Former Illini in College Basketball '25-26

[BalloonsTheElephant]

Brad is great at spotting talent but his judgment on players when they are on campus can be puzzling. Like with Podziemski and last year not playing Gibbs-Lawhorn more after Jakucionis hurt his shoulder late in the year. Jakucionis probably should not have played after his shoulder injury since he was a turnover machine. He had 15 turnover the last 3 games of the season. I would love to have a 3 guard rotation this year of Wagler, Boswell & DGL.

I love Dra, but where does he fit? He's an undersized off ball guard. He tries hard, he is full of effort, and is insanely athletic.

How does he help us beat Michigan? Who do we drop to put him in the rotation?

I also liked Podz, but again, he was coming off a freshman year where he really looked like a freshman and also had some flashes. A top tier team isn't going to hand over the keys to that guy.

And like Dra, he was able to go to a smaller program and be given the keys against inferior competition and shine (as I said Dra would when he did leave). We all knew Podz was a shooter, and he shot his way onto an NBA team. I don't think anyone saw that leap coming. And I believe as a fan base we are all very excited for his success.

The problem is that unless you are a REALLY good freshman, it's insanely difficult for a contending team to put their faith in you. With the portal system in full effect, it's always win now mode and you will get recruited over.

 

[CentralILLini]

Alright, where would an all-Illini transfer team sit this year on a national scale. Heard Jim Mattson bring this up on the radio today and thought it was a fun conversation. Here’s the roster:

Guards:
-Dra
-Adam Miller
-Jayden Epps
-Nico Moretti
-Skyy Clark

Forwards:
-Morez Johnson
-Amani Hansberry
-Sencire Harris
-Cary Booth

Is this a tournament team this year? Top 10/25? Bubble? Etc.

 

[Big Jack]

Alright, where would an all-Illini transfer team sit this year on a national scale. Heard Jim Mattson bring this up on the radio today and thought it was a fun conversation. Here’s the roster:

Guards:
-Dra
-Adam Miller
-Jayden Epps
-Nico Moretti
-Skyy Clark

Forwards:
-Morez Johnson
-Amani Hansberry
-Sencire Harris
-Cary Booth

Is this a tournament team this year? Top 10/25? Bubble? Etc.

Be lucky to win 10 games in the B1G

 

[Peoriapipeline]

Alright, where would an all-Illini transfer team sit this year on a national scale. Heard Jim Mattson bring this up on the radio today and thought it was a fun conversation. Here’s the roster:

Guards:
-Dra
-Adam Miller
-Jayden Epps
-Nico Moretti
-Skyy Clark

Forwards:
-Morez Johnson
-Amani Hansberry
-Sencire Harris
-Cary Booth

Is this a tournament team this year? Top 10/25? Bubble? Etc.

could easily win a mid major conference but would be bottom of the big ten

 

[IllinitripleJ]

Alright, where would an all-Illini transfer team sit this year on a national scale. Heard Jim Mattson bring this up on the radio today and thought it was a fun conversation. Here’s the roster:

Guards:
-Dra
-Adam Miller
-Jayden Epps
-Nico Moretti
-Skyy Clark

Forwards:
-Morez Johnson
-Amani Hansberry
-Sencire Harris
-Cary Booth

Is this a tournament team this year? Top 10/25? Bubble? Etc.

You forgot Tre White. A frontline of Tre White, Morez and Hansberry would be elite. I was wondering how Hansberry is doing and he is doing really well this year. He's averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds a game against major college competition. This year against powerful Duke he played 37 minutes, only got one foul and scored 20 points (shooting 8 for 13). This year he is playing for Virginia Tech. Let's say you have a starting lineup of Morez, Hansberry, Tre White, Sky Clark and Gibbs-Lawhorn, is that better than Illinois' starting lineup this year? Hell, that might be better than Michigan's starting lineup without them having Morez.

 

[Mr. Roberts]

You forgot Tre White. A frontline of Tre White, Morez and Hansberry would be elite. I was wondering how Hansberry is doing and he is doing really well this year. He's averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds a game against major college competition. This year against powerful Duke he played 37 minutes, only got one foul and scored 20 points (shooting 8 for 13). This year he is playing for Virginia Tech. Let's say you have a starting lineup of Morez, Hansberry, Tre White, Sky Clark and Gibbs-Lawhorn, is that better than Illinois' starting lineup this year? Hell, that might be better than Michigan's starting lineup without them having Morez.

