Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2017)

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#451      
IlliniRunIn07
Just so we are on the same page (I think we are), no one is surprised that Tilmon has asked out of his LOI. We are surprised he did it two days after retweeting his original commitment. The timing of events is ridiculously Illinois.
 
#454      
troym22
I appreciate the loyalty and class that Trent Frazier shows. That kid really loves the Orange and Blue.
 
#455      
TownieMatt
IlliniRunIn07 said:
Just so we are on the same page (I think we are), no one is surprised that Tilmon has asked out of his LOI. We are surprised he did it two days after retweeting his original commitment. The timing of events is ridiculously Illinois.
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Just seems like these kids are trying to come up with new and creative ways to spite us.
 
#456      
dweebs19
Not gonna say that losing Tilmon doesn't suck, because it does suck...but at this point, I'm just ready to move on with players who want to be here and don't seem to hesitate about being at Illinois.
 
#457      
coryfor3
Burt Toast said:
I'm not so sure Tilmon would have stayed if Groce was retained. He was a little flakey and unsure before he signed.

With Mizzou's roster filling out with a couple of burger boys (who are in his ear every day), an exESL player/new coach popping into his school 48 hrs earlier whispering advice, and a Stl. media frenzy encouraging it - I'm not so sure a weakened John Groce could have defended this. Could you imagine if this was happening now with Groce still here? Feels like Bruce Weber all over again.
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Yeah I think the Groce thing is just an excuse for him to bolt. He never seemed that enamored with Groce when he signed. That press conference was almost a little embarrassing for JG.
 
#458      
afpharmdawg
illiniCA said:
No one should overreact.

We should have expected to lose at least one recruit and one recruit should not make or break the long-term health of the program.
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Although one recruit does make or break a program, overreacting is what we do.

I still think it is crooked.
 
#459      
FatGreg
coryfor3 said:
He's said that he's testing the NBA waters but that if he comes back to college, it will be for only OSU still.
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Yeah, Carroll was very adamant that OSU is the only school he'll play for if he pulls out of the draft. Maybe he'll change his mind, but the statement was definitive.
 
#460      
foby
Illiini said:
OK, so after "looking around" Tilmon says, hey, Illinois, I love you after all. If you're Underwood, what do you do?

My strong temptation would be to say, kid, you're good with a basketball, but I need to put a team on the court, and you don't seem to be a real team player. How do I know that I can trust you?

At that point, you recruit me, because while you've been looking around, so have I.

I don't care how hot she is, if she's said yes but then gives the ring back because she "wants to look around," I'm not sure anymore that I want her.

Are the other three going to bolt because Tilmon got cold feet? I dunno. Maybe they're more pissed at Tilmon than we are. Maybe they feel like they've been played.

Yeah, he's got talent, but be also seems to be a legend in his own mind. Disappointed? Sure. But don't look back.

My response, "Yes, we'll release you. Thank you for letting us know this early so that we can have time to find someone for scholarship you had accepted."
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+1 - Whole thing has an ET feel to it. (And not extra-terrestrial)
 
#461      
WesterveltVictoryCigar
basementcheetos said:
So it is a recruiting violation to actively recruit a player who has signed a LOI right? If so, how is this not said violation? I get that its near impossible to prove, but still might this situation justify blocking the recruit to said violating school? (MIZNOZ)
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A) They were not recruiting him directly, they were going through intermediaries like Porter Jr.

B) You can't block schools on an LOI release, it's a blanket release.
 
#462      
Thor015
illiguy85 said:
This doesn't look good, but why is it fait accompli that Tilmon still won't choose Illinois?

We also said it's fair for a recruit to re-open his commitment when there's a coaching change. Throw BU, Walker, Antigua and the farm at Tilmon for one last push and show him love.

If he doesn't come here, then on to the next one.
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This. I'm annoyed he retweeted his commitment a few days ago then asked for this but im fine with it. If JT were my kid I would have told him to ask for the release and explore to make sure.

It's like love, let him go and figure out who he wants to be with.
 
#463      
Ubermensch
coryfor3 said:
Yeah I think the Groce thing is just an excuse for him to bolt. He never seemed that enamored with Groce when he signed. That press conference was almost a little embarrassing for JG.
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I see. Thanks for that.
 
