Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#901      
I think Mirk, Jake, and probably Andrej come back.

I'm not convinced on the Ivisic twins staying and will keep my fingers crossed until they say something. They're getting older, I doubt they're ever going to be first round picks, and they'll likely play in Europe eventually. I assume we can and would give them more money than pro ball in Europe?
 
#902      
Of course it doesn't make sense for him to come back.

I just wonder if making mid-seven figures to play one more year at Illinois might be tempting for someone who might feel like there is unfinished business. Then after sophomore season, get a lottery pick and buy the solid gold toilets. Play at Illinois one more year, become a millionaire, and go to the NBA to and be an even bigger millionaire.

It's a wish, of course.
He could also enter the draft in a class that ISNT regarded as one of the most stacked classes ever.
 
#903      
We Will Rise Easter Bunny GIF by INTO ACTION

Happy Easter!!! ILL
 
#906      
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.
the current roster (less BAM, Ben , KW) (plus the 4 incoming frosh ) is at 18.

we need to lose 5 guys if we want room for 2 more guys . guesses ? just the reality of the business
 
#908      
3) bring back twins. If Z wants to go start somewhere then that’s fine but definitely tomi. This gives you a good veteran returning core.
I do wonder if that's a potential roadblock. Playing together does limit Z's opportunity. At Illinois, he's very unlikely to start over his brother; though he's a starting caliber big on 80% of P4 teams.
 
#909      
#911      
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.
If he can add an average 3 pt threat to his current game, look out. Hopefully a healthy offseason can help him take the next step. Hard to forget he battles through injuries during February. He was such a great weapon in the tourney, but if he had a 3 pt shot, it adds the next dimension.
 
#912      
@ChiefGritty The 'cult of denzel' is objectively funny

All it takes is one school blowing their budget on a guy to lose a bidding war (E.g., it's still kind of wild that Morez is making $2M as a 6th man).

I think you're conflating this boards' reckless enthusiasm with the relatively cautious approach the board's insiders take.
 
#913      
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?
My point isnt that he cant start . He may very well BUT what makes Morrilo not good enough to challenge Coleman. I believe Indy said not to sleep on Lucas Morrilo. Or if we add someone like Juke Harris, Jalen Haralson, or another all conference level guard or even two thats is a given anyone has been promised who will or wont start. It could very well be Coleman but i think whoever it is they will have to earn it and its April 2026 not November. I hope we have a lot of quality open competition in practice between 3 to 5 guys to play the 1 &2.
 
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#914      
If he can add an average 3 pt threat to his current game, look out. Hopefully a healthy offseason can help him take the next step. Hard to forget he battles through injuries during February. He was such a great weapon in the tourney, but if he had a 3 pt shot, it adds the next dimension.
Dude is about to be a Sr, I don't see it. He was at his best as a 6th man curveball in a 3 pt centric O.

Its not my money, but I'd struggle to have him back if he's looking to be a top 3 paid player.
 
#916      
If you don't think a final four run doesn't significantly boost an NIL budget for a program and fanbase as hungry as Illinois, not sure what to tell you.
Yup. 40k fans paying God knows what for a seat at the Final Four? Surely there are some rich folks in that crowd who’ve had a taste of success and want to be a “more involved” part of it.
 
#918      
Yup. 40k fans paying God knows what for a seat at the Final Four? Surely there are some rich folks in that crowd who’ve had a taste of success and want to be a “more involved” part of it.
40 is probably right but man it seemed like outside of the allocated 100s/student section it was atleast 80% orange 20% everything else
 
#919      
@ChiefGritty The 'cult of denzel' is objectively funny

All it takes is one school blowing their budget on a guy to lose a bidding war (E.g., it's still kind of wild that Morez is making $2M as a 6th man).

I think you're conflating this boards' reckless enthusiasm with the relatively cautious approach the board's insiders take.

Speaking of Morez, we better all hope that Morez/Mara both go to the NBA, bc if both of them come back along with McKenney/Cadeau/Cason…Michigan is going back to back.
 
#921      
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?
Your point is correct Brad is willing to play freshman. Out of the 8 years listed, only 1 year did we win a R32 game. The expectations next year is to compete to return to the Final Four. The best way to accomplish that is to have a starting 5 that has all succeeded in college and have the two freshmen be expected to be rotational pieces and if they surprise with an upside then all the better. You can’t count on freshman to be all big ten and they don’t then the season is wasted.
 
#922      
Speaking of Morez, we better all hope that Morez/Mara both go to the NBA, bc if both of them come back along with McKenney/Cadeau/Cason…Michigan is going back to back.

They also just picked up a commitment from #14 overall 5* combo guard.

But, given Mara and Morez both solidly in the 1st round as of right now and losing Yaxel is no minor blow either (and let’s also consider possible xfers out), I’m not quite ready to play out a doomsday scenario in my head where we award next years NC trophy before this years trophy has even been secured.

I could probably even make a good argument that Tomi/Mirk/Z would be better than Mara/Morez/whoever anyway. Lendeborg was the only shooter in that frontcourt and neither of them can put it on the deck like David can.
 
#923      
Speaking of Morez, we better all hope that Morez/Mara both go to the NBA, bc if both of them come back along with McKenney/Cadeau/Cason…Michigan is going back to back.
I think the only scUM starter that returns is Cadeau. Plus I think they will lose 2 of their 3 best bench players … graduating. Should be a very different team.
 
#924      
More athletic … Need a backup big that is a different piece than Tomi and Z … Kind of like a Dainja type guy where we can put him in and it’s just a different piece …

Also need another sniper … Ideally a 4 man who can flat out shoot it and guard …
I wholeheartedly agree. Year 2 of Tomi and Z could make a big jump, but we gotta have a bruiser on standby too.

I think bringing in a guy or two who buy into being a specialist for certain teams or situations would be huge.
 
#925      
They also just picked up a commitment from #14 overall 5* combo guard.

But, given Mara and Morez both solidly in the 1st round as of right now and losing Yaxel is no minor blow either (and let’s also consider possible xfers out), I’m not quite ready to play out a doomsday scenario in my head where we award next years NC trophy before this years trophy has even been secured.

I could probably even make a good argument that Tomi/Mirk/Z would be better than Mara/Morez/whoever anyway. Lendeborg was the only shooter in that frontcourt and neither of them can put it on the deck like David can.

Are we convinced Dusty won’t win a title and move himself and his best players to UNC?
 
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