Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#501      
Hessel Blvd
I want to win the lottery just so I can say get out of here kid, you're not worth half that.

He had a great season and that was good for 3rd in conference and 1 NCAA tournament win. Is someone willing to give up $5 m going to be happy with 3rd in conference and 1 tournament win against a lower tier team?

There is just $0 ROI, so if anything happens and your team didn't win to the level you were hoping, you basically burnt that money. Not to sound like a bleeding heart, but there are many many better uses of that money than giving it to a kid pretending to be a student playing semi-pro basketball that is hanging on to the fandom created by the actual college game.
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$28m in revenue in 2025, $16m profit (U of I men's basketball). I agree that it is a dumb use of money, but the money is given because it makes money for the university.
 
#502      
Indy Illini Fan
Heisenbobble said:
Any chance on this one? Or is he only an option if Andrej doesn't come back? It sounds like our returning players are still kinda up in the air, but I'd think this FF run might've changed some minds.
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It’s early … Price is high … But we’re interested …

Brad thinks this kid can be a flat out superstar especially after Fletch works his magic …
 
#503      
ChiefGritty
Second place is 1st loser said:
I'm with wc here. Somehow, you have to picture the returning core without a second team All American. How do you not only replace the production, but also the cool, calm, swagger that he brings? That doesn't even take into account the constant double teams and blitzes that come at it from the open tip off. Our entire starting backcourt will be gone. Who does that negatively/positively effect most? That's the analysis that has to be done.
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We definitely need one high quality lead guard type in the portal.

RonC said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2040096020873265502
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The superficial similarities aside, that's a different vibe of player than Wagler. Explosive leaper and has some swag to him, I am excited!
 
#504      
Lysol623
Another big thing about our recruiting, is that a lot of these recruits don't remember the Groce and Weber last years era. They'll be raised on us being a powerhouse.
 
#507      
Second place is 1st loser
ChiefGritty said:
We definitely need one high quality lead guard type in the portal.


The superficial similarities aside, that's a different vibe of player than Wagler. Explosive leaper and has some swag to him, I am excited!
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I'm INSANELY excited! You can never have enough great players! I hate even talking about it the night before a Final Four game, but there indeed was a major commitment the day before a Final Four game, so it's appropriate to discuss.....I suppose.

I don't like NIL for the fans, but I'm happy for the players. This is the part I don't like. You have to run your roster like a business. Debits have to equal credits year over year. So, you look at guys that you KNOW are coming off the books. I'm putting Keaton in that category.

For fact, we know Boswell, Ben H and Wagler are coming off the books.

Given the miracle that was Keaton, because he was like getting a Porsche for Kia money, we know isn't much. Obviously, Ben isn't breaking the bank and Kylan is probably getting a good chunk of change, but again, he's not a budget buster.

You know you're taking on three freshmen for 2026/2027(I think). I'm purely guessing that Coleman isn't going to be hurting for money after this.

What do you need vs what do we currently have vs how do we balance the budget to make it marry to put together a championship roster?

Other people have FAR more details with regards the payroll than I do. What we, for fact, know is that our starting backcourt is done. However, if we want them back, we'll have a really solid frontcourt. As we sit here, right now, the only player that's on the roster that can slash to the basket and finish, is Drej, but he lacks as a shooter and I'm thinking he's getting paid the most on the roster.

So, how do you get a championship backcourt put together, without weakening your frontcourt or letting the only guy with true driving and finishing on the roster go. We really haven't even touched on bench depth. It's times like this where Ben's value shines through.

Anyway, these are questions after HOPEFULLY a championship, but at very least time to reflect on a beloved team, after a legendary season.

This is where the state of how college basketball is run hurts.
 
#512      
STLini25
Second place is 1st loser said:
I'm INSANELY excited! You can never have enough great players! I hate even talking about it the night before a Final Four game, but there indeed was a major commitment the day before a Final Four game, so it's appropriate to discuss.....I suppose.

I don't like NIL for the fans, but I'm happy for the players. This is the part I don't like. You have to run your roster like a business. Debits have to equal credits year over year. So, you look at guys that you KNOW are coming off the books. I'm putting Keaton in that category.

For fact, we know Boswell, Ben H and Wagler are coming off the books.

Given the miracle that was Keaton, because he was like getting a Porsche for Kia money, we know isn't much. Obviously, Ben isn't breaking the bank and Kylan is probably getting a good chunk of change, but again, he's not a budget buster.

You know you're taking on three freshmen for 2026/2027(I think). I'm purely guessing that Coleman isn't going to be hurting for money after this.

What do you need vs what do we currently have vs how do we balance the budget to make it marry to put together a championship roster?

Other people have FAR more details with regards the payroll than I do. What we, for fact, know is that our starting backcourt is done. However, if we want them back, we'll have a really solid frontcourt. As we sit here, right now, the only player that's on the roster that can slash to the basket and finish, is Drej, but he lacks as a shooter and I'm thinking he's getting paid the most on the roster.

So, how do you get a championship backcourt put together, without weakening your frontcourt or letting the only guy with true driving and finishing on the roster go. We really haven't even touched on bench depth. It's times like this where Ben's value shines through.

Anyway, these are questions after HOPEFULLY a championship, but at very least time to reflect on a beloved team, after a legendary season.

This is where the state of how college basketball is run hurts.
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For preventing transfers, the restriction isn’t our pocket book it’s the number of players in a rotation. If we add more than one more quality player then we will have a transfer out of current top 8.
 
#514      
From the cheap seats
Oldskoolkoach said:
Can we confirm he signed, or just committed? I cant fully get attached in thos day and age until there is a signature.
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I realize how quickly things can change, and they have for this young man both in terms of how he perceives his opportunities…and how he is perceived. His rise hasn’t been Keaton-esque (yet), but it has some similarities. Brad talks a lot about recruiting people of character so I’m going to believe that this young man fits the Illini mold.

Leaving Wake Forest for the Illini is understandable. Leaving the Illini to chase more $$$ would send a message to a lot of people who may be part of his future in basketball. The money negotiations were done in advance of this commitment. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if Texas Tech offered more than we did.
 
#520      
mysterio2525
Indy Illini Fan said:
We’ve got the $$ …

But he won’t come cheap …

Just for reference … I’ve been told PJ Haggerty is going to be $4 million or more … Bidunga is asking for $5 million …
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do we know what Yaxel got this year? I have seen his number all over the place from $2-4 M. I recall he was asking for $4M last portal season (that was the rumor was)
 
#521      
BashCtIllini
Indy Illini Fan said:
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Anytime you can get someone named Jasper, you do it.

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#523      
Calvin
Not sure the recruiting thread is the right place, but Prez has signed an executive order. Not sure it really changes much from my read, although I'm sure the NCAA will overplay it.

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