#464      
TheGMan
IlliniRunIn07 said:
Just so we are on the same page (I think we are), no one is surprised that Tilmon has asked out of his LOI. We are surprised he did it two days after retweeting his original commitment. The timing of events is ridiculously Illinois.
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That where I am. It sucks no matter when it happens, but after retweeting the original commitment, I just was not prepared for this. The sky isn't falling. I still love the Coach Underwood hire. If we get Antigua (I'm keeping my cup on for that after today), then that's really big. But this still hurts. Especially for us Illini fans who live in St. Louis and have to deal with the big heads of mizzou fans ever more now. If you haven't before, consider yourself lucky.
 
#465      
DaChief4ever
What the H...tillmon got against Illinois....? Even if he falls back and ops for Illinois...it would be his last choice. Whew....enough already.
 
#466      
Lmac66
basementcheetos said:
So it is a recruiting violation to actively recruit a player who has signed a LOI right? If so, how is this not said violation? I get that its near impossible to prove, but still might this situation justify blocking the recruit to said violating school? (MIZNOZ)
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Because I am sure Cuonzo had zero direct contact with Tilmon or his parents. But I am sure a lot of info could get passed on through his sister or Porter Jr. which would not be illegal.
 
#467      
Larken24
I always felt that Tilmon wasn't sure what he really wants. He was hesistant to sign a LOI in November. Wish him the best of luck whatever he does
 
#468      
Tevo
Now we can REALLY embrace the Small Ball concept!
 
#470      
Dirtbags32
I think it was said many times on this board at the time, but him moving back to ESL from LaLu could only be a bad thing for UI.
 
#471      
jbutts718
Tillmon is a loss but I'll live with it.

College basketball is a guards game. Our problem down low is we have recruited 1 of 2 kinds of bigs:

1) highly rated that we could never get.....Okafor, Cliff, Bragg, etc

2) Big kid that wants to stand at 3 point line and shoot.....been a ton of them

I believe you will see Underwood bring in the type of player we have rarely seen......big, athletic kids that are somewhat lacking in basketball skills(not highly ranked but can jump, play defense and rebound). And, something else we have rarely seen, we will coach them up and they will become adequate shooters, etc.

We will rebound better, defend better and be way more athletic. And, our bigs won't be sitting in a corner chucking 3's all game and finishing with 2 rebounds.

Tillmon is a loss......but he's not nearly the impact player some are making him out to be. Just ask the Sophomore from Belleville that just dominated him this year.

Smile.....be happy.....this is going to be basketball that we haven't seen in Champaign in a long, long time.

By the way......Martin better win next year because once Porter and Knox (if they can get him) leave after 1 year.....everyone will once again see he really is a very average coach. And, that is if his high spending ways don't get him in trouble quickly. Don't think there aren't plenty of teams out there noticing what is going on in Columbia, Mo......people will be watching closely.
 
#472      
bombayIllini
1) He re-tweets his own tweet of committing to Illinois. Mistake 01
2) He claims Groce's departure is the reason he wants out. Mistake 02. He could have felt the pressure of Porter even if Groce was here


His life, his decisions.

All the best.

Glad that all this drama is over.

Let him live with what happens wherever he goes.
 
#473      
Tevo
KrushCow31 said:
Or he wants a chance to legally talk to other coaches and see campuses. I certainly believe there's still a chance he picks Illinois again in the end. I think it's either Illinois or Missouri.
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There may be a chance, but at this point the entire Illini staff (current and future) have to start calling available seniors, JUCOs and 5th Years. We can't go into next season with Finke, Black and two open scholarships.
 
#474      
bombayIllini
Martin has dug a hole for himself. These kids better pull him out - at least for this one year. He will fall back into that hole after that.
 
#475      
FishingFool
Tilmon is a big boy and can make his own decisions. I always thought he really wasn't on the Illini band wagon any way. If it is keeping Groce to keep Tilmon or Underwood I will take the new coach. I would bet Underwood isn't sitting at home watching cartoons all the time. He will find us some great players. A-lot of people said Tilmon was a one and done anyway so wouldn't do us a whole lot of good for very long.
 
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