Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-February 2018)

[BananaShampoo]

It worries me that big men have become our new "we need a PG". If it's not one thing it's another.

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[Illini Beer 4 All]

And our MVP is from Florida and committed to the captain of said sunken ship because he had a chance to take the reins of an offense.

Our MVP is from Tennessee. To deny that is folly.

Trent didn't have nearly the competition we'll have for these guys we're going for now either.

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[mattcoldagelli]

It all depends on the player. If there is a connection that can be built on it can make up for a losing program. If there isnt a connect you need to sell them on something which in that case was playing time.

In the case of Liddell and Okoro it's literally a combo. Can basically promise playing time to go with the connection.

Certainly.

My concern is that we seem to be failing at selling people on ample playing time. That’s not a great testament to our staff’s current recruiting prowess.

 

[IlliniDent]

Certainly.

My concern is that we seem to be failing at selling people on ample playing time. That’s not a great testament to our staff’s current recruiting prowess.

Agreed, and why it is absolutely critical to land Okoro and Liddell. We have to land the guys in our backyard that we can sell on ample playing time.

I still have a ton of hope in Smith and Damonte going forward, they are just freshmen this year. I think Ayo will be a phenomenal player once he gets adjusted and obviously Frazier has been doing very well.

We have a ton to sell about this program going forward, but we need to have Liddell and Okoro jump on board so that we can keep the momentum going and prove that this team will get there.

 

[ivwilsoniv]

Yep, agreed.

I never bought the Antigua hype, but I did expect better from this staff at this point in the game. On the whole, a "good" recruiting haul, but critical pieces are left unaddressed. And that's concerning -- particularly when we have such obvious playing time to offer.

The coaching staff doesn't have time to recruit! It's a full time job figuring out how to win a B1G game!

 

[GranMastaFlex]

And our MVP is from Florida and committed to the captain of said sunken ship because he had a chance to take the reins of an offense.

One guy is an outlier not the norm. I can name drop 9 counter examples in about thirty seconds.

Its going to take top Illinois talent to get us back. These kids were 2 years old the last time Illinois was a GOOD program.

 

[Illini Beer 4 All]

If the Josh Cunningham rumor is right, he would be a great addition. If we could add tevian Jones, Cunningham, and a 5th year C to Ayo, that would be a big help for next year.

My concern though is that thus year is ruining our chances with our top 2019 targets.

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[IlliniDent]

If the Josh Cunningham rumor is right, he would be a great addition. If we could add tevian Jones, Cunningham, and a 5th year C to Ayo, that would be a big help for next year.

My concern though is that thus year is ruining our chances with our top 2019 targets.

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Luckily our top targets in 2019 are bigs and athletic wings so there is the sell for them to come right in with all these freshmen who will be juniors at that point and be a part of a team that will be entirely different than the one they see today on the floor.

 

[BananaShampoo]

If the Josh Cunningham rumor is right, he would be a great addition. If we could add tevian Jones, Cunningham, and a 5th year C to Ayo, that would be a big help for next year.

My concern though is that thus year is ruining our chances with our top 2019 targets.

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What Josh Cunningham rumor?

 

[Illini Beer 4 All]

What Josh Cunningham rumor?

Someone said he would be a 5th year transfer due to his connection with Chin. It's certainly plausible.

Cunningham originally went to Bradley due to assistant coach Chin Coleman. Chin left then Cunningham transferred to Dayton. Well Archie left and the team isn't playing well, so I could certainly see him leave and play his last year here given the connection with Chin and Morgan Park.

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[BananaShampoo]

Someone said he would be a 5th year transfer due to his connection with Chin. It's certainly plausible.

Cunningham originally went to Bradley due to assistant coach Chin Coleman. Chin left then Cunningham transferred to Dayton. Well Archie left and the team isn't playing well, so I could certainly see him leave and play his last year here given the connection with Chin and Morgan Park.

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Perhaps but would he have to sit out a year again? Would love to have him.

 

[Illini Beer 4 All]

Perhaps but would he have to sit out a year again? Would love to have him.

Not if he graduates

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[JoseyWales83]

Well if anyone thinks we are going to have 3 new players next year including Ayo is dreaming. I’m guessing we get at least 4 new players in here. Ayo plus a big and 2 wings who can shoot.

 

[Love the Illini]

I think not winning always hurts recruiting. If you are going after top players like EJ and Okoro they believe they are good enough to go and play anywhere in the country they aren't worried about minutes. Not saying that Underwood doesn't have a good chance at getting one or both of them but losing makes it harder. In Okoro's case you are going up against some of the elite programs in the country in Kansas and North Carolina.

 

[IlliniinIowa]

Well if anyone thinks we are going to have 3 new players next year including Ayo is dreaming. I’m guessing we get at least 4 new players in here. Ayo plus a big and 2 wings who can shoot.

Wow. I was dreaming with 3. Yet you think 4? Interesting....

 

[TCTORNADO]

+Cunningham is a MPHS grad, MIF product and good friends with Ayo.

 

[LouAlcinder]

I think this Cunningham rumor is wishful thinking. Plus....couldn't he also follow Archie Miller and go to Indiana? Even if he leaves Dayton, I don't think there's a guarantee he comes to us.

You could be right, but didn't BU say they'll add a big in the spring? Maybe just wishful thinking or maybe he was foreshadowing? We'll see....

 

[TCTORNADO]

There’s already 2 open scholarships plus Ayo. Vesel doesn’t seem Big Ten ready at all. TeJon is in the doghouse big time. Kipper doesn’t seem like a fit personality wise. At least one or two transfers seems pretty inevitable to me.

So what you are saying is we could possibly have a 6 man class on top of BU's first class of 5.

 

[Illini Beer 4 All]

You could be right, but didn't BU say they'll add a big in the spring? Maybe just wishful thinking or maybe he was foreshadowing? We'll see....

If Underwood has talked to Cunningham, he's in big trouble. The answer would clearly by Nick Irvin and/Or Ayo has talked to him.

That's why while everything fits and seems plausible this is a rumor that it is impossible to substantiate at all until the season is over.

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[Swamp Donkey]

Need bigs and shooters! The bigs might be seeing that we can’t shoot from outside, which lets defenses pack the lane.

 

[Illini Beer 4 All]

Need bigs and shooters! The bigs might be seeing that we can’t shoot from outside, which lets defenses pack the lane.

No bigs mean no one sags to help which means there are no open shots. It works both ways. You need a full complimentary team.



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[westcoastillini]

What the heck does it take for us to get a Big?????

2018
Ayo
Wing
Big

 

[Deleted member 8632]

Duke locks up Zion Williamson and now has the top 3 2018 recruits. Can we please just have a serviceable big man.....please.

 

[Spoon House]

Duke locks up Zion Williamson and now has the top 3 2018 recruits. Can we please just have a serviceable big man.....please.

My favorite part about this is watching UNC and Kentucky fans complain about it.

 

[PlayAZ]

There’s already 2 open scholarships plus Ayo. Vesel doesn’t seem Big Ten ready at all. TeJon is in the doghouse big time. Kipper doesn’t seem like a fit personality wise. At least one or two transfers seems pretty inevitable to me.

I stated quite awhile ago, I thought we would ultimately have a 4 man class, still do...don't think Matic goes anywhere unless it is back to Europe.

But if that were to happen, and I believe the likelihood is very high that Tejon is a given at this point, Kipper might make sense as well. That would get us to a 5-6 man class available. I think we would still go 4 and roll 2 for 2019 though.