Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2018)

rockillini · Apr 17, 2018

kuhl84 said:
Friday evening. Time is TBA

Cool! A Friday evening scrimmage!

combes · Apr 17, 2018

IlliniCC said:
Ayo is no longer a Composite 5 star on 247sports. Those recruiting sites are up to their anti-Illinois bias again!

Still a 5 star on Rivals.

rockillini · Apr 17, 2018

combes said:
Still a 5 star on Rivals.

Since it's a composite score what is dragging down the rating?

kuhl84 · Apr 17, 2018

ESPN

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mhuml32 · Apr 17, 2018

Seems to be a lot of quiet confidence about getting Whitney in 2019.

AnticipatedSerendipity · Apr 17, 2018

mhuml32 said:
Seems to be a lot of quiet confidence about getting Whitney in 2019.

Could Whitney be why BU was so content losing THT? Keep Ayo, and get Whitney sounds a lot better than only THT

illini80 · Apr 17, 2018

AnticipatedSerendipity said:
Could Whitney be why BU was so content losing THT? Keep Ayo, and get Whitney sounds a lot better than only THT

I don’t think BU was “content” about that at all. I’d bet he was pretty pissed.

Joel Goodson · Apr 17, 2018

AnticipatedSerendipity said:
Could Whitney be why BU was so content losing THT? Keep Ayo, and get Whitney sounds a lot better than only THT

Nope. Underwood thought he could finesse the aggrieved parties. He couldn't. And I very much doubt BU was content in losing THT.

But Whitney would be a great get!

infamous · Apr 17, 2018

Frankie ALWAYS brings a smile. Frankie was the best

TheFameProtector · Apr 17, 2018

SescIllini said:
Just to give you perspective. Matthews was a McAA entering 4th year of post hs career. Extremely good NCAA run but many feel he needs to get his jumper right.

Think Ayo will be really good, but needs several years of college to improve game.

Biggest issue with Matthews though is his tepidity. Ayo plays like he knows/thinks he's the best player on the court. That mindset goes a long way.

TheFameProtector · Apr 17, 2018

Kvngace23 said:
http://www.nbadraftroom.com/2017/08/ayo-dosunmu.html

This website looks like it was designed in a high school computer science class.

Peoria Pipeline · Apr 17, 2018

Kvngace23 said:
http://www.nbadraftroom.com/2017/08/ayo-dosunmu.html

Jrue Holiday is a very good comp.

Peoria Pipeline · Apr 17, 2018

TownieMatt said:
My rationale is this: I think finding a big that can operate in the pinch post, hit a three in the pick-n-pop, and finish around the rim would be an absolute gamechanger for this offense. Golden ticks all those boxes. We saw what Underwood was able to do with Tyler Walkup, who was also adept at all those things, but was 6'4". Golden is a legit 6'9".

Don't get me wrong, Okoro is a beast, and I certainly want him to be an Illini, but at this point his offensive game is significantly more limited. Yes, he would be our best rebounder and shot-blocker as soon as he arrived on campus, but IMO those skills aren't as rare as what Golden can bring.

I couldn't disagree more. Okoro's offensive game is being severely underrated. He has a good post game, he hits his free throws, he has a good mid-range game, great offensive rebounder, good passer, good pick and roll game. I'm not sure where all the Okoro is raw offensively came from.

Newman · Apr 17, 2018

Peoria Pipeline said:
I couldn't disagree more. Okoro's offensive game is being severely underrated. He has a good post game, he hits his free throws, he has a good mid-range game, great offensive rebounder, good passer, good pick and roll game. I'm not sure where all the Okoro is raw offensively came from.

We expect every recruit from Nigeria to have Egwu hands, that's why.

GortTheRobot · Apr 17, 2018

Just caught up with the thread. Watching videos of Frankie is just goosebumpy. I remember watching those seemingly effortless passes. I hope DW will be able to access some of that family magic, I am very high on his potential.

Also, I remember seeing the BIG tournament the year we went to, and should have rightfully won, the championship game. I had fantastic seats, and you just couldn't see the subtle quickness Deron demonstrated unless you watched a live game. He was so deceptively quick.

I hope Ayo can bring back the "smooth" of those two players...I want a George the Iceman Gervin Smooth!

Second and Chalmers · Apr 17, 2018

Peoria Pipeline said:
Jrue Holiday is a very good comp.

Ehhhh, Jrue Holiday was the #2 player in the country per RSCI and is a much more explosive athlete than Ayo.

To pick a guy from the same draft, I would see Jeff Teague as more of a comp. Length, craftiness, works hard on both ends, not a knock-down shooter when he entered the league but a guy who can score an avalanche of points when he gets cooking.

Peoria Pipeline · Apr 17, 2018

Second and Chalmers said:
Ehhhh, Jrue Holiday was the #2 player in the country per RSCI and is a much more explosive athlete than Ayo.

To pick a guy from the same draft, I would see Jeff Teague as more of a comp. Length, craftiness, works hard on both ends, not a knock-down shooter when he entered the league but a guy who can score an avalanche of points when he gets cooking.

Jrue is more athletic, but as far as style of play and size, they are similar. Jrue is the exact type of 2 way player i hope Ayo can be. I'm not saying he's on Holiday's level coming out of HS.

IlliniCaboose · Apr 17, 2018

Glad someone posted that Lucas video, as much as I loved Frankie, Lucas was my favorite player from my childhood. Why I always wore number 22 in everything.

imjustsooffended · Apr 17, 2018

Second and Chalmers said:
Ehhhh, Jrue Holiday was the #2 player in the country per RSCI and is a much more explosive athlete than Ayo.

To pick a guy from the same draft, I would see Jeff Teague as more of a comp. Length, craftiness, works hard on both ends, not a knock-down shooter when he entered the league but a guy who can score an avalanche of points when he gets cooking.

That's a worse comparison than Jrue. Dennis Schroder at the same age is what I see for Ayo. Athletic but not above the rim, slick handle, flair around the rim, serviceable shooter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW2nY2NFBbw

nwebb1 · Apr 17, 2018

Second and Chalmers said:
Ehhhh, Jrue Holiday was the #2 player in the country per RSCI and is a much more explosive athlete than Ayo.

To pick a guy from the same draft, I would see Jeff Teague as more of a comp. Length, craftiness, works hard on both ends, not a knock-down shooter when he entered the league but a guy who can score an avalanche of points when he gets cooking.

I think Teague is probably a better athlete than Holiday. That guy could fly

IlliniCC · Apr 17, 2018

I see both. He has a more similar game to Teague in a body similar to Dennis Schroeder.

BWilson25 · Apr 17, 2018

IlliniCaboose said:
Glad someone posted that Lucas video, as much as I loved Frankie, Lucas was my favorite player from my childhood. Why I always wore number 22 in everything.

Nice choice - my brother is friends with him these days and Lucas is still 110%

:chief:

ILHoff · Apr 17, 2018

IlliniCC said:
I see both. He has a more similar game to Teague in a body similar to Dennis Schroeder.

I’ve always thought Jamal Crawford was the closest comparison in body type, athleticism, and ball handling.

BWilson25 · Apr 17, 2018

IlliniCC said:
I see both. He has a more similar game to Teague in a body similar to Dennis Schroeder.

Thank you for using the 'oe' ! Nice to have some decent Deutsch knowledge on the board.:thumb:

MadSeason · Apr 17, 2018

Ive said it from the beginning. Outside of the elite leaping ability, Ayo's game and body type is very similar to John Wall.

Broad shoulders, long wingspan and much stronger than their body type would indicate. Both are adequate but not great shooters with innate ability to finish around the rim.