Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (August 2020)
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Hey T, you saying that they are playing the waiting game for him?
I do not doubt that they like Jones, but I just do not see where they would turn down Nesbitt. If they would then recruiting has to be in an even greater spot than I thought.
Starting Five: Bradley Beal Elite Challenge, more impact decisions coming
The Bradley Beal
Elite Challenge did not disappoint this weekend. The event featured members of the organizations 15, 16 and 17U teams all mixed together into four teams who competed for internal bragging rights.
As the program's namesake looked on, at least 10 high major prospects took the floor and 2021 four-star Jordan Nesbitt
was as impressive as anybody in the gym while leading his team to a title.
Anybody who reads my work on a regular basis knows that I am a pretty big advocate for Nesbitt's game and potential. As he communicated with teammates, drained several jumpers and then physically beasted others when he needed to, Nesbitt easily backed up his top 60 national ranking.
Memphis is trying to make a push for Nesbitt and Illinois is there too but my thinking here is that it may be tough to beat Travis Ford and hometown Saint Louis University and I've made a Futurecast in SLU's for Nesbitt.
https://basketballrecruiting.rivals...-elite-challenge-more-impact-decisions-coming
The Bradley Beal
Elite Challenge did not disappoint this weekend. The event featured members of the organizations 15, 16 and 17U teams all mixed together into four teams who competed for internal bragging rights.
As the program's namesake looked on, at least 10 high major prospects took the floor and 2021 four-star Jordan Nesbitt
was as impressive as anybody in the gym while leading his team to a title.
Anybody who reads my work on a regular basis knows that I am a pretty big advocate for Nesbitt's game and potential. As he communicated with teammates, drained several jumpers and then physically beasted others when he needed to, Nesbitt easily backed up his top 60 national ranking.
Memphis is trying to make a push for Nesbitt and Illinois is there too but my thinking here is that it may be tough to beat Travis Ford and hometown Saint Louis University and I've made a Futurecast in SLU's for Nesbitt.
https://basketballrecruiting.rivals...-elite-challenge-more-impact-decisions-coming
sacraig
- The desert
I agree with everything you said here except for "good coach."
Travis Ford one of the dirtiest in the game.
Steelyunk
- Tobacco Road
I don't know how we know he's one of the dirtiest in the game but I'm not in a position to say he's not - he very well may be. Honestly, I don't care. If he gets caught doing something unethical or illegal, he should be sanctioned and/or fired. Since we're discussing who's dirty, we should ask ourselves why college revenue producing sports exist at all. Why do colleges serve as developmental leagues for the NFL and NBA? Why is the NCAA a $900 million organization? There's zero logical reason for colleges to organize sports teams to generate revenue that has anything to do with education. So I'd say revenue producing college sports is dirty - it's designed to make money, not to educate kids. But apparently there's an acceptable level of corruption where we can feel good about exploiting kids to generate $900 million annually. I guess it's kind of an honor among thieves thing.
Oh I agree the NCAA is just as corrupt and dirty as any coach in college basketball or football.
Steelyunk
- Tobacco Road
I know my post probably sounded strident and that wasn't my intention. I love watching college sports - but hate that its done at colleges. Having said that - it ties me to my alma mater in a way our academic leadership simply can't. Ultimately, this is a cartel that rewards criminality. Calipari has had two final fours vacated. In any legitimate business organization he'd be unemployable. In the NCAA, he's the highest paid coach in the country.
Deleted member 4333
D
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2 CB's for Nesbitt to SLU
We will be fine without Nesbitt. OK!
I'm assuming you mean that Illinois is the one holding out here. If that's the case it's a little interesting to me since I count 4 openings (Trent, DMFW, Kofi, Ayo) and possibly a 5th (Transfer or Miller).
Obviously the staff is saving a spot for someone like Micawber Etienne or Franck Kepnang at Center and I wouldn't be surprised to see that spot go to another project big if they strike out on those two; maybe someone like Deiman Reyes? But I would think Jordan Nesbitt would be a top priority recruit at this point unless the staff thinks they can land 2 of Bryce Hopkins, Brandon Weston, David Jones, DaRon Holmes, or Michael Foster...
I see Travis Branham and Brian Snow both made Crystal Ball picks for Nesbitt to SMU and both seem to have pretty high 2021/All-Time Accuracy stats. So maybe this ship has sailed? I just hope that means we're getting the other names I listed and our staff didn't push him away just to recruit someone like Rafael Pinzon, Drissa Traore, Yerald Mieses, Nate Santos, or Alexis Reyes (who would be fine additions to the team, but I'd much rather have Nesbitt or any of the names I listed above).
I hope so. That boy is a beast. Id rather have him than any other recruit in the class.
More than Etienne, Jones, Foster, or Weston?
I’ll take a Big Mac. You pick the sides.
Yes. Just my opinion. Out of those guys Ive only seen Weston and Foster play in person and Foster was young. I think Nesbitt is a game changer. He is a real alpha from watching him play. You can see things flowing different when he is in the game. Lead guard for real. If his recruitment lasted until the Spring and there was high school season, the blue bloods would come sniffing. Etienne fills the biggest need, but I like Nesbitt. Weston was a slasher and utilityman last year. Watson and Miller had the ball. There might be more to him, I just didn't see it last year with those strong guards.
Man what a strange recruitment on Nesbitt. Earlier this month his recruitment went National in scope with involvement from Texas, Alabama, Memphis, Maryland, and Illinois. Only to be upstaged by his supposed premature commitment to a community college. Something doesn't add up here. Sort of reminds me of the Carte Are Gordon recruitment.
Interesting...did he commit to a community college? Or are you referring to SLU?
Being
a beast in HS at his size is easy. In college, it's a lot harder. I'll take Jones.
I dont know much about Jones. People compare him to Feliz. I hear you. Level of competition definitely matters. I watched Derrick Rose in high school. He was a beast against kids, a beast in college and a beast in the NBA. Nesbitt has IT in him.
We aren't comparing him to Derrick Rose are we? Rose was a 3rd team All American by his Sophomore year. Simeon lost only 12 games in his entire Career. Nesbit's team lost 9 just last season. JN is just now breaking into the top 100 on some sites, where I don' think Rose was ever outside of the top 10 in his class.
I like Nesbitt. A lot. He plays hard and seems to have a great attitude. I would be very pleased if he ended up at U of I.
Derrick Rose was a HOF talent, and is still a good NBA player despite losing a lot of athleticism to injury. Nesbitt will likely have to work his tail off and improve a great deal to get a legitimate shot at the NBA. Rose probably would have been a very good NBA player right out of high school.
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