Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April-June 2016)

[CAHALL15]

Athletic forwards count as bigs to me. We're lacking in that area too btw.

True. This is why Syracuse made their run this past year. If you have skilled, athletic wings, you can put a few of them at different spots in the lineup and get a mismatch somewhere.

I would really love to see what a healthy 3-5 rotation of Thorne, Morgan, Finke, Black, Hill, DJW, and Nichols can do especially with a full offseason with Fletcher. If those guys can get half the results that Nichols has gotten so far, I'd be pretty happy.

 

[IllinoisFan733]

Athletic forwards count as bigs to me. We're lacking in that area too btw.

Yep... i was counting Kipper, Black, Terrence Lewis, Jordan Goodwin, and Justin Smith in the category of athletic forwards. I consider those types of players "Bigs" as well.

There are very dominant true centers available every year, and the blue bloods usually grab those.

 

[Greensboro]

Villanova would beg to differ with you. They only had 1 rotation player above 6-8. Ochefu is a great player and is 6-11 (listed as a F, but played center.)

Other than that, it think you can manage with a lot of 6-7 and 6-8 athletic forwards to handle the rebounding/defense and surround them with shooters.

You're changing the narrative. Theo John is 6'8 and a big by everyone's estimation. The conversation was taking another pg (Frazier) instead of maybe John. So far we have two 6'3" guards in 2017, hoping to get Goodwin & a thought we should add Frazier as well... big difference between 4 guys 6'3" or less than a bunch of athletic forwards 6'7"+. Currently we only have Finke & Black (forgot about DJ) that are listed at 6'7"+ in 2017, then Kipper at 6'6", with no real center, Villanova's roster they have 6 guys 6'7" plus. Those are different definitions of small ball here.

 

[bobbob]

I don't think a single thing said about eligibility has been correct on the last couple pages.

If you are really concerned, brush up the IHSA bylaws 300 section. There is also a quick and dirty 2 page outline on ihsa.org.

There is more than one way to be elgible at a private school is the main takeaway that people need to grasp.

 

[IlliniDent]

I think it comes down to if Groce believes that enough of the wings he has/gets can handle the ball or play the 4. If he feels like more are equipped to play the 4, he may opt for a PG if he has his choice. However, if the wings are more equipped to handle the ball and aren't great down low, then he will most likely opt for a PF type. All this being said, we will not be a spoiled for choice as we want most likely and it will probably be the best available player.

 

[Peoria Illini]

I'm sure in the Chicago area, recruiting by private schools occurs quite frequently, but then there is also a lot jumping from one CPL school to another. And players "move" to another public district all the time for sports. Down here in Peoria, PND does not "recruit" much. Kids that want to play soccer or swim for example, gravitate to PND, just like wrestlers gravitate to Washington, IL and football players would gravitate to Metamora or Washington. And depending on the class, kids move to and from Manual, Richwoods and Central. Some kids are sent to PND by their parents or guardians to give them a better learning environment as well. Just like some Chicago kids move to the suburbs.

 

[SummerofGeorge]

I'm sure in the Chicago area, recruiting by private schools occurs quite frequently, but then there is also a lot jumping from one CPL school to another. And players "move" to another public district all the time for sports. Down here in Peoria, PND does not "recruit" much. Kids that want to play soccer or swim for example, gravitate to PND, just like wrestlers gravitate to Washington, IL and football players would gravitate to Metamora or Washington. And depending on the class, kids move to and from Manual, Richwoods and Central. Some kids are sent to PND by their parents or guardians to give them a better learning environment as well. Just like some Chicago kids move to the suburbs.

LOL, I hope Groce can get Goodwin and Tilmon to "gravitate" to U of I.

 

[PEORIAFLA]

2020 Illinois prep player Adam "Ace" Miller lighting it up at the John Lucas camp..... Young dude is nice Illini nation.

https://twitter.com/TheMacIrvinFire/status/729333413581217792

https://twitter.com/TheMacIrvinFire/status/729420825686872069

 

[FT35]

2020 Illinois prep player Adam "Ace" Miller lighting it up at the John Lucas camp..... Young dude is nice Illini nation.

https://twitter.com/TheMacIrvinFire/status/729333413581217792

https://twitter.com/TheMacIrvinFire/status/729420825686872069

Is he going to Manual? It will be interesting to see if he starts at PG as a Freshman with the big 3 (Williams, Douglas-Watkins and Youngman).

