true maybe not depending on what part of the country you live in. Check back with me March 2026 to see if what Brad Underwood is doing actually results in anything tangible
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