Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[NarrowJ]

Not a whole lot going on today:

Eric Reibe (C, UConn) commits to USC
Ryan Beasley (G, San Francisco) commits to Washington
Mike McNair (G, Boston University) commits to Maryland

B1G Roster Tracker

docs.google.com

 

[blackdog]

Even if he gets eligibility, Seth Trimble isn’t coming here to be the veteran backup guard.

Dude would probably start on Kansas with the way this offseason is playing out

Sorry forgot to add /s

 

[WeWillWhen]

Do you really think this staff doesn't know how to grab someone similar if the politics allow and fit exists?

I do believe this staff does know how to find a guy like this, and WILL find a guy like this.

 

[illiniguy24]

Remember this name...... Seth Trimble, 6'3 Athletic Defender PG from UNC now in the portal and raised in Wisconsin. Y'all heard it here first..... to Illinois.

Why aren’t we trying to sign Blackwell again?

 

[I-L-L]

I know everyone is excited about “the Retention” but on paper we are a worse team next year than we were this year. Lots of variables have to hit for us to maintain.

And we don’t have enough defense or athleticism yet.

Interesting comment and here's why.... The big question is, can all of or a majority of the returners take the leap, right? Tomi, in my opinion took a step back from his first year here last season. At the very end of the season he started to pick it up again. I thought Mirk was fantastic, will he take a leap from fantastic? I really think Big Z could be the wild card, b/c I think he could end up being one of our best players if the he's in the right system/roll. It's very possible we could be better next year with this core or we could be worse. How many of these guys will be better than last year and by how much? I love returning the core. I'm pleased we have signed good freshmen and signed Vaaks. But how does a transfer end up fitting/playing? How often are freshmen (even 5 stars) studs their first year? Only time will tell. I'm in the camp that if we have Blackwell on this team we're one of the best team's in the nation, period. But if he doesn't want to be here we don't want him. It's still possible we could be a top 3 team without him, but it all depends on how these 5 improve heading into next season. If 3 or 4 out of 5 are better than this past year, we'll be really really good! I'd still like to add a bench roll big man who can just defend. That covers us in the event of foul trouble/injury. I love those 6'10" monsters in the paint who can body up anyone, alter shots, and rebound. If they can't score, we win! ILL

 

[Thaillini22]

Occam's Razor: Everything was swell and going swimmingly in courting Blackwell (pun intended), but he just can't get over the nagging feeling that playing for Illinois would be wrong.

Sometimes we talk about these recruitments as if the players have no say in the matter.

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

Tyler, most of us here don't have a guy like Neel Ganta whose job it is to find players, but we very strongly suspect that somewhere out there exists an experienced mid-major, "team player" who has interest stepping up a level to come off the bench for a team that could compete for the National Championship. The Illini certainly have found those guys in the past: Jacob Grandison, Alfonso Plummer, Justin Harmon, Jake Davis, Ben Humrichous. I simply do not believe that there does not exist a veteran collegian who is willing to fill the 'first guard off the bench' role and provide considerably better defense than (checks notes) a freshman Ethan Brown.

To be fair, the staff was mocked for bringing back Ben and counting on him to contribute, especially defensively. There was also a good amount of folks who didn’t believe in Jake either.

If the staff thinks they have enough, or that they’ve identified role players off the bench, I feel like they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Perry Range's Van]

It is almost baffling to me how shortsighted some players/agents have become. It really is simple to me:

1) Illini have a big bag of money available
2) The staff has proven able to get players into the pros (with Wagler it will be 4 first round picks in the last 3 seasons)
3) Have the possibly to win a national championship with a solid core of returning players

If the above is not reason enough to jump on board, then it is best for a player to look elsewhere. It is just sad that Blackwell is finicky on potential usage here, especially considering the success that Illinois has had in recent past (as well as being a legacy).

Either way, this Illini squad will be in strong contention for the third weekend of the tourney again.

Only 1 of those three puts coin in the agents pocket. That is part of the problem

 

[JKR]

How many people here were living in town watching these two when they were on WCIA together? Show of hands.

 

[zentrails]

The idea of it is great. Try selling two 3rd year college players that averaged double digit points on their respective teams last year to be the 8-9th players for us.

I think we could get a decent 3rd year mid-major or 2nd year like Hummer with that sell

 

[Thaillini22]

1. Vaaks
2. Mirk
3.Andrej
4. Tomi
5. Coleman
6. Jake
7. Big Z
8. Morillo
9. Davis/Brown/Transfer

...First off the bench is going to be Davis or Coleman followed by Z. Would a Blackwell put you in the top 3 for a championship absolutely….the player type you’re describing doesn’t.

Meaning one starts and one is 6th, or did you mean to say "Davis or Morillo" and have Coleman for sure starting?

 

[bavanga3]

To all the “all star team” comments;

UCONN just lost solo ball for all of next year
Chinyelu declared he’s going through the draft process

Nobody is entering the year as a super team…these teams are all adding because the news wasn’t out yet.

