Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2018)

[illinitiger]

I am sorry but what exactly good has Walker done for us in the St Louis area? NOTHING!!!!
Maybe a nice guy and decent coach but count me as one who won't sleep soundly if he is the coach recruiting someone. He has brought in no one from that area.

Malcolm was already coming here and Mark came because of Underwood not Walker, he has lost a lot more because he can't close!

I dont see our asst coaches as sales managers. why didnt Chin get Conditt? why didnt OA get any big last summer, yada yada....Some players are looking for options.

Bottom line, Kudos to all of our asst coaches, as BU mentioned in his press conf last week. they are working their tails off.

 

[kuhl84]

I love to have both Liddell and Okoro, they play different positions and fill different need so not going into who is better or who I rather get. But I think the SF is easier to fill than a true PF/C.
.

True impact players are the most difficult to get, regardless of position. Liddell is an immediate impact player. He will be a top consensus top 30 player by the end of the summer with high major interest, IMO.

Okoro is a big strong man playing against kids. I think he can be a solid player, but needs serious skill development to be an all B1G type player.

 

[tpbradley]

Walker has been all over him for 2 years. It's not like we ever backed off. But new interest is always more exciting than the one who's always been there. Hopefully with BU taking the point for the home stretch of his recruitment, we can reel him back in

More importantly, what did they pull up in for the in-home?

 

[UCantHideYer]

Stue speaks! We welcome semi-annual comments too.

I was worrying Okoro mostly lost and Calloo might be on hold more for a realistic shot at Golden. It does nicely seem that our 2018 class is set enough where we can aim high with that last 'ship.

 

[Newman]

True impact players are the most difficult to get, regardless of position. Liddell is an immediate impact player. He will be a top consensus top 30 player by the end of the summer with high major interest, IMO.

Okoro is a big strong man playing against kids. I think he can be a solid player, but needs serious skill development to be an all B1G type player.

Have you guys actually seen Okoro play? I feel like people are just assuming that's he's just a physical rebounder that gets junk points. He's actually pretty skilled too.

 

[kuhl84]

Have you guys actually seen Okoro play? I feel like people are just assuming that's he's just a physical rebounder that gets junk points. He's actually pretty skilled too.

No, I live in Florida. Just highlights and some cut ups of actual games, so I could be wrong. To be clear, I would love him in this class, because he would be the most physically ready to play the 5 on our roster from day 1.

 

[RIVERCITYCHIEF]

Have you guys actually seen Okoro play? I feel like people are just assuming that's he's just a physical rebounder that gets junk points. He's actually pretty skilled too.

My best friend works with all kinds of athletes. Professional, eventual Olmypic, Colligaite, and High School. He said Okoro is the best he has seen since Ogonna Nnumani or Andre Iguodola. He told me some of his abilities and it's pretty awesome. He will only get better. I want him in orange in blue more for his potential than who he is now and that's pretty good already.

 

[bbpeoria]

My best friend works with all kinds of athletes. Professional, eventual Olmypic, Colligaite, and High School. He said Okoro is the best he has seen since Ogonna Nnumani or Andre Iguodola. He told me some of his abilities and it's pretty awesome. He will only get better. I want him in orange in blue more for his potential than who he is now and that's pretty good already.

I have seen Okoro many times and he is a top 50 player without a doubt. An elite athlete at a strong 6'9" and good low post footwork. He appears to be a good teammate as well but also plays with an edge. He is a big man who knows he is big and I think will be even a better college player than we got to see at Normal West. Yes, his outside shot is not much right now but just about every other part of his game is elite for a big man. I think of him as a more athletic better teammate version of Shaun Pruitt. We would be lucky to get him.

One anecdote, my son plays soccer at a rival conference school and has played with a local travel club that has strong Twin-cities connections. I was told Okoro has worked out with that club before and is a talented soccer player as well. Cannot imagine him on the pitch at his size and athletic ability!

 

[RIVERCITYCHIEF]

I have seen Okoro many times and he is a top 50 player without a doubt. An elite athlete at a strong 6'9" and good low post footwork. He appears to be a good teammate as well but also plays with an edge. He is a big man who knows he is big and I think will be even a better college player than we got to see at Normal West. Yes, his outside shot is not much right now but just about every other part of his game is elite for a big man. I think of him as a more athletic better teammate version of Shaun Pruitt. We would be lucky to get him.

One anecdote, my son plays soccer at a rival conference school and has played with a local travel club that has strong Twin-cities connections. I was told Okoro has worked out with that club before and is a talented soccer player as well. Cannot imagine him on the pitch at his size and athletic ability!

My friend said he can toss a soccer ball around with his feet with ease an catch it on the back of his neck and kick it again easily. He is very coordinated.

 

[Illwinsagain]

Pantagraph article had him at 17 at the start of the 2016-17 season when he first started at Normal West so I've always gone off of that.

thanks

 

[Illwinsagain]

I'm hearing Okoro is backing off of Purdue a little bit and is leaning more towards Oregon or Illinois

I don't hear anything...sorry, just wanted to chip in.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Just feel we lost ground on Okoro at some point. I know Underwood and staff attended games. Can't say we didn't have urgency, but it looks like this from the outside. Seems like the possible reclassification caught them off guard.

