Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
Anyone who gets duped, whether by nefarious intent or simply erroneous information or overly optimistic homers, has only the mirror to blame.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (December 2020)
- Status
As we say in the Quad City area, "that's a whole lot of manure being spread around".
SCREW THE INSIDERS, WHO'S WITH ME
In 52 years here, I've never heard that in or near the QC
sacraig
- The desert
Illini in OC
In. The. Alley.
Me too, anyone seen luckylefty?
I'm not a huge fan of taking out frustrations on "Insiders" so maybe we can move the topic back to who are next big disappointment will come from?
By my count there are only ~5 unsigned big men in the 2021 recruiting class that could solve Illinois' potential hole if Kofi leaves after this season. Some googling indicates that some of these guys are essentially locked up already and I've indicated my (team prediction) based on those google searches but other guys seem to still have a relatively open recruitment. Google results also indicated a few possible 2022 recruits that might consider reclassing to 2021.
Does anyone either have inside information regarding any Illinois conversations with these recruits? OR alternatively if you're just better at using google than me could you confirm or deny if Illinois has even a slight chance at any of these guys?
1. #1 Patrick Baldwin 6'-9" / 190lb (DUKE)
2. #2 Chet Homgren 7'-0" / 190lb (GONZAGA)
3. #10 Michael Foster 6'-9" / 220lb (PRO)
4. #22 Efton Reid 6'-11" / 225lb (OPEN - no Illinois talk)
5. #23 Charles Bediako 6'-11" / 215lb (ALABAMBA)
2022 Recruits with some rumors of potential 2021 reclass options:
6. #6 Brandon Huntley-Hatfield 6'-9" / 220lb (MISSISSIPPI)
7. #9 Jarace Walker 6'-8" / 220lb (OPEN - no Illinois talk)
By my count there are only ~5 unsigned big men in the 2021 recruiting class that could solve Illinois' potential hole if Kofi leaves after this season. Some googling indicates that some of these guys are essentially locked up already and I've indicated my (team prediction) based on those google searches but other guys seem to still have a relatively open recruitment. Google results also indicated a few possible 2022 recruits that might consider reclassing to 2021.
Does anyone either have inside information regarding any Illinois conversations with these recruits? OR alternatively if you're just better at using google than me could you confirm or deny if Illinois has even a slight chance at any of these guys?
1. #1 Patrick Baldwin 6'-9" / 190lb (DUKE)
2. #2 Chet Homgren 7'-0" / 190lb (GONZAGA)
3. #10 Michael Foster 6'-9" / 220lb (PRO)
4. #22 Efton Reid 6'-11" / 225lb (OPEN - no Illinois talk)
5. #23 Charles Bediako 6'-11" / 215lb (ALABAMBA)
2022 Recruits with some rumors of potential 2021 reclass options:
6. #6 Brandon Huntley-Hatfield 6'-9" / 220lb (MISSISSIPPI)
7. #9 Jarace Walker 6'-8" / 220lb (OPEN - no Illinois talk)
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Regarding the first point, this is very wrong, I know significantly less than most on this board. Watching recruiting on this board is akin to watching a sporting event in itself. I appreciate everyone's contribution. Carry on....
Regarding the second section, we had a run from '79-06 where we were in the national conversation for all but a couple years (thanks Satan). I can't comment intelligently about pre-80's (or post to be honest), but I hear the Whiz kids were pretty good.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I do believe that there are people, whether boosters, or someone else that may have some contact with staff, that get the coaching staffs opinion on where they stand. JFG's group always seemed very optimistic on every recruit they got in the top 3 with. BU has been less so. But, there are definitely people that know something, whether 1st, 2nd or further hand.
I can say with almost 100% certainty that Illinois is not going to come in late and snatch a Top 25 or Top 10 overall recruit.
