Yes, the conversation was about the sizable jump in viewership for the tourney to which a poster seemed to indicate that Mulkey/LSU and C Clark were the reasons why. Based on the sports fans I know (both casual ones and avid ones but who don’t watch women’s college basketball), Clark had the far greater impact on those people tuning in. Those people don’t know who Mulkey is or much care — then or now. But as another poster said, “Clark was must see TV” even for those fans. If they know Clark has a game on TV next season, they very well may watch. I highly doubt Mulkey — good recruiting class or not — will entice those fans to watch LSU.
Illini Women's Basketball
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Who is the next commitment for Shauna? The perfect commitment would be Lead Guard Aaliyah Guyton. You add her to this 2024 class along with Bollin, Dolan, and Allen, and WBB has a super foundation to build on for years.
Wait until y’all get a look at incoming USC freshman guard Juju Watkins. Superstar in the making; I’ve watched her since 8th grade (my son was a classmate).
Would they have any interest in Syklar Jones? She's getting out of her NLI from Missouri, top 100 recruit, in-state kid and had Illini in the final 5
We have 5 seniors this season and 4 of them are eligible for that extra year in 2024-2025. Not saying they will use it/leave spot open/etc, but just a note to keep track of for future roster spots.
Jada Peebles will be 5th year senior this season and done
Kendall Bostic will be going to graduate school at U of I so unless something changes she will use her 5th year in 2024-2025
That leaves Cook, Bryant and Ndour
Jada Peebles will be 5th year senior this season and done
Kendall Bostic will be going to graduate school at U of I so unless something changes she will use her 5th year in 2024-2025
That leaves Cook, Bryant and Ndour
Champaign Toast
Fan since Kiwane Garris
Could also be Amiah Hargrove (2024 forward of Christopher HS, Illinois), whose final 3 includes Illinois, Iowa, and Harvard, per this March 2023 article.
Champaign Toast
Fan since Kiwane Garris
Panthers' Awou is on the rise nationally
The United Township High School girls' basketball program has one of the nation's top players.
"Just in the past two weeks, [2024 center Lorena Awou] has received offers from Michigan, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois State and South Carolina State University. ...has yet to receive an offer from the University of Illinois, but the Illini are aware of her and definitely keeping a close eye...."
*Personal opinion*
It is hard to tell what is best for the future program, dedication to the best recruits from in state, fit with the current roster, fit in the current program/scheme, or a player you see the best upside with.
Still opinion and speculation. Aaliyah Guyton does not stand out from Shay Ijiwoye. Shay and the last 2 commits seem to be ace boon coons, and shoots 70-40-88 with 6 boards and 6 assists a night.
She seems like a Makira Cook type player. I could not find Aaliyah Guyton numbers to compare.
What I can say is I have not heard the name Aaliyah nearly often as I have heard Shay. All of this could mean nothing.
It is hard to tell what is best for the future program, dedication to the best recruits from in state, fit with the current roster, fit in the current program/scheme, or a player you see the best upside with.
Still opinion and speculation. Aaliyah Guyton does not stand out from Shay Ijiwoye. Shay and the last 2 commits seem to be ace boon coons, and shoots 70-40-88 with 6 boards and 6 assists a night.
She seems like a Makira Cook type player. I could not find Aaliyah Guyton numbers to compare.
What I can say is I have not heard the name Aaliyah nearly often as I have heard Shay. All of this could mean nothing.
For my money, dedication to the best recruits in state should fall last out of those four. If all things are basically equal with the first 3 then by all means give the nod to an in-state recruit. “Blindly” emphasizing in-state recruits is just short-sighted. Recruitment is a national game now — both for schools and players. No guarantees that signing your own fair share of in-state recruits will help bring in the top ones down the line. Winning and being a national power will have a much greater impact on recruiting. And with the portal, if you don’t have the other 3 things on your list it is too easy for players to move on.