Sorry, unless you're privy to inside info, this is classic IL tea leaf reading. And, FWLIW, I think you are wrong.

 

[OurMottoisOskeeWowWow]

Had no idea Andy Kaufman played for the Illini! That's radical!

https://imgur.com/a/uLKMw

 

[FiveStar]

Heard from stu on Okoro. Lefty Wya?

 

[Tevo]

My friend said he can toss a soccer ball around with his feet with ease an catch it on the back of his neck and kick it again easily. He is very coordinated.

Well, I can do THAT, and I sure as heck ain’t no D1 athlete!

 

[RIVERCITYCHIEF]

Well, I can do THAT, and I sure as heck ain’t no D1 athlete!

That's just one thing he can do and are you 6'9" and big? It's Its not the same thing talking about big guys That's why bigs with skills and athleticism are so unique. You must have pretty good hand eye coordination too. That was one of my points. He is very coordinated for a big man. I trust my friend who has worked with some elite professional athletes from several sports when he says Okoro has traits other bigs dont. He feels that Okoro is full of potential . I think he is right.

 

[illini80]

Heard from stu on Okoro. Lefty Wya?

I have no idea what this means.

 

[Peoria Pipeline]

Have you guys actually seen Okoro play? I feel like people are just assuming that's he's just a physical rebounder that gets junk points. He's actually pretty skilled too.

I agree, he's very skilled. His mid range jumper is very good. I don't know his FT% percentage for the year, but every time i saw him he was making it look easy from the line. I wouldn't ever expect him to be shooting 3's, but he looks pretty decent at it during shoot-arounds.

 

[whatahack]

Stuemke5 doesn't post often, but when he does, he is pretty accurate.

Lefty is a Michigan fan, who also shows up occasionally and when he does has also been pretty reliably accurate.

And he is asking Lefty 'what do you know'

 

[illini80]

Stuemke5 doesn't post often, but when he does, he is pretty accurate.

Lefty is a Michigan fan, who also shows up occasionally and when he does has also been pretty reliably accurate.

Ok. Makes sense now. I saw that post, but didn't get that was what he was referencing and I forgot about Lefty.

 

[Elgin7680]

Well, I can do THAT, and I sure as heck ain’t no D1 athlete!

I have coached HS soccer, the majority of my players play more than one sport. Soccer players are typically very good athletes.

 

[illinitiger]

I have coached HS soccer, the majority of my players play more than one sport. Soccer players are typically very good athletes.

On soccer and good athletes...pretty sure Larry Bird played soccer ... and an excellent athlete, if you as me.

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[Newman]

Hey Newman, I know you told me you live near BMI and I wanted to catch a game last season but missed out. Are there games around there in the spring?
How many times have you seen him? He sure looks good on video!

I'm not too familiar with anything after the high school season, but I'm still new to the area somewhat. I tried to catch as many Big Twelve conference games as I could, probably have seen him about a handful of times. Love his game and potential. He really feels like our missing piece, but I just never got the impression of any recruits caring that much about Illinois, they all seemed to focus on getting blue blood offers. It seemed that way with Charles Payton but he never reached his potential. I like Chris though and I hope we get him even if he doesn't end up being a highly rated recruit.

 

[FC Illiniman]

they should come in June.

On okoro...once he gets ACT, wonder if he has to wait out 3 months on NCAA eligibility clearing house bureaucracy?

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Bagley got his clearing rather quickly last year,but he submitted in August fwiw, not sure how fast he could have it done.

Glad we had the in home and we might have a chance, for Okoro still. Lidell might be a different matter, the blue bloods haven't started knocking yet, but they will. When they do I'm sure he will listen. The Smith transfer has had some effect irregardless of what EJ has said.

With Golden still a possibility we have several things to watch. All being said, glad to see we are actively pursuing Okoro, Whitney and Golden, we still need a big. Just a hunch, since Golden OV is 29th, we still considering him 1st, watching the Okoro thing play out, Whitney and EJ are 19' recruits, so keeping tabs on them is most we can do.

Matic still with program and doesn't look to be going anywhere, so still have 1scollie to deal. Will it be Golden, or will we take a chance and see if Okoro will come available? Can't see us slow playing Golden if he wants in. BU has already showed that he is a man of action, and has the stones to make tough choices.

Ebo will be our starting 5 next year, just a matter of who will back him up, and for how long. We are in the waiting room till Golden makes his visit, or Okoro reclassification and commit are made. Grab a chair gang.opcorn:opcorn:

 

[Davo79]

On soccer and good athletes...pretty sure Larry Bird played soccer ... and an excellent athlete, if you as me.

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Pretty sure Larry Bird wasn't a soccer player, he was however an exceptional baseball player and played in some Co Ed softball leagues during his time at ISU.