Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
#877      
This would need much more thorough research than I'm prepared to do, but just spitballing it seems like *controlling for NIL "value"* players moving up from mid-majors have been bigger successes and less disappointing than guys leaving high-majors.

Anyway, this problem solves itself. Everyone knew Yaxel and Toppin were big time players for instance, no one would complain about them as "mid-majors".

But you and Indy will oversell our NIL power as you do every year, and we will be fine anyway.
1775406105726.gif
 
#878      
I didn't think we were going to replace Kasparas Jakucionis but looks like we did... so while it's rare to catch a meteor like Wagler... this team is mostly built and just needs a point for next year. Have to like our chances
 
#881      
Those saying Coleman will start, I'm not sure they will give those guarantees. Seen too many players where the game doesn't translate immediately or ever. Kentucky appears to have a couple this year

Keaton was an anomaly this year, his length, smarts, and coolness are rare traits. Hope your right. Will still want Jalen Cox, seems like a pass first guard that can score and defend. Need his level speed/quickness.
cox
coleman
stoj
mirk
tomi

bench:
z
davis
ty
morillo
brown
 
#882      
This should be completely obvious, but if the Illini offense is going to continue to be one predicated on taking a high volume of three point shots (was 43.4% of shot attempts), we MUST sign players with a better shooting percentage. ‘Elite’ shooters, if you will. IMO, making a higher percentage of initial attempts is a better strategy than relying on rebounding the put-backs.

And Drej has to work on this in the offseason.
 
#883      
just checking in to see how the beginning of the offseason is goi…….

i tried GIF
No, it's not bad. If anything, people are getting excited about getting back to the Final Four. There's no complaining about players, coaches, poor decisions, etc. That won't happen this off-season. The focus will be on retention and addition to replace subtraction. That's just the world we live on now.

Even with that, isn't the window to enter the portal significantly shorter now? So, if anything, it'll be a pretty quiet summer. We don't have anyone on the roster that anyone is pushing out the door. The goal is full retention, outside of those graduating or heading into a lottery draft position.

I'd guess all eyes will be on Drej, Mirk, Z and Tomi? Maybe Jake? The Ty situation is going to be absolutely fascinating. What's the market for a guy that hasn't played in two years? That's a hell of a start to the off-season if that core comes back.

This is absolutely nothing like historical postseasons. Part of it is because we were one win away from playing on the last game of the season. Not much time to think about it.
 
#885      
Captain Obvious thought here, that seems being overlooked. Given the Illini Balkan Pipeline and the Balkans' incredible basketball talent, why shouldn't we expect more (excellent) Balkans?
 
#886      
If you’re a lead guard in the portal, is there really a better spot than Illinois right now?

1) consistent team that’s good every year
2) wide open opportunity with top two guards moving on
3) final four team that has a good shot at retaining a lot of key players
4) strong track record of putting Ayo, Shannon, Jakucionas, Wagler in the NBA
5) presumably competitive NIL offer with big ten revenue stream and passionate fanbase

From an objective perspective, that’s the kind of place the top guys in the portal should be fighting each other to get an offer to.
Agree with this, but the highlighted part is both the likely biggest factor to top targets, and biggest unknown.

To be clear what I’m saying … even assuming that there are open checkbooks, I wonder whether Josh Whitman is willing to let Illinois basketball (and football) push the margins of the pay to play ‘rules’ to the level that some other schools are rumored to do (looking at you Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, IU, BYU, TTU). As a fan, I don’t want to know how the sausage is being made, but sure want to enjoy it.
 
#887      
This should be completely obvious, but if the Illini offense is going to continue to be one predicated on taking a high volume of three point shots (was 43.4% of shot attempts), we MUST sign players with a better shooting percentage. ‘Elite’ shooters, if you will. IMO, making a higher percentage of initial attempts is a better strategy than relying on rebounding the put-backs.

And Drej has to work on this in the offseason.
I 100000% agree here.

Playing against other teams where rebounding is a strength, a 6 for 26 night for us if doom. 9 for 26(not great) and we're playing Monday.

