Nojelle Eastern told me he was visiting next week. Also mentioned he and Jeremiah Tilmon would like to play together at the next level. Releasing Top 5 in July
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April-June 2016)
- Status
Illini continue to shine with 2017 PG Trent Frazier
Four-star scoring playmaker Trent Frazier named Illinois his leader after an in-home visit with John Groce and Dustin Ford in April, and the Illini have kept the heat turned up in Florida.
Meanwhile, Frazier has been red-hot on the court this month. He led Wellington HS to a championship at the University of Florida team camp last weekend, while averaging 27 points and six assists per game.
"He's been incredible," Wellington head coach Matt Colin said.
http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/story/1681340-illini-continue-shine-trent-frazier
Four-star scoring playmaker Trent Frazier named Illinois his leader after an in-home visit with John Groce and Dustin Ford in April, and the Illini have kept the heat turned up in Florida.
Meanwhile, Frazier has been red-hot on the court this month. He led Wellington HS to a championship at the University of Florida team camp last weekend, while averaging 27 points and six assists per game.
"He's been incredible," Wellington head coach Matt Colin said.
http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/story/1681340-illini-continue-shine-trent-frazier
Doug Bucshon @IllinoisRivals 25m25 minutes ago O'Fallon, IL
2019 SF Malik Hall (@iammalikhall) from Metea Valley visiting #Illini today
2019 SF Malik Hall (@iammalikhall) from Metea Valley visiting #Illini today
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Sure like reading that ! :thumb:
I'm curious to see how Frazier does in July. He didn't have a great spring, but he just dominated at a team camp (lower level of comp than the circuit). There's a lot to like about his game, but he could end up ranked top 75-ish or he could end up fringe 150. Either way, great backup plan if we miss out on Goodwin/Scruggs/Eastern. We'd probably take him along with any one of them, but not if we get two of the three.
He's not a backup plan, the staff wants to lock him up soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkAfzl2Sa-I
Emmitt Williams & Kevin Knox are the true studs of this team, but this gives a good snippet of what Frazier brings to the table. Idc what anyone says here, he'd be an excellent pick up for us.
I don't doubt that. At this point you can't say no to a kid with his skill set and potential. He, Te'Jon, and Da'Monte would represent a nice future at the position.
What does our recruiting "depth chart" look like for the 2017 class, for those we currently seem to have a chance with? Let's consider we have only three spots.
My guess is something like this, but I'm not nearly as in-tune with things as others here:
Scruggs/Frazier
Goodwin/Eastern/Lewis
Tilmon/John/Ulaeyunmo
My guess is something like this, but I'm not nearly as in-tune with things as others here:
Scruggs/Frazier
Goodwin/Eastern/Lewis
Tilmon/John/Ulaeyunmo
Trent Frazier would be a huge get. We'll need another true PG next season (TJL will be the only one on the roster)
Adding Frazier would allow Groce and staff too focus on Goodwin, Lewis, Tilmon and other big wings and post players.
You start stock-piling good PGs, you start attracting better players.
Adding Frazier would allow Groce and staff too focus on Goodwin, Lewis, Tilmon and other big wings and post players.
You start stock-piling good PGs, you start attracting better players.
There are very few recruits who will ever commit to a school without ever visiting, and I'd bet the majority of them would only do it for big time programs. So I am not sure Groce "accepting" is very relevant. But I'd bet that if a big time recruit ever wanted to commit without a visit, Groce would gladly accept.
Did Tejon ever visit unofficially before his commitment? I recall his official being after the commitment.
Not Groce or Illinois, but didn't Luwane Pipkins commit to UMass w/o visiting?
Yep, he had an unofficial a month before he committed.
Kind of surprised they are so enamored with a kid at this level at this point in summer considering his reported spring.
Groce really needs a very strong 2017 class to move the program forward and keep his job.
