Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2017)

[Larken24]

And also to add on if Tillmon does go to Mizzou, we will get a chance to really see which team will get the last laugh come December

 

[sacraig]

And also to add on if Tillmon does go to Mizzou, we will get a chance to really see which team will get the last laugh come December

This is literally the biggest reason I am disappointed in the situation. The thought of losing to Mizzou is absolutely nauseating to me. If it wasn't for that, I'd just chalk the whole thing up to the risks of a coaching change and move on with my life with a newfound optimism about Illinois basketball.

But, Mizzou being involved, I will instead have to chalk it up to the risks of a coaching change and move on with my life feeling a little sick about it but otherwise still newly optimistic about Illinois basketball.

 

[TownieMatt]

Interview with THT. Mentions "His coach is going to be meeting with Illinois' new staff this week." Interesting.

https://www.prephoops.com/2017/04/talen-horton-tucker-video-4/

 

[Future Walk-On]

Sat with some Chicago admins at the 3A/4A state tourney back in March... don't know where they get their info but....

They said there were freshman state rankings and

1. DJ Steward - Fenwick

3. Forgot his name - Morgan Park

So #2 has to be Adam Miller from Manual right? DaMonte could really help with this kids recruitment.

Also .... I haven't followed this thread religiously but what news if any is there on Ayo Dosunmu from Morgan Park?

 

[Future Walk-On]

Oh I see he visited Cal in December.... so much for that... lock to Mizzou.

 

[Deleted member 10676]

Sat with some Chicago admins at the 3A/4A state tourney back in March... don't know where they get their info but....

They said there were freshman state rankings and

1. DJ Steward - Fenwick

3. Forgot his name - Morgan Park

So #2 has to be Adam Miller from Manual right? DaMonte could really help with this kids recruitment.

Also .... I haven't followed this thread religiously but what news if any is there on Ayo Dosunmu from Morgan Park?

Henricksen on the freshman class, primarily Steward. He has Miller ranked 1.
http://www.suntimeshighschoolsports.com/2017/04/05/henricksen-d-j-stewards-star-risen-fenwick/

There were many impactful freshmen in the state this season, whether it was the highly-productive Elliot Sieger of DePaul Prep, big-game difference-maker Nimari Burnett of state champion Morgan Park, or the Hoops Report’s No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2020, Adam Miller of Peoria Manual.
Fenwick’s D.J. Steward, however, has asserted himself and produced more than any freshman in the state.

 

[Calvin]

Your whining about Jamall Walker borders on farcical. By all accounts he's a good coach and a good recruiter with connections to a lot of players. The "precious resources" have not been squandered. Get a grip you can't force 18 year old kids to honor their word.

+1

I don't get the panic. Most people who wanted a change at HC said they would roll the dice on the class to get a decent coach in here. Then we get what looks like a great hire, actually pulled out the checkbook, and a couple weeks later people can't handle the fallout. Moreover, they seem to have forgotten that recruiting comes with no warranty, and no guarantee.

I think BU will be a great coach, but it's only been days folks. Maybe give him until June before you bring out the pitchforks.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Most people who wanted a change at HC said they would roll the dice on the class to get a decent coach in here.

Speaking for myself, I know I said I would be fine losing the entire class in exchange for a coaching upgrade.

 

[saleen970]

+1

I don't get the panic. Most people who wanted a change at HC said they would roll the dice on the class to get a decent coach in here. Then we get what looks like a great hire, actually pulled out the checkbook, and a couple weeks later people can't handle the fallout. Moreover, they seem to have forgotten that recruiting comes with no warranty, and no guarantee.

I think BU will be a great coach, but it's only been days folks. Maybe give him until June before you bring out the pitchforks.

3 out of 4 is better than I expected, really thought we would lose Frazier.

 

[Tevo]

I find the idea that Walker would have had even a passing chance at the job without the presumption that his presence guaranteed Tilmon to be totally preposterous. Whitman thought he could have his cake and eat it too. Underwood bought it. Both got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

C'mon, this is going too far. I agree with a lot of things you post, but this is asking too much.

A) If Whitman has cake, why would Underwood be paying for it?
B) Nobody would keep their cake in a cookie jar -- it would totally crumble!

 

[Adnarel]

We are in a better position than I thought we would be in given the coaching change. I know transfer news is still a possibility, but I am still impressed we are still lucky enough to see Frazier, Williams, and Pickett as Illini.

Now C is the new PG in position so desperately needed. I can see the "we have our C!" posts now...

 

[mattcoldagelli]

C'mon, this is going too far. I agree with a lot of things you post, but this is asking too much.

A) If Whitman has cake, why would Underwood be paying for it?
B) Nobody would keep their cake in a cookie jar -- it would totally crumble!

Found footage from Ubben:

 

[illiniknight]

Speaking for myself, I know I said I would be fine losing the entire class in exchange for a coaching upgrade.

So would I. Good news is that we didn't have too. Plus there was not only an upgrade in the head coach but it looks like there will an upgrade most likely in the assistant coaches. Overall the program is definitely on better footing than it was a month ago.