UCONN does a real nice job on the glass. Michigan really made our lives miserable too. I'd really love the dynamic to be consistently relying around makes vs dealing with misses.

I know he's not a big fan of a mid-range shot, but that's the boom or bust(layup or 3) NBA style and I'm sure that modeling our style around the NBA is significantly helping with recruiting. Heck, Morez not being allowed to shoot threes was a major reason for him leaving.

It's all about money and the NBA, which is why everyone has the green light.
 
#890      
This should be completely obvious, but if the Illini offense is going to continue to be one predicated on taking a high volume of three point shots (was 43.4% of shot attempts), we MUST sign players with a better shooting percentage. ‘Elite’ shooters, if you will. IMO, making a higher percentage of initial attempts is a better strategy than relying on rebounding the put-backs.

And Drej has to work on this in the offseason.
One other thing he has to work on. He is going to be our first option which means? Double teams - he is going need to get good at passing off the dribble (not many scorers can do that and we are spoiled because numbers 23 and 33 for the Bulls made that skill look easy).
 
#891      
Now let’s do the list of mid majors who didn’t work out
Our own Keaton was headed to a mid major and was ranked very low. I think its obvious that if the staff feels a player has the talent and skill to make our team better they will take them no.matyer where they are from. Now most likely transfers are from power conferences but not being in one wont eliminate someone from consideration in the NBA and or for BU. They may less likely now given how we have improved but the studs are there still more than capable and will demand big bucks.
 
#892      
Confused by some of the comments on Coleman. Brad's never been reluctant to play and start freshman:

2019 Ayo
2020 Kofi
2021 Miller (and to an extent Curbelo especially when Ayo went down)
2022 exception
2023 Skyy and Epps (yes it was a disappointing season)
2024 exception
2025 KJ and Riley (and to an extent Morez)
2026 Keaton and David

what makes Coleman not good enough to start?
 
#894      
No, it's not bad. If anything, people are getting excited about getting back to the Final Four. There's no complaining about players, coaches, poor decisions, etc. That won't happen this off-season. The focus will be on retention and addition to replace subtraction. That's just the world we live on now.

Even with that, isn't the window to enter the portal significantly shorter now? So, if anything, it'll be a pretty quiet summer. We don't have anyone on the roster that anyone is pushing out the door. The goal is full retention, outside of those graduating or heading into a lottery draft position.

I'd guess all eyes will be on Drej, Mirk, Z and Tomi? Maybe Jake? The Ty situation is going to be absolutely fascinating. What's the market for a guy that hasn't played in two years? That's a hell of a start to the off-season if that core comes back.

This is absolutely nothing like historical postseasons. Part of it is because we were one win away from playing on the last game of the season. Not much time to think about it.
I’m exaggerating lol. It’s not all that serious my friend. I’m pretty “with it” when it comes to how all of this works lol. I find all of this fun and the gif was made in jest, but I could see how some would read it differently lol.
 
#896      
Those saying Coleman will start, I'm not sure they will give those guarantees. Seen too many players where the game doesn't translate immediately or ever. Kentucky appears to have a couple this year

Keaton was an anomaly this year, his length, smarts, and coolness are rare traits. Hope your right. Will still want Jalen Cox, seems like a pass first guard that can score and defend. Need his level speed/quickness.
Hell, im older and remember Marcus Liberty didnt even start. I think experience is especailly nice to have to help incoming studs if possible. I feel Keaton sure would say he benefited from Boz and his experience.
 
Last edited:
#898      
I'd guess all eyes will be on Drej, Mirk, Z and Tomi? Maybe Jake? The Ty situation is going to be absolutely fascinating. What's the market for a guy that hasn't played in two years? That's a hell of a start to the off-season if that core comes back.
That's about how I'd personally rank it.

Tier 1 priority: Stoj, Mirk, Z, Tomi
And just below them Jake and Ty.

Davis one that I'd be very surprised if he leaves. Absolutely shocked.
 
#900      
can’t we just have someone on the roster next year get better as the season goes on and FINISH at a 41% 3pt rate ?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back