Chinyelu is almost #60 on the big board. I assume hes coming back. They also have Condon AND Fland returning and Thomas Haugh is considering returning for one last year. On top of the fact that they got Aberdeen from Kentucky who, and im not sure how it gets granted, is seeking a 5th year. If those pieces are in place, they are a runaway super team and preseason #1.

If we have an opportunity to improve our roster, we NEED to do it while the money is rolling in. We have 2 glaring holes. Defense on the perimeter and very thin big man depth. Its hard to put a number on how valuable Humrichous was last year.

 

[21ChampaignSt]

Glad to see we didn't let a little success get in the way of our chronic mania.

 

[illini0440]

Meaning one starts and one is 6th, or did you mean to say "Davis or Morillo" and have Coleman for sure starting?

I could see Coleman playing the Andrej role of coming off the bench. Jake starts but Coleman still gets the most minutes.

 

[SescIllini]

Remember this name...... Seth Trimble, 6'3 Athletic Defender PG from UNC now in the portal and raised in Wisconsin. Y'all heard it here first..... to Illinois.

Thought he was out of eligibility...played in PIT tourny for seniors.

 

[IlliniNash]

what’s the word on petro?

I don’t know but he was a real gas when he was here! /s

 

[travelin' man]

That's a weak class for Duke. They usually have 2-3 top 10 guys and another couple a bit lower.

Coleman would be their lowest ranked guy a lot of years.

And that's how you win championships. Oh wait Duke, with all that talent hasn't won one since 2015.

 

[krushdad]

I could see Coleman playing the Andrej role of coming off the bench. Jake starts but Coleman still gets the most minutes.

I hope not. Let Jake come in and provide a heater off the bench. In big games it is tough to dig yourself out of a hole. We were able to against Iowa and Houston, but we were playing with fire, with Dre on the bench. Let Jake have his 10 to 15 minutes a game, but let's not play from behind to start the game.

 

[skyIdub]

Right, as I said, that language you bolded is something nobody is saying. It was you who made the odd argument that, somehow, Petrovic being a big disappointment means a different Illinois team one year later doesn’t need a depth guard.

Nope. That's your strawman.
I never made that argument. I posited as to the difference between obtaining ANOTHER depth guard in the portal (like Petro) vs. what we already have in house (freshmen).

So that everyone can see how obvious your strawman is without navigating back to my post...here the post you quoted....

"For all of you hand wringing about “we need another guard” please go back and read all of the posts after Petro signing last summer.
Then make your case for doing the same thing again this summer."

 

[March2TheArch]

I know everyone is excited about “the Retention” but on paper we are a worse team next year than we were this year. Lots of variables have to hit for us to maintain.

And we don’t have enough defense or athleticism yet.

Wagler is a lotto pick. Vaaks was not. Both were/are rising sophomores. Kylan’s injury hurt his offense. But it’s a stretch to say Coleman as a freshman will be a clear upgrade.

And I expect some YoY improvement but Tomi actually declined YoY this past year. We’re banking a lot on step ups from Dre and Mirk. The YoY improvement could happen but it’s no guaranteed thing.

Ask Loyer and TKR.

 

[Illinisnake]

Give me Andrej over Blackwell any day of the week.

 

[lstewart53x3]

Glad to see we didn't let a little success get in the way of our chronic mania.

It is interesting that the better a program does, the more angry the fan base becomes.

Since we were in a battle with Duke this offseason, I spent quite a bit of time on their boards. They’re absolutely miserable.

 

[illini0440]

Wagler is a lotto pick. Vaaks was not. Both were/are rising sophomores. Kylan’s injury hurt his offense. But it’s a stretch to say Coleman as a freshman will be a clear upgrade.

And I expect some YoY improvement but Tomi actually declined YoY this past year. We’re banking a lot on step ups from Dre and Mirk. The YoY improvement could happen but it’s no guaranteed thing.

Ask Loyer and TKR.

So we should have gone to the portal instead of retaining our guys who all would’ve been top guys in the portal had they entered?

 

[illini0440]

I hope not. Let Jake come in and provide a heater off the bench. In big games it is tough to dig yourself out of a hole. We were able to against Iowa and Houston, but we were playing with fire, with Dre on the bench. Let Jake have his 10 to 15 minutes a game, but let's not play from behind to start the game.

I don’t think starting Jake was the problem….most efficient offense was with Jake on the court.

 

[jamarvelous31]

I hope not. Let Jake come in and provide a heater off the bench. In big games it is tough to dig yourself out of a hole. We were able to against Iowa and Houston, but we were playing with fire, with Dre on the bench. Let Jake have his 10 to 15 minutes a game, but let's not play from behind to start the game.

Tournament Andrej doesn't happen if he's handed a starting role and doesn't improve his D & rebounding.

Davis earned that starting role and I would be shocked if he doesn't continue to put in the work. I'd rather make Coleman take it from him.