Talent-wise, that's a nice lineup. Unfortunately, I do not see that as a lineup that would play together as a team.

 

[NarrowJ]

You forgot Tre White. A frontline of Tre White, Morez and Hansberry would be elite. I was wondering how Hansberry is doing and he is doing really well this year. He's averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds a game against major college competition. This year against powerful Duke he played 37 minutes, only got one foul and scored 20 points (shooting 8 for 13). This year he is playing for Virginia Tech. Let's say you have a starting lineup of Morez, Hansberry, Tre White, Sky Clark and Gibbs-Lawhorn, is that better than Illinois' starting lineup this year? Hell, that might be better than Michigan's starting lineup without them having Morez.

A 6-7, 6-8, 6-9 front line would be woefully undersized and completely unable to compete at a reasonable level in a high major conf

1. Morez: I think we also need to go ahead and let the this ship sail... he asked for more 3x (we said yes twice) and still wasn't good enough...
2. Hansberry: Is he really better than David Mirkovic? Mirkovic has similar statistics but does it for a 2 seed, VT is on wrong wide of bubble
3. Tre White: 8 schools in 8 years

 

[bavanga3]

A 6-7, 6-8, 6-9 front line would be woefully undersized and completely unable to compete at a reasonable level in a high major conf

1. Morez: I think we also need to go ahead and let the this ship sail... he asked for more 3x (we said yes twice) and still wasn't good enough...
2. Hansberry: Is he really better than David Mirkovic? Mirkovic has similar statistics but does it for a 2 seed, VT is on wrong wide of bubble
3. Tre White: 8 schools in 8 years

"Completely unable to compete at a reasonable level" might be a bit of a stretch. Those are all some big bodies that are successful at high majors for a reason. The length against certain elite teams would be a factor, but it would be interesting.
It's the guards that bother me. We've seen the Harris, Epps and Clark experiment. And quite honestly, Adam Miler is such a disappointment. Doesn't have the intangibles at all for me to want him on my team. Dra is the only one I trust to give 100%, besides Sencire who cant shoot and wouldnt get much time. Too many headaches at the guard position for me, even though Clark seems to have matured a bit at UCLA. This could be a top 25 team or a team that completely unravels the 2nd half of the season because of the personalities. Thats one thing im not worried about with our current team. They'll get it back together.

 

[Bigtex]

You forgot Tre White. A frontline of Tre White, Morez and Hansberry would be elite. I was wondering how Hansberry is doing and he is doing really well this year. He's averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds a game against major college competition. This year against powerful Duke he played 37 minutes, only got one foul and scored 20 points (shooting 8 for 13). This year he is playing for Virginia Tech. Let's say you have a starting lineup of Morez, Hansberry, Tre White, Sky Clark and Gibbs-Lawhorn, is that better than Illinois' starting lineup this year? Hell, that might be better than Michigan's starting lineup without them having Morez.

might want to try some glasses that aren't orange tinted. I don't believe the former Illinois players would make NCAA or be any higher than a 12 seed in the BTT

 

[RichardKeenesCousin]

You forgot Tre White. A frontline of Tre White, Morez and Hansberry would be elite. I was wondering how Hansberry is doing and he is doing really well this year. He's averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds a game against major college competition. This year against powerful Duke he played 37 minutes, only got one foul and scored 20 points (shooting 8 for 13). This year he is playing for Virginia Tech. Let's say you have a starting lineup of Morez, Hansberry, Tre White, Sky Clark and Gibbs-Lawhorn, is that better than Illinois' starting lineup this year? Hell, that might be better than Michigan's starting lineup without them having Morez.

 

[3nDGuy]

That team would be scrappy but I don't see a leader - no one that makes everyone else around them better.
Love Dra but he is not lead guard material for a successful high major.

