Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2017)

[RyanK]

Weird, where is he going to go? He's an intriguing prospect with, I think, a lot of upside. But he's not super highly rated and I'm wondering what his other options are?

I wonder a little bit if he'll go to Akron and play for Groce.

Wouldn't shock me to see him end up at Mizzou

 

[GortTheRobot]

Weird, where is he going to go? He's an intriguing prospect with, I think, a lot of upside. But he's not super highly rated and I'm wondering what his other options are?

I wonder a little bit if he'll go to Akron and play for Groce.

I hope so, it would make more sense of it. He may have gotten the impression that he was not going to be used enough at UI.

 

[FiveStar]

Agreed. Losing Frazier and Williams would hurt the most.

Agree. Good call on Akron possibility.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Did the staff encourage him to look around?

Was kind of wondering that from the outset but then he recommitted so I figured it wasn't the case.

 

[zpfled]

Can't wait until this thread stops being the unrecruiting thread.

 

[FiveStar]

Can't wait until this thread stops being the unrecruiting thread.

Maybe Antigua has some Ace(s) up his sleeve.

 

[Trakis]

It kind of annoys me that NLI's are no more powerful than verbal commitment's these days.

 

[ILLINIShox24]

For the first time in 10+ years, I think we have a staff that is not going to be blindsided by the tides of recruiting.

 

[zpfled]

It kind of annoys me that NLI's are no more powerful than verbal commitment's these days.

Only because of a coaching change. This is pretty normal.

 

[mdonsbach]

If there is a silver lining...small one but class balance possibly?

 

[Sizzler22]

I don't mind this one bit, it would sting to lose Frazier and Williams but I was never really sold on Pickett anyways but that's just me

 

[AJT]

https://twitter.com/JavonPickett/status/850709867576926208

Pickett's request on twitter

 

[Leonardite]

Was kind of wondering that from the outset but then he recommitted so I figured it wasn't the case.

It's just weird timing. Three things have happened since he recommitted: Tilmon left, Antigua was hired, and Groce went to Akron. One of those things has to be the reason for this.

 

[illiniknight]

It is entirely normal to lose some committed recruits in a coaching change. Also don't be surprised if we add a player a two to this class. It could be someone that has a relationship with a new coach or someone who is floating out there because of a coaching change themselves. This class is probably not complete. Let's let this all play out.

 

[zpfled]

I wish Justin Smith would de-commit from IU and come to UI.

 

[FatGreg]

Wait, so Akron is getting Tilmon, Carlton Bragg, and Javon Pickett?! If Groce can get Mark Smith in the fold, I smell a MAC tournament championship in the offing.

 

[zpfled]

It's just weird timing. Three things have happened since he recommitted: Tilmon left, Antigua was hired, and Groce went to Akron. One of those things has to be the reason for this.

Or two. I could see him wanting to play for Groce, but wanting to play with his buddy Tilmon more. Tilmon leaves, Groce gets a job...boom.

 

[FiveStar]

I wish Justin Smith would de-commit from IU and come to UI.

Would be a nice injection of athleticism.

 

[Obelix]

It's just weird timing. Three things have happened since he recommitted: Tilmon left, Antigua was hired, and Groce went to Akron. One of those things has to be the reason for this.

Two of them are irrelevant. You do not de-commit from UI, in your own state, to go play at Akron. Unless you think you will not get the playing opportunities with the new staff.

 

[Sizzler22]

Would be awesome to see Alonzo Verge come to Illinois. Is that still an option? Qualifying is probably the problem

 

[Adnarel]

#notideal

 

[zpfled]

Two of them are irrelevant. You do not de-commit from UI, in your own state, to go play at Akron. Unless you think you will not get the playing opportunities with the new staff.

Oh, ok. Obviously recruits operate on a purely rational set of rules when it comes to deciding where to play.

 

[zpfled]

Would be awesome to see Alonzo Verge come to Illinois. Is that still an option? Qualifying is probably the problem

Yep, this would be awesome.

 

[MadSeason]

This one doesn't bother me at all.

 

[zpfled]

I'm just looking at uncommitted top-100 recruits, and saw this kid, Zach Brown, from Miami. I wonder if Antigua knows him, and if we could slip into this recruitment. Perhaps Brown knows Frazier?

He's a 4-star 7'1 center. Would sure take the sting off of losing Tilmon