 

[Monte Carlo]

I coach at a private school in Il. And the rules are clearly stated for all schools. The player must reside within 35 miles of the school to remain eligible. They draw a straight line from house to school and disregard actual mileage by streets. The only way a player can transfer from public to private after an athlete has started his HS career is for the athlete to move out of district.
The rules get skirted by both private and public by apartments being rented in a district. I know of both private and public schools that get around the rules this way.

Actually, I don't believe this is correct. A friend of minehad his son transfer from a public high school after his soph year to a private school within the same community (just the two high schools) and the thing he had to do was sit out the first season of sport that he previously played, so he had to sit fall soccer season and then could play basketball at the private school the winter of his first year at the catholic school. This was just the fall of 2014 that the transfer occurred and both the kid's parents live in the same town.

 

[IAmChrisFarley]

Actually, I don't believe this is correct. A friend of minehad his son transfer from a public high school after his soph year to a private school within the same community (just the two high schools) and the thing he had to do was sit out the first season of sport that he previously played, so he had to sit fall soccer season and then could play basketball at the private school the winter of his first year at the catholic school. This was just the fall of 2014 that the transfer occurred and both the kid's parents live in the same town.

So did they have to play say soccer they year before?

 

[PEORIAFLA]

[FONT=&quot]Darius Garland ‏@dariusgarland22 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Blessed to receive an Offer from The University of Illinois [/FONT]

Is he going to Manual? It will be interesting to see if he starts at PG as a Freshman with the big 3 (Williams, Douglas-Watkins and Youngman).

He attended Christ Lutheran which is in Manual district, but a fare share have also went to Richwoods.
If I to say now then I would say yes. He will play but not start at point guard his freshman year.

 

[Monte Carlo]

So did they have to play say soccer they year before?

the way the parent explained it to me was they have to sit the first season of the sport they played the previous season. So, if the kid had not played a fall sport and a winter sport was the first season of his previous year, he would have to sit that season and could play the spring sport. Or if he only played spring sport the prior year at the public high school, he would have to sit all year before he could play a sport.

 

[FT35]

He attended Christ Lutheran which is in Manual district, but a fare share have also went to Richwoods.
If I to say now then I would say yes. He will play but not start at point guard his freshman year.

I've never seen him play in person, but I've been hearing about him for a couple of years. He looks pretty impressive in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm_ZbI7Ztlk

I remember playing against Christ Lutheran when I was a kid. They were always amazing. Pretty sure that Sergio, Marcus and Frank all went there, in addition to Mike Robinson.

 

[IAmChrisFarley]

the way the parent explained it to me was they have to sit the first season of the sport they played the previous season. So, if the kid had not played a fall sport and a winter sport was the first season of his previous year, he would have to sit that season and could play the spring sport. Or if he only played spring sport the prior year at the public high school, he would have to sit all year before he could play a sport.

Makes sense. Thanks.

 

[Illini B-Ball Fan]

If we recruit and develop a team like this one, that out-rebounds their opponent by double-digits, we won't need many bigs next year, just flyin' Illini all over again: (those were the days, my friends):

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

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Actually, I don't believe this is correct. A friend of minehad his son transfer from a public high school after his soph year to a private school within the same community (just the two high schools) and the thing he had to do was sit out the first season of sport that he previously played, so he had to sit fall soccer season and then could play basketball at the private school the winter of his first year at the catholic school. This was just the fall of 2014 that the transfer occurred and both the kid's parents live in the same town.

Now that I think about it, you are probably right. Most of my athletes (4 transfers in in 15 years) have only played one sport and thus have had to sit for one year for me.

 

[chief9]

I'm sure in the Chicago area, recruiting by private schools occurs quite frequently, but then there is also a lot jumping from one CPL school to another. And players "move" to another public district all the time for sports. Down here in Peoria, PND does not "recruit" much. Kids that want to play soccer or swim for example, gravitate to PND, just like wrestlers gravitate to Washington, IL and football players would gravitate to Metamora or Washington. And depending on the class, kids move to and from Manual, Richwoods and Central. Some kids are sent to PND by their parents or guardians to give them a better learning environment as well. Just like some Chicago kids move to the suburbs.

That may be what you want to believe, but I went to catholic high school south of Peoria, and trust me when I say ALL catholic high schools recruit. Althoff is a great example... That doesn't mean all athletes go there just for sports, but yes some certainly do.

