Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2017)

Status
Not open for further replies.
#4,351      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
illinitiger said:
On Cal, after watching ESPN one and done, it's clear that is his pitch and focus...put kids in the NBA. Education and even winning championships is secondary for him. You would think he would do his homework on a specific families'values and tailor/temper his "NBA or bust" pitch a little though.
Click to expand...

There are many things wrong with Calipari, but he is one of the most socially adept people I have ever met. The suggestion that he would walk into Mark Smith's living room and talk down education without any respect or understanding of how much the family values education is beyond gullible IMO. Again, if you say banana really slowly... :)
 
#4,352      

sacraig

sacraig
The desert
sacraig
BMo79 said:
I was just thinking a bout that myself, and thinking if I was MS and was coming here I would be reading all these boards and just laughing my tail off, same if he was going to MSU or where ever, I would be sitting back just getting a good chuckle out of everything said.
Click to expand...

Surely we have an almunus or two at NSA who we can get to read his internet history, right?
 
#4,353      

illinifan87

I
The Windy City
illinifan87
Smith's recruitment goes beyond talent. There are the local kid rebuilding Illinois Basketball and recruiting vs Blue Bloods narratives here too.

I can't stand narratives, but they exist and coincide with public perception.

The newspaper headlines, recruiting ammo/momentum for the staff, excitement. All of that matters with Smith.

Most importantly is that he's a helluva talent with enormous upside. No doubt about it, but those side angles make him all that much more important.

This isn't some under the radar recruitment. The big dogs wanted him. He went on official visits and had them in his home. He was highly desired by the best of the best.

Some are afraid to admit how important Smith can be for this rebuild. In fear of getting kicked in the nuts again. That's fair and understandable. I've felt the same way, shoot, I feel that anxiety right now waiting for his decision.

If he commits to Illinois on Wednesday, it has the potential to be a landmark event on Underwood's tenure here.



Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk
 
#4,354      

illinitiger

I
illinitiger
Obelix said:
There are many things wrong with Calipari, but he is one of the most socially adept people I have ever met. The suggestion that he would walk into Mark Smith's living room and talk down education without any respect or understanding of how much the family values education is beyond gullible IMO. Again, if you say banana really slowly... :)
Click to expand...

Hey I dont know how the discussion went down in the house. I'm also fairly confident he didnt directly diss or talk down education. I was just pointing out that based on the Cal ESPN special, his recruiting focus seems selling students to go to KY for minimum time to qualify for a slot in NBA ( he's not pitching education or Championships ). Some parents may love that...some maybe not so much.

I don't doubt that Cal is very socially adept , but I also believe he is very focused on what he is selling recruits on. NBA is that focus, not education or Championships. He'll win some and lose some... his pitch is clearly working for him so far.
 
Last edited:
#4,356      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
illinitiger said:
Hey I dont know how the discussion went down in the house. I'm also fairly confident he didnt directly diss or talk down education. I was just pointing out that based on the Cal ESPN special, his recruiting focus seems selling students to go to KY for minimum time to qualify for a slot in NBA ( he's not pitching education or Championships ). Some parents may love that...some maybe not so much.

I don't doubt that Cal is very socially adept , but I also believe he is very focused on what he is selling recruits on. NBA is that focus, not education or Championships. He'll win some and lose some... his pitch is clearly working for him so far.
Click to expand...

My post was sarcastic on the original story. I doubt Calipari is dumb enough not to read social situations involving athletes correctly and talk down education to a family who cares a lot about education, and I also doubt the story that Smith's family greeted the UK coach wearing MSU gear.
 
#4,357      

MrOizo

MrOizo
Chicago
MrOizo
Probably posted already - Crystal Balls for Mark Smith:

3/29: MSU
4/10: MSU
4/11: MSU
4/20: ILL (6)
4/24: ILL
 
#4,358      

ILLINIShox24

ILLINIShox24
Orange Krush '04 & '05
ILLINIShox24
MrOizo said:
Probably posted already - Crystal Balls for Mark Smith:

3/29: MSU
4/10: MSU
4/11: MSU
4/20: ILL (6)
4/24: ILL
Click to expand...