 

[IllinitripleJ]

A 6-7, 6-8, 6-9 front line would be woefully undersized and completely unable to compete at a reasonable level in a high major conf

1. Morez: I think we also need to go ahead and let the this ship sail... he asked for more 3x (we said yes twice) and still wasn't good enough...
2. Hansberry: Is he really better than David Mirkovic? Mirkovic has similar statistics but does it for a 2 seed, VT is on wrong wide of bubble
3. Tre White: 8 schools in 8 years

I know the Morez ship has sailed but we are talking about how good would a team of former Illini be. Is Illinois' frontline of one of the Ivisics, Mirkovic and Stojakovic better than a frontline of Morez, Hansberry & Tre White? Hansberry more than held his own against Duke. How would the Ivisics do against Duke's bigs?

 

[IllinitripleJ]

might want to try some glasses that aren't orange tinted. I don't believe the former Illinois players would make NCAA or be any higher than a 12 seed in the BTT

Morez, Tre White, Hansberry, Sky Clark and Gibbs-Lawhorn and you are just a 12th seed? Are you sure about that? Morez, Sky and Tre were top 50 players coming out of high school. In fact Sky was top 15 and Morez top 30. Hansberry & Gibbs-Lawhorn were top 100 RSCI recruits. Florida only has 3 top 100 RSCI players.

 

[Oracle21]

How does he help us beat Michigan? Who do we drop to put him in the rotation?

Well Wisconsin’s small quick guards destroyed Michigan.

DGL
Wagler
Boswell or Davis
Mirk
Tomi

We are too slow as it is. Putting DGL in would at least fix that.

And Pods did way more that just shoot. He averaged over 19 PPG and 8.8 rebounds. He was an all around good player.

The coaches see these guys everyday in practice. They should be able to know who is good and who isn’t. Facts are, this staff told two next year NBA players (Podz, and Jeremiah Fears) that they weren’t good enough to play here. That’s a misevaluation of talent.

 

[NarrowJ]

I know the Morez ship has sailed but we are talking about how good would a team of former Illini be. Is Illinois' frontline of one of the Ivisics, Mirkovic and Stojakovic better than a frontline of Morez, Hansberry & Tre White? Hansberry more than held his own against Duke. How would the Ivisics do against Duke's bigs?

I don’t think one game as a sample size means a whole lot, lol… Jaden Toombs scored 23 against Duke, is he better than Mirkovic? Like I said that front line would be woefully undersized and overmatched in a power conference.

 

[IllinitripleJ]

A 6-7, 6-8, 6-9 front line would be woefully undersized and completely unable to compete at a reasonable level in a high major conf

1. Morez: I think we also need to go ahead and let the this ship sail... he asked for more 3x (we said yes twice) and still wasn't good enough...
2. Hansberry: Is he really better than David Mirkovic? Mirkovic has similar statistics but does it for a 2 seed, VT is on wrong wide of bubble
3. Tre White: 8 schools in 8 years

We are talking about how good of a team you would have made up of former Illini players. Tre being on 8 teams in 8 years is irrelevant. We are talking about just one year together. I am comparing Hansberry to one of the Ivisics, Mirkovic would be matched up against Morez and Tre would be matched up against Stojakovic. I have a feeling the former Illini front court players would outplay the current Illini front court players. Obviously I would take Boswell & Wagler over DG and Sky Clark but a backcourt of Sky Clark & Gibbs-Lawhorn is still a a very good backcourt.

 

[Oracle21]

Alright, where would an all-Illini transfer team sit this year on a national scale. Heard Jim Mattson bring this up on the radio today and thought it was a fun conversation. Here’s the roster:

Guards:
-Dra
-Adam Miller
-Jayden Epps
-Nico Moretti
-Skyy Clark

Forwards:
-Morez Johnson
-Amani Hansberry
-Sencire Harris
-Cary Booth

Is this a tournament team this year? Top 10/25? Bubble? Etc.

That’s a tourney team. Probdbly a 500 Big 10 team.

DGL
Epps
Tre White
Morez
Hansberry

Harris/Clark/Booth/Miller off the bench

You’d need a bit more in the front court but that team is better than Iowa or Indiana.