Okay, I'll play. Listed in order of priority/preference irrespective of likelihood of committing. I'm listing only players with whom we have an established relationship and indications of recent contact/mutual interest (i.e. some probability of landing). High priority targets indicated with an asterisk. Absolute top preferences indicated with a double asterisk. Anyone with an asterisk is someone we'd take a commitment from immediately.
PG/CG
1. Paul Scruggs**
2. Nojel Eastern**
3. Trent Frazier*
4. Alonzo Verge
5. CJ Roberts
6. McKinley Wright
WING
1. Jordan Goodwin**
2. Tugs Bowen**
3. Terrence Lewis**
4. Justin Smith**
5. Jarrett Culver*
BIG
1. Jeremiah Tilmon**
2. Malik Williams**
3. Derek Culver**
4. Victor Uyaelumno*
5. Mayan Kiir*
6. Theo John*
7. Christian Negron
8. RaiQuan Gray
In terms of likelihood of ending up at Illinois, I'd separate these guys into four groups. Within the groups, I've ranked them in order of commitment likelihood based on my current gut feeling (caveat: always bet on the field).
Strong Possibility
1. Trent Frazier
2. Jordan Goodwin
3. Jeremiah Tilmon
4. Terrence Lewis
5. Christian Negron
Reasonable Change
1. Nojel Eastern
2. Justin Smith
3. Victor Uyaelumno
4. Paul Scruggs
5. Alonzo Verge (he has work to do before they'd take him, but I think it's plausible)
Not expecting it, but there's an outside chance
1. Jarrett Culver
2. Theo John
3. Mayan Kiir
4. CJ Roberts
5. Derek Culver
6. Malik Williams
Highly Unlikely
1. Tugs Bowen
2. McKinley Wright
3. RaiQuan Gray
With some of these guys, we could be the fallback if their presumed leader(s) receive commitments from similarly ranked players at the same position. An interesting and potentially devastating note: Michigan State is recruiting most of our top targets and will have potentially 6 scholarships available. It's possible that MSU could pull in our dream class of Scruggs, Bowen, Tilmon, Malik Williams, Eastern, and Goodwin. Not likely, but if that happened I'd hate MSU with a passion forever and ever! (Unless we ended up with Frazier, Lewis, Justin Smith, and Derek Culver, in which case I'd be like, "well...okay, I'm somewhat mad, but that's still awesome.")
To be fair, he didn't get a lot of run in the spring. He played a limited role in most of the games. Same thing happened to Marcus LoVett with the Mac Irvin Fire a couple years ago: he played 10-12 minutes a game backing up Brunson and everyone said he was too wild and failed to develop and whatever. When he finally got a chance to show what he could do, he tore it up.
I think the biggest thing with Frazier is he has a projectable skill set: he can play on or off the ball, long arms, bouncy athlete, nice outside shot, creative finisher. He has to get stronger and develop consistency, but he's got the right makeup to run Groce's offense if/when it all comes together. Guys like Da'Monte and Frazier haven't fully blossomed yet, but you can squint and see what they'll grow into if the light turns all the way on.
Awesome post. That really breaks things down well. I'd add that we have offered Kris Wilkes and Jaren Jackson and I guess I have not heard if they have eliminated us yet or not. They'd surely be lumped into the highly unlikely category, but have a double asterisk.
That's fair. I was thinking those two, along with Victor Bailey, were so unlikely they weren't worth listing. But they haven't eliminated us and they do (very rarely) say nice things about us, so I think you're right. Two asterisks, highly unlikely :thumb:
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
I may be the only one thinking this...but the in-state 2019 class is looking better and better. That's an encouraging sign.
Captain Bubbles
- Fairfield, IL
I found this interesting. Surprised no one has commented about this yet. Hopefully, the Illini can gain ground on Eastern. TCTornado, where are you?
TJL unofficially visited C/U weekend of 8/7 and committed around 9/16.
Washington D.C.
My source on Eastern has not been able to talk to Mike Ellis (his HS coach), but I can tell you we will be in it to the end on Scruggs.:thumb:
I saw where Eastern and his Evanston team were in EL for an MSU team camp last weekend.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Awesome post.
- Status