If the CBs start to flip to MSU in the hours before the announcement, or worse, if they all go Illini and he goes elsewhere, can we all agree to never visit that site again? They clearly target our active fan base.
 
#4,359      

LuvIlliniHoopzInVA

LuvIlliniHoopzInVA
Virginia
LuvIlliniHoopzInVA
Illiniman94 said:
Dude.....LOL I remember my 30th birthday, 21 years ago. You've got a long way to go until you are old. I am 51 and wouldn't be old if it wasn't for my health which has sucked the last three years.

happy birthday and Mark Smith committing to us is our present to you. :D
Click to expand...

What are you doing to keep your brain so sharp? I'm 51 also and can't remember what I did yesterday.:confused:
 
#4,360      

Kathy

K
Kathy
My wedding anniversary is Wednesday the 26th..... Please, Please give me a great present!!! Mark Smith seems like a great kid and he is a tremendous talent.
 
#4,362      

MrOizo

MrOizo
Chicago
MrOizo
ILLINIShox24 said:
If the CBs start to flip to MSU in the hours before the announcement, or worse, if they all go Illini and he goes elsewhere, can we all agree to never visit that site again? They clearly target our active fan base.
Click to expand...

It's a deal.
 
#4,363      

CoalCity

C
St Paul, MN
CoalCity
Illiini said:
Yeah, I used to worry about getting older...until I had to worry about not getting older.
Click to expand...

Amen. I'm 61, retired, and never thought about getting older until very recently. Most of my friends are in their 40's though and as long as I can keep up with them I guess I'm good to.go. Enjoy life and remember it's easier to ask forgiveness than get permission! LOL
 
#4,365      

SalukiIllini

S
Evansville, IN
SalukiIllini
ILLINIShox24 said:
If the CBs start to flip to MSU in the hours before the announcement, or worse, if they all go Illini and he goes elsewhere, can we all agree to never visit that site again? They clearly target our active fan base.
Click to expand...


Hopefully they weren't all smoking on 4/20 and switched these picks.
 
#4,366      

Deleted member 8213

D
Guest
Deleted member 8213
Speaking of crystal balls and killing time speaking of meaningless things, we got 2 for Ayo in the past 2 days from cpl guys I never heard of one's from West Virginia :noidea:
 
#4,367      

618MattD

618MattD
618MattD

I read that tweet have asleep this morning and did not see the st after illinois. I woke up real quick after reading it

in regards to Bruninga
 
#4,368      

Burt Toast

B
Burt Toast
What's the fictitious player name that Weber recruited? Joe crap or something with the sick crossover? Was looking for video to send to my friend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#4,372      

ChainsawRevItUp

C
Chicago
ChainsawRevItUp
259fi48.jpg
 
#4,373      

IlliniInOK

IlliniInOK
no longer in OK! Centralia, IL
IlliniInOK
I think people are overlooking the role that scarcity played in Mark Smith's recruitment. There just aren't that many guys as good as him that are still uncommitted.

Using the Scout top 100, there are 7 guys, including Smith, that are uncommitted.

Do I think that Mark Smith is a bit underrated? Maybe, but my uneducated opinion puts him around the 50-60 range at the highest (not to say he can't outperform many players ahead of him in college as we know the rankings aren't perfect). Will I be pumped if (when? :pray:) he commits to the Illini? You bet. However, if it were a typical recruitment of a top-60 type guy leading up to signing day in November, I doubt Kentucky and Duke would have gotten very involved. Not to say that beating MSU wouldn't be great, but UK and Duke's involvement, IMO, has as much to do with the lack of great options left at this point in the game as it does Mark's impressive talent.
 
#4,374      

troym22

troym22
troym22
Its going to be a long couple of work days waiting for the commitment
 
#4,375      

RedRocksIllini

RedRocksIllini
Morrison, CO
RedRocksIllini
UICFLAMES said:
Jack "Beastmode" Karapetyan #42 Glendale CC

GP 24

PTS/G 12.2

FG % 45.8

3PT % 28.2

FT % 55.8

REB/G 8.8

A/G 2.3
Click to expand...


That's the problem with traditional stats. They just don't capture how good a player really is. You need to look at some of the newer, advanced metrics. For Jack, what really stands out are his DTPD numbers. (Defenders Torched Per Dribble)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.