Let's please keep in mind that this "Top 10" thing has only been for the last month, and that most of the kids we are recruiting were 10 years old or younger the last time the Illini even made the tourney. Until last year, the program was BAD for a disturbingly long stretch. Current recruits don't remember when the Illini were good. Coaching staff has done an admirable job turning things around with high-level recruits like Ayo, Kofi, Miller and Curbelo. We need a great season, long run in the tourney and a couple guys drafted to truly establish that we are "back" as a player for top talent. I am confident that *if* those things happen, this staff will be much better able to leverage that success on the recruiting trail than Weber and his staff did. Patience.
Grew up next to a pig farm just south of Moline. It’s true.
Nothing insightful here, but college bball success is highly driven by coaching and recruiting. Great programs dump weak coaches and get better ones, and have resources and boosters to help out with facilities, top assistants, recruiting, etc. A lot of schools get temporary success with a coach or a player that elevates them, but without the ability of the program to sustain it, that usually ends.
WRT Illinois, the wrong turn that was Guenther's decision with Self has been well litigated, and I personally am of the opinion that he would have assembled a NC team here. YMMV. It will be interesting to see how far Underwood takes us, but there's a lot going right at the moment despite the current problems with this recruiting cycle. I think he'll have sustained success and bring a strong culture, not just a season or two of success. It's a shame the pandemic is limiting fans, but obviously that's just a bad hand you gotta deal with. Underwood is a never quit kind of coach, so I have a lot of confidence he'll land a good class before it's over.
Not sure where Jermaine is development wise but suspect he will never be a starter. Lieb however, could be a different story but will need a couple of years. Bridging next year with a transfer seems like a reasonable option. Other possibility is a European or JUCO. Giorgi is also a possibility if Cole and/or BBV is ready at the 4. Going to need a committee to replace Kofi. Of course we are assuming Kofi leaves next year and haven’t seen him demonstrate NBA readiness at this point. Bottom line, enjoy the year and worry about next year next year.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Paragraph #2 - you nailed it! We had a really strong run for 27 consecutive years. Before that, we were also really good pre-1971. (1971 to 1978 weak).
And now we have a top 5 team to distract ourselves with. I’ll still lurk in this thread for the gifs and the Larry Bird comparisons.
Portillo's for the win!!We could always argue about the best pizza or the right name for the pancake house....
Soo, uhh who are we even recruiting? Also, I feel a little bit like like Loyalty just had its own version of ‘Q’. The added ‘C’ tricked us all!
...pay no attention to the ‘Q’ in my handle
...pay no attention to the ‘Q’ in my handle
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Cardet and Melendez it seems. We might only have 2 schollys left to fill anyway if Kofi doesn't go pro. And if Monte and Frazier decide to stay we'd have plenty of bodies anyway without having to fill those schollys. Taking on a couple projects might be the route.
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Interesting read on newly offered AJ Storr and how he feels about the offer
https://stockrisers.com/s/234/2022-prospect-aj-storr-is-emerging-as-a-national-recruit
https://stockrisers.com/s/234/2022-prospect-aj-storr-is-emerging-as-a-national-recruit
Looks like some 3 stars are still available from our offer list. Other than that, hoping for someone to blow up senior year like Mark Smith did....
Pretty sure we are out on Holmgren, Hardy, Bediako, Cardet, the only big names left out there on our list.
Also, 247 says TyTy, Barnes, Jones, Weston, Brown, Ingram, Bynum and Love hasn't signed (not sure if accurate). Not sure where we ended things with a few of them, or how hard we were after some as well. If they had a change of heart, I'm sure we would welcome some back with open arms
So maybe someone with more info can help me out on this: is this good news or bad?
His offer list is pretty unimpressive. Is he someone who's about to make a jump in the rankings? Or is this offer an indication we're losing ground with some of the other higher ranked 2022 guards we've been involved with, like McKneely and Schutt?
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
What if, and just hear me out, we can't get any new commitments because the entire roster has already notified the staff that they are coming back next year to win back-to-back nattys? It makes too much sense to be wrong.
- Status