 

[chief9]

He attended Christ Lutheran which is in Manual district, but a fare share have also went to Richwoods.
If I to say now then I would say yes. He will play but not start at point guard his freshman year.

Saw Christ Lutheran play against my son's grade school this year. Word around the gym while talking to parents was that none of them wanted to play for Booth, and that most of the parents didn't want their kids playing for Booth.

Heard a couple of the kids may go to prep school to avoid playing there

 

[blmillini]

That may be what you want to believe, but I went to catholic high school south of Peoria, and trust me when I say ALL catholic high schools recruit. Althoff is a great example... That doesn't mean all athletes go there just for sports, but yes some certainly do.

+1 And, it is worse at "non-boundaried public schools", like University High School in Normal where tuition is really affordable.

 

[qcillini13]

I'm sure in the Chicago area, recruiting by private schools occurs quite frequently, but then there is also a lot jumping from one CPL school to another. And players "move" to another public district all the time for sports. Down here in Peoria, PND does not "recruit" much. Kids that want to play soccer or swim for example, gravitate to PND, just like wrestlers gravitate to Washington, IL and football players would gravitate to Metamora or Washington. And depending on the class, kids move to and from Manual, Richwoods and Central. Some kids are sent to PND by their parents or guardians to give them a better learning environment as well. Just like some Chicago kids move to the suburbs.

Was not talking about another city school in Peoria. I talked to a few of these players and they were given vouchers to go to school at PND. If essentially giving a kid a scholarship to come to your school isn't recruiting I'm not sure what is.

 

[Deleted member 4960]

I agree you don't need a big to be successful in this day and age. Flying Illini, Michigan from a few years ago. If you have athletic guards and forwards with mid size (6'5 - 6'7) who can rebound you can go far. Unfortunately our guards are not that athletic, except for Nunn ( he should rebound better). Our two athletic PF didn't play last year. I hope we will be better all around this year with Leron, Kipper, Maverick. We need to recruit more of the Jordan Goodwin, Terrance Lewis, type of players.

 

[IllinoisFan733]

I agree you don't need a big to be successful in this day and age. Flying Illini, Michigan from a few years ago. If you have athletic guards and forwards with mid size (6'5 - 6'7) who can rebound you can go far. Unfortunately our guards are not that athletic, except for Nunn ( he should rebound better). Our two athletic PF didn't play last year. I hope we will be better all around this year with Leron, Kipper, Maverick. We need to recruit more of the Jordan Goodwin, Terrance Lewis, type of players.

I think you mean "land" them. Groce is recruiting those types of players hard, however he can't force them to sign with the Illini.

 

[Illiniguy13]

I agree you don't need a big to be successful in this day and age. Flying Illini, Michigan from a few years ago. If you have athletic guards and forwards with mid size (6'5 - 6'7) who can rebound you can go far. Unfortunately our guards are not that athletic, except for Nunn ( he should rebound better). Our two athletic PF didn't play last year. I hope we will be better all around this year with Leron, Kipper, Maverick. We need to recruit more of the Jordan Goodwin, Terrance Lewis, type of players.

IMO In most cases, you're going to want at least one true big, or at the very least guys who are in that 6'7" range who play much bigger. Most teams that have the athletic mid-sized players you speak of have at least one true big like Villanova for example. I think you can go far with those kinds of players, no doubt. Small-ball is effective a lot of the time. But a lot of teams these days still have that big traditional 5. I don't care if you have 3 or 4 of those 6'5-6'7" athletes--if you're going to match up defensively against a 6'11" banger who makes a living on the block, you want an answer for that. Not all of those types of players are Draymond Green.

 

[Newman]

IMO In most cases, you're going to want at least one true big, or at the very least guys who are in that 6'7" range who play much bigger. Most teams that have the athletic mid-sized players you speak of have at least one true big like Villanova for example. I think you can go far with those kinds of players, no doubt. Small-ball is effective a lot of the time. But a lot of teams these days still have that big traditional 5. I don't care if you have 3 or 4 of those 6'5-6'7" athletes--if you're going to match up defensively against a 6'11" banger who makes a living on the block, you want an answer for that. Not all of those types of players are Draymond Green.

You need a big post that can stop easy points in the paint, or an athletic guy that can block or alter shots at the rim. We don't have a single one of those right now, and still wouldn't have it with Lewis, Goodwin, or any of the other athletic forwards mentioned. Maybe Black can get there, but we haven't seen that aspect of his game yet.