 

[NarrowJ]

We are talking about how good of a team you would have made up of former Illini players. Tre being on 8 teams in 8 years is irrelevant. We are talking about just one year together. I am comparing Hansberry to one of the Ivisics, Mirkovic would be matched up against Morez and Tre would be matched up against Stojakovic. I have a feeling the former Illini front court players would outplay the current Illini front court players. Obviously I would take Boswell & Wagler over DG and Sky Clark but a backcourt of Sky Clark & Gibbs-Lawhorn is still a a very good backcourt.

Its not at all irrelevant, because you have to keep them all on the team before they're... on the team together... how would that be irrelevant? Its literally the entire prerequisite for this.

EDIT: Though, for sake of entertaining this, say the impossible happened and they were all on the same team: that team would suck pond water.

 

[chrisRunner7]

Alright, where would an all-Illini transfer team sit this year on a national scale. Heard Jim Mattson bring this up on the radio today and thought it was a fun conversation. Here’s the roster:

Guards:
-Dra
-Adam Miller
-Jayden Epps
-Nico Moretti
-Skyy Clark

Forwards:
-Morez Johnson
-Amani Hansberry
-Sencire Harris
-Cary Booth

Is this a tournament team this year? Top 10/25? Bubble? Etc.

All I know is Carey Booth is still riding the bench for that team... somewhere, another potential rebound just bounced off his head and went out of bounds

 

[Oracle21]

Over his last seven games, DGL is averaging 30.2 Pts / 2 Ast / 3 Rbd and shooting 53% from behind the arc on very high volume. UNLV is 5-2 over that stretch. Kid is balling out, and I’m very happy for him. Will be interesting to see if he goes back to a High Major next season.

He’s definitely made himself a ton of money for next season. I think he can be what Brynn Forbes or Travis Trice were at the Big 10 level for a really good team just like they were for Michigan State.

If I was Izzo, I’d be trying to sign DGL for next season. You put his scoring next to Fears play making, and they are both dogs, that would be a feisty team and fit into MSU’s culture

 

[thefalcon5]

All I know is Carey Booth is still riding the bench for that team... somewhere, another potential rebound just bounced off his head and went out of bounds

I don’t care what people wanna say about DGL or Podz or any other former underperformers, the fact Booth is not only a double digit scorer but averaging 5 Rebs and shooting over 40% from 3 for a decent mid major team is by far the most surprising results of an ex Illini. And will forever remain that.

He was like an order of magnitude worse than Petrovic this year.

 

[RockfordIllini]

He’s definitely made himself a ton of money for next season. I think he can be what Brynn Forbes or Travis Trice were at the Big 10 level for a really good team just like they were for Michigan State.

If I was Izzo, I’d be trying to sign DGL for next season. You put his scoring next to Fears play making, and they are both dogs, that would be a feisty team and fit into MSU’s culture

Even if they are both dogs, think that’s just too small a back court. Fears is strong, but they face a a big scoring guard I don’t think they could stop him. Would be like us a few years ago when Malakai Branham got going. There wasn’t anything we could do.

 

[ChiTown]

I enjoy watching this…young Mr.Lieb taking the walk.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2028577892003705088

 

[the juiceman cometh]

I don’t care what people wanna say about DGL or Podz or any other former underperformers, the fact Booth is not only a double digit scorer but averaging 5 Rebs and shooting over 40% from 3 for a decent mid major team is by far the most surprising results of an ex Illini. And will forever remain that.

He was like an order of magnitude worse than Petrovic this year.

Yeah, but he also went down a level and even at that level is highly inconsistent. He recently disappeared for like a whole month, but has finally strung together a few good games again. Here's his stretch from 1/16 through 2/18:

 

[mysterio2525]

I don’t care what people wanna say about DGL or Podz or any other former underperformers, the fact Booth is not only a double digit scorer but averaging 5 Rebs and shooting over 40% from 3 for a decent mid major team is by far the most surprising results of an ex Illini. And will forever remain that.

He was like an order of magnitude worse than Petrovic this year.

Carey Booth is an interesting case study. he seemed serviceable at every other place but Illinois. he looked pretty bad when he played with us but he also never played. I have a friend who is a Colorado State fan who says he's been solid and the numbers back it up this year.

no clue what went on with him and Brad but I joke with my friend that I think Brad hates him.