I will say that football is the one sport where adding additional emphasis to in-state recruiting makes the most sense because of the larger number of players in the program. Also, Illinois traditionally produces top (or at least very strong) players at certain positions.
Since that article was written, it seems that coach chosen, if that's the right word, Wallace over Hargrove. While their games are very similar; indeed, they almost look like clones of each other on the court, I would have preferred the in-state Hargrove. So Baskins, if you're allowed to say, I would love to hear how that played out.
Can't see us signing two 6'5" pure centers for '24.Panthers' Awou is on the rise nationally
The United Township High School girls' basketball program has one of the nation's top players.qctimes.com
"Just in the past two weeks, [2024 center Lorena Awou] has received offers from Michigan, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois State and South Carolina State University. ...has yet to receive an offer from the University of Illinois, but the Illini are aware of her and definitely keeping a close eye...."
I will ask, I wasn't expecting her to commit so soon. When she was here it was like her and coach were kindred spirits. It may be sometimes you just gotta take who steps up first, I'm not sure. I could see every athlete they talk to fitting in here, so this staff has a type. And after adding the coach Andreson. Our type may always be top 100 to boot.
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
Green is killing it recruiting this year. Reminds me of Lon Kruger start - doing magic with Lou's recruits then starting to bring in his own 4 star 5 star recruits. Remember Green coached at Dayton for 6 years so she was probably recruiting Wallace for at least the past 4 years whereas her pursuing Hargrove is relatively new. I am guessing both Hargrove and Wallace had offers and Wallace was ready to commit. I don't know if Brad has that type of leverage when he makes an offer.
IF Illini WBB team starts playing on week 2 of NCAA then Brad is going to feel some real pressure.
Regardings WBB NCAA ratings for me it was all Caitlin Clark. She reminded me of Larry Bird at Indiana State - single handedly willing her to team to the NCAA title game. Iowa had a veteran team but they were so much smaller and less athletic than South Carolina and LSU it was ridiculous. Great underdog story for Iowa.
IF Illini WBB team starts playing on week 2 of NCAA then Brad is going to feel some real pressure.
Regardings WBB NCAA ratings for me it was all Caitlin Clark. She reminded me of Larry Bird at Indiana State - single handedly willing her to team to the NCAA title game. Iowa had a veteran team but they were so much smaller and less athletic than South Carolina and LSU it was ridiculous. Great underdog story for Iowa.
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Pretty much what I was thinking also
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Can certainly be done with enough AP credit going in plus summer school.
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
McEntire and Anderson have been named to list of 50 most impactful assistant coaches. Congrats to both coaches.
fightingillini.com
Britney Anderson, Calamity McEntire Named to 50 Most Impactful Assistant Coaches List - University of Illinois Athletics
Illinois women's basketball assistant coaches Britney Anderson and Calamity McEntire have been recognized for their impact.
fightingillini.com
The Illini need to recruit a lead guard for when Makira is gone after next year. She is such a dominant part of the team that someone needs to be ready to take her place. I'm not sure whether the portal or the high school ranks are the better source (maybe both?)
Speaking of the portal, Did the ladies' team lose anyone to the portal this year?
Champaign Toast
Fan since Kiwane Garris
We lost to the portal: guard Jayla Oden and center Liisa Taponen
A 2024 recruit who could fit the lead guard role is target Shay Ijiwoye, who visited us at the same time as commit Berry Wallace. Some other ranked uncommitted lead guards from that class are Zamareya Jones--whose game resembles Cook's IMO--Delaney Gibb, and Britt Prince; however, I haven't seen anything that indicates the staff has offered any of these three.
Or, perhaps the lead guard to take up the mantle after Cook is already on the 2023-24 roster. Rising junior Adalia McKenzie has already put her game on display. What happens when she emerges fully from the shadow of Cook and Bryant? Maybe 2023s Allen and Dolan have "it", and opportunity is ripe next year for holdovers Jackson and Rhodes to compete for the role of impact ballhandler off the bench.
Or, as you suggest, the portal will be there next spring as well!
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