 

[BMo79]

+1

I don't get the panic. Most people who wanted a change at HC said they would roll the dice on the class to get a decent coach in here. Then we get what looks like a great hire, actually pulled out the checkbook, and a couple weeks later people can't handle the fallout. Moreover, they seem to have forgotten that recruiting comes with no warranty, and no guarantee.

I think BU will be a great coach, but it's only been days folks. Maybe give him until June before you bring out the pitchforks.

I am one of the few who wanted Groce to stay , so we could keep the class. But I for one an happy with our new coach and the 3 young men who stuck with the Illini. I do not think anyone was going to keep JT here. he didn't want to sign his mom made him. So now we have a coach who we all feel can coach and 3 young men who want to be Illini , lets see how the staff rounds out and see what happens with the 3 schollies we have left. Then this fall we canal !!!!! and moan like we do each and every year no matter how things are going

 

[sacraig]

I WILL MIX METAPHORS AS I PLEASE

 

[DragonIlliniFan]

If I grew up an ILLINI fan there's absolutely no way I would play for anybody besides the O&B-- let alone a rival.

Trying to wrap my head around all of this.

 

[Greensboro]

I would feel decidedly more optimistic if we hadn't spent one of our three precious assistant coach slots on an explicit transaction for two specific players, only to have the folly of that decision instantly thrown in our face.

Really? We kept one coach of 4, one with St. Louis ties, most ties to current class, has some prior relationship with Underwood, and still haven't brought in our 4th assistant yet, while missing on 1 or 2 of OK State coaches. With the last couple years of results, I tend to think Walker should get a statue if we had managed to keep all 4 recruits or added Smith to the class.

 

[DragonIlliniFan]

And also to add on if Tillmon does go to Mizzou, we will get a chance to really see which team will get the last laugh come December

Tilmon
Tilmon
Tilmon

If I was 17 I'd look at these posts and be like "these white dudes don't even know how to spell my name...and it's an easy one"

 

[Ga65]

When Kiir signs all will be forgiven. :

 

[alaskaillini]

I find the idea that Walker would have had even a passing chance at the job without the presumption that his presence guaranteed Tilmon to be totally preposterous. Whitman thought he could have his cake and eat it too. Underwood bought it. Both got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

It's bad judgment by all parties, and it's a tremendous waste of a very precious resource. I would have started fresh and let the recruits walk if they really wanted to. But AT THE VERY LEAST, you need to be 1000% sure you have Tilmon locked down before Walker gets that offer. Whitman panicked when Cuonzo made that big splash at Mizzou. And Cuonzo has now played us for absolute chumps, poaching Tilmon without even having to hire Walker.

It's the kind of thing that happens to a rookie AD feeling enormous pressure to shoot the moon.

I am speculating that the Tilmon decommitment came about because of a feeling that UI disrespected ESL when they didn't really give Cuonzo the time of day during the coaching search. The sales pitch of "ESL guys stick together and can trust one another" manifested itself in Tilmon leading UI on to insure Walker's retention. Once Walker's retention was official Tilmon was free to sign with Mizzou. I think the retweet of his commitment and the entire process was choreographed (not by Tilmon) so that Tilmon could feel like he did right by Walker. The only way Walker gets let go is if it comes out that Walker knew that this was going to be the play and said nothing. I have seen no reason to believe that this was the case, but just the appearance could be trouble. Let's say Tilmon's father aka Cuonzo lets that slip a couple of weeks before the Braggin Rights game - Wow, that could create a stir.

All that being said, JW only got played if Walker would not have been hired other than for Tilmon's commitment - not sure that is true.

 

[Adnarel]

Tilmon
Tilmon
Tilmon

If I were Dan I'd install wordfilters to cover the misspellings. =P

For some reason, we still need one for "Weber" too.

 

[sacraig]

If I grew up an ILLINI fan there's absolutely no way I would play for anybody besides the O&B-- let alone a rival.

Trying to wrap my head around all of this.

What's to wrap your head around? Nothing has happened yet...

 

[Burt Toast]

Yes. This conspiracy stuff is silly. Walker allegedly had an opportunity to jump ship and take his recruits with him to Mizzou. Instead he chose to stay in an attempt to keep this class intact and stay at a place that has become home for him. He got a nice raise to stay but also added some significant pressure to maintain current class and future relationships with top St. Louis recruits. He is as much needed today to maintain existing player/recruiting continuity as he is tomorrow to navigate a talent rich St. Louis market, etc. Cuonzo is a beast recruiter that would give anybody problems in this region. He will be a force to reckon with early until they find out his coaching is average at best. He will show his hand and will not be the hot commodity he is now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Future Walk-On]

If I were Dan I'd install wordfilters to cover the misspellings. =P

For some reason, we still need one for "Weber" too.

Don't forget John "Gross" for like 6 months after he arrived.

 

[Deleted member 556108]

This is literally the biggest reason I am disappointed in the situation. The thought of losing to Mizzou is absolutely nauseating to me. If it wasn't for that, I'd just chalk the whole thing up to the risks of a coaching change and move on with my life with a newfound optimism about Illinois basketball.

But, Mizzou being involved, I will instead have to chalk it up to the risks of a coaching change and move on with my life feeling a little sick about it but otherwise still newly optimistic about Illinois basketball.

+1000