Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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My favorite cheese is that green chedda used to fund our NIL bucket 
No commitments in the B1G yesterday, but I did add Ben to our returning players:
docs.google.com
Looking through the other B1G rosters, its amazing what we have on board for next year while only spending $7-9M (per 0440's post yesterday saying about $8M 'give or take 1M')
B1G Roster Tracker
Looking through the other B1G rosters, its amazing what we have on board for next year while only spending $7-9M (per 0440's post yesterday saying about $8M 'give or take 1M')
1m4tr
Cliffmas
I would like to apologize to FI_. In the Andrej recruitment, I was adamant that UNC had at least $2.7m sitting in a pile from VAL entering portal and Drake entering the draft. Just figured it was set aside. And he said it’s not that simple. And he was right. I think UNC eventually came up w the money but they had to make a ton of calls. Kudos to him for knowing the scoop. Would love to get some insight into the behind the scenes on how these NIL pools and collectives work when it comes to how money is pledged.
Apologies kind sir. You know your stuff!!!
Apologies kind sir. You know your stuff!!!
If our players were cheeses, what cheese would each one be? Would those cheeses complement each other? Would we need to recruit new cheeses to round out the menu?
Would we still be Swiss cheese on defense?
Would we still be Swiss cheese on defense?
I really like the framework of this team. This is Brad’s deepest team by far. In the Non Conference, we should be playing 10 guys double digit minutes. The lineup of Petro, Boz, AS, Ty and Tomi with the role playing bench of Mirk, Ben, Z, Davis and Lee, we should not have to get to a shorter bench until late in the season. Working all these guys in throughout the non-conference will have huge benefits by March. I believe that we are done recruiting for next year as from all indications, the money has been spent and looking at the team, we really do not need anyone else. I wont say this is a make or break season for Brad but he has the personnel to make a deep run if he utllizes all the pieces correctly. But having a pure PG is going to make this team a contender, no mattter what Rothstein says.
Last year everyone was talking about how deep the team was too. Doesn’t mean it’s true.
Looks like Purdue and MSU are the teams to beat. I like where we stand.No commitments in the B1G yesterday, but I did add Ben to our returning players:
B1G Roster Tracker
Looking through the other B1G rosters, its amazing what we have on board for next year while only spending $7-9M (per 0440's post yesterday saying about $8M 'give or take 1M')
Is Jactsky (sp) still on the team?
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
RE: conversations about where we stand nationally with NIL, I have seen multiple articles talking about the "$10 million club," and most reports I have shown as of a few days ago had 8 schools in that club. That club would now include us.
While there might be a "jumble" of teams around that top 10 cutoff, I think it is safe to say that we are closer to top 10 NIL than top 25-40 as some had speculated a week or two ago.
While there might be a "jumble" of teams around that top 10 cutoff, I think it is safe to say that we are closer to top 10 NIL than top 25-40 as some had speculated a week or two ago.
I just don't see it from MSU...no real go to guy and very little shooting from guard spots. But I didn't see the rabbit out of the hat from Izzo last year either so who knows.
We do this every year then guys get injured, sick, or whatever.
And as has been pointed out often, most coaches, for good reasons, prefer a tighter rotation.
0440 said yesterday we are between 7 and 9 mill
Last week it was reported there were over 15 teams that spent over 10 mill
I believe Buschon was the beat guy who has us at 25-40th
We will continue to move down as other teams spend money and fill out rosters
Really impressive job putting this roster together imo
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I wonder where Dame Sarr ends up - it's been an odd set of circumstances to say the least. As far as I can tell, we thought we had a deal around ~$1.5M in March (which would have been top of the market last year). He then gets locked out of his home team at Barca for playing in the Hoops Summit without their permission, we thought we still had a deal around $2.5M as his team wanted more money as others got involved. When the price got above $3M we backed out and focused on Andrej given he's more valuable to winning at that same price tag and has the college experience.
Then Sarr seamingly rose up draft boards but he ended up not putting his name in the draft, Duke being rumored as the leader, but likely out now that they got Coward, Kentucky and USC would seem to be out now based on what they've brought in, BYU might have unlimited resources, but I'm not sure his team would want him playing next to Dybantsa if they want him to improve his draft stock.
Given he's not going through the draft process I'm surprised he hasn't committed to a school yet - maybe his team is still trying to drive up the price, which is logical or maybe it's just Oregon now that all the other schools that were rumored to be in on him likely focused elsewhere just like we did.
I'm still holding out hope for one more big piece and getting more money from donors given we have a chance to be FF good, with another big addition. If Sarr's price becomes more realistic as suiters drop out ($2.5-$3.0M), he would be a perfect complement on the wing to Andrej - he brings the defense, length, athleticism and given he's now 6'8", he can guard the stretch 4 type players on the perimeter. I'm sure a proven college player is easier to get donors excited about but Sarr has built enough of a name now and the fact he brings what we lack in athleticism and defense, it might be a compelling sell
Then Sarr seamingly rose up draft boards but he ended up not putting his name in the draft, Duke being rumored as the leader, but likely out now that they got Coward, Kentucky and USC would seem to be out now based on what they've brought in, BYU might have unlimited resources, but I'm not sure his team would want him playing next to Dybantsa if they want him to improve his draft stock.
Given he's not going through the draft process I'm surprised he hasn't committed to a school yet - maybe his team is still trying to drive up the price, which is logical or maybe it's just Oregon now that all the other schools that were rumored to be in on him likely focused elsewhere just like we did.
I'm still holding out hope for one more big piece and getting more money from donors given we have a chance to be FF good, with another big addition. If Sarr's price becomes more realistic as suiters drop out ($2.5-$3.0M), he would be a perfect complement on the wing to Andrej - he brings the defense, length, athleticism and given he's now 6'8", he can guard the stretch 4 type players on the perimeter. I'm sure a proven college player is easier to get donors excited about but Sarr has built enough of a name now and the fact he brings what we lack in athleticism and defense, it might be a compelling sell
This team is deep in experience, unlike last season. Huge factor.
I'm not saying I disagree but to play devils advocate a bit we also said the same thing last year about being the deepest Illini.
Then Carey Booth never really played, Ben wasn't great shooting and is not a good defender, White was MIA for weeks mid season, Morez broke his wrist, Tomi got mono, Boswell was bad for like 20+ games and shooting under 20% from 3 at one point, DGL would rarely get tick, and Kasparis got worse as the year went on and defenses focused on him. Oh and Ty redshirted at the last minute
Just saying that a lot of things can between now and October.
Personally I still think they are missing a piece mainly being a versatile perimeter defender with some size. One big splash away from being a national contender on paper.
I'd lean more towards that 9 mil number now
I'd love Sarr too but I think he may be too expensive. Now Luka Bogavac would be nice and Indy hinted about him slightly. I've watched this a few times and at 6'5" he is a versatile wing. If the price is right.
I don't really know what happened with Sarr and Duke certainly has deep enough pockets to bring in both him and Coward.
I suspect that the bridge might be burnt but I do agree that Sarr(or Jamir Watkins) would be a perfect fit for this team. A long and athletic defender with great size. I didn't necessarily love him as a top offensive option as a freshman when he was being touted as the big add but I would love him as a secondary/tertiary option behind Andrej and Tomi.
If for some reason Sarr's market cooled down and we could get him that would be a great addition. However, id expect that some team will drop a huge bag even if Duke and Kentucky ended up being out some team will have a bunch of money because they missed on targets early and have to make a splash somewhere like K-State with Coleman last year.
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