Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-February 2018)

[t7nich]

Not sure if this article on Hinson has already been posted or not. It's from last week..

https://olemiss.rivals.com/news/junior-blake-hinson-turns-full-attention-to-future-in-basketball

Hinson, whose brother plays at South Carolina, told Rivals that Washington State, Seton Hall, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and SMU are the five programs standing out.

 

[Illini Resurgence]

Creaning?

I admit I am surprised by this rash of offers. I think there's going to be an epic round of creaning in the offseason.

Recruiting for 2018 is nearing the end, we only have one commit, and two open rides, plus we may see 1 or 2 guys transfer out voluntarily. I am far more concerned about finding two more high quality players than any Creaning.

 

[UnderwoodsCoffeeGuy]

Here's my absolute guess at our 2018 rotation:

Ayo/Trent/Tyler
Trent/Damonte/Jacobs
Smith/Kipper/AJ
Leron/Trice
Finke/Greg/Teets


-I don't see a lot of time for Te'Jon next season and could see him leaving.
-I think Mark Smith is going to surprise everyone next year. He wants to be great and trusts Underwood. Same with Damonte.
-I really hope Kipper can find his motor this off season, but who really knows?
-I'd like to see the remaining scholarship go to a big man. Project or not, we need tall guys.

I don't think this is a win the B1G team, but they could make the tournament if we can rebound as a team

 

[haasi]

^ It’s just amazing how people are always, consistently, so concerned about creaning when we actually have roster spots to give out. Let the creaning discussion commence when we’re offering scholarships after we have 13 filled.


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[t7nich]

Recruiting for 2018 is nearing the end, we only have one commit, and two open rides, plus we may see 1 or 2 guys transfer out voluntarily. I am far more concerned about finding two more high quality players than any Creaning.

Recruiting 2018 is going to ramp up quite a bit here in a few weeks (if not sooner), for Illinois at least. I agree wholeheartedly with the rest of your post regarding Creaning.

 

[LouAlcinder]

2018 JUCO recruiting top 100 list. Trice checks in at #93.

http://www.jucorecruiting.com/2018top100rankings

Haven't these rankings been out for a few months now? If so, players get better, correct?

 

[helppitch]

Recruiting for 2018 is nearing the end, we only have one commit, and two open rides, plus we may see 1 or 2 guys transfer out voluntarily. I am far more concerned about finding two more high quality players than any Creaning.

Recruiting does not end for 2018 until after the normal multitude of coaching changes that takes place in the spring every year.

 

[Dan]

Four-star junior Tre Mitchell is hearing from #Xavier #Stanford #Vandy #Pitt #Illinois and others,
https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/four-star-tre-mitchell-s-recruitment-is-heating-up

 

[BlindLoyalty]

What about Jethro Mbiya? Underwood have any leftover Texas connections to San Jacinto?

Thshisumpa was creaned by Hurley at Arizona State. Raw would be a very generous description of his skill and basketball play during his time in tempe. iirc, he also had off the court issues and was suspended the final month or so of the season for a team in desperate need of size.

 

[doowink]

:thumb:

Just one????

 

[Illiniguy13]

Yikