Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2017)

[MadSeason]

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

Massive legal problems. 5 star talent though

 

[PlayAZ]

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.

Writing seems to be on the wall....Tilmon, might not fit the system due to being a true post type/athletic, but true inside player. Pickett, 3 star with high motor, but not necessarily a high enough skill set to complete as possibly previous promised?

I would look for Antigua to pull some gems out, Walker to find a late player and Frazier to have some input on players....also 2 scholarship carry over into 2018 would not be a terrible idea actually?

 

[Sal Iacuzzo]

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

You can watch a video of him stealing money out of a cash register if you like.

 

[Kramer116]

Did the staff encourage him to look around?

Not from what I am seeing, looks like it was mutual.

Can't blame him for it, he was pretty class act during the whole time. Maybe he wants to play earlier somewhere else.

He committed so early to us, will be interesting to see what offers he picks up late in the game.

 

[illiniknight]

Hopefully this will change in the future but not a good look for Walker so far. He was supposed to keep this class together and help with future St. Louis are recruits. He has failed in the first part, hopefully he is successful in the second.

 

[illiniknight]

Two months ago, who would have thought that our most local recruit would be the one from Florida. I am so looking forward to seeing Frazier in the Orange and Blue.

 

[Adnarel]

not a good look for Walker so far

At this point, this is definitely true. I still disagree with the notion that Walker was a token hire to keep a class intact, but it was an unpublicized goal for him to do just that.

 

[Illini1221]

Two months ago, who would have thought that our most local recruit would be the one from Florida. I am so looking forward to seeing Frazier in the Orange and Blue.

Don't forget Damonte

 

[Illinimobile]

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

He may have to sit a year or two.... IN JAIL!

 

[illiniknight]

Don't forget Damonte

I haven't but Frazier has been by far the most vocal about his Illini support. I am glad to have DaMonte on board as well. He does have a potentially high ceiling.

 

[PlayAZ]

http://www.ksdk.com/sports/mizzou-favorite-to-land-tilmon-lead-for-smith/429729132

Would not be surprised with Tilmon, Smith would shock me however..MSU or us I think.

Pickett replacement...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t-oPMdQWe4, plus this would get us into that recruiting base as well....3-4 of the top players in that area committed to Marquette, including Hardy's teammate Ike Eke 6'9 (third team state)

 

[RyanK]

I haven't but Frazier has been by far the most vocal about his Illini support. I am glad to have DaMonte on board as well. He does have a potentially high ceiling.

Your original post said local not vocal. Think that's where the confusion was.

 

[illiniknight]

At this point, this is definitely true. I still disagree with the notion that Walker was a token hire to keep a class intact, but it was an unpublicized goal for him to do just that.

I do as well. As i posted I think he was retained partially for this class and partially because of his St. Lous area contacts. This just puts more pressure on him to deliver future St. Louis recruits. If he can this will be a blip in the past.

 

[illiniknight]

Your original post said local not vocal. Think that's where the confusion was.

I see. Need to check my spelling.

 

[Adnarel]

http://www.ksdk.com/sports/mizzou-favorite-to-land-tilmon-lead-for-smith/429729132

Would not be surprised with Tilmon, Smith would shock me however..MSU or us I think.

This is a homer writer who can be safely ignored.

 

[Jeffcobrad]

Winning will solve everything!

 

[Obelix]

When you make a coaching change, it is always a distinct possibility that you lose recruits. Unless of course you just believed people on this board saying that it would not happen.

As far as Walker, the people who imply that it may not have been a good move to keep him, would probably be the first to have complained had Underwood not kept him and Tilmon/Pickett had asked for their releases (which they did anyway).

 

[IlliniinIowa]

I do as well. As i posted I think he was retained partially for this class and partially because of his St. Lous area contacts. This just puts more pressure on him to deliver future St. Louis recruits. If he can this will be a blip in the past.

I sure hope we can get our program to the point where losing a 5-star center can be considered a blip on the radar! :thumb:

 

[Love the Illini]

Never good to have a top 15 recruiting class disappear. Tilmon big loss as would have played significant minutes next year at a needed spot for us. Pickett less of a loss immediately as minutes would have been hard to come by next year but I think could have developed into a good player. One of the big questions going forward is can Illinois be competitive in the Big next year to gain some momentum for future years. BU is certainly a good coach but looking at the current roster minus Tilmon and or Smith the talent level does not look like top half or NCAA caliber. Making the tournament will be a tough and we could be looking at a 5 or 6 win season in the Big which will make recruiting even tougher.

 

[Liesse1997]

I didn't want to get too pessimistic after Tilmon opted out, but man if we don't get some decent players to fill out this class we are looking at a bottom five finish in the B1G next year.

 

[Smacko]

Losing Pickett is not a very big deal. He was never a guy who was going to contribute early. Part of the reason we recruited him was his friendship with Tilmon and Goodwin.

 

[Obelix]

This is a homer writer who can be safely ignored.

The part that Mizzou is the favorite for Tilmon is true though.

 

[illiniknight]

Well, I guess now we will see the type of players that Underwood wants. With the available scholarships he has the chance to immediately reshape the roster. It will be interesting to see who they go after.

 

[Adnarel]

The part that Mizzou is the favorite for Tilmon is true though.

Yes, that is definitely true. The part that gave the writer away was when they said Mizzou had a real shot at Smith. Smith is most likely going to be playing for Tom Izzo (where he will likely give us fits for three-ish years), and the only other meaningful scuttlebutt out there is still for us.

 

[Deleted member 10676]

Losing Pickett is not a very big deal. He was never a guy who was going to contribute early. Part of the reason we recruited him was his friendship with Tilmon and Goodwin.

Agree. I liked Pickett the couple of games I saw but I don't think Underwood is sweating this one too much. Pretty sure they think they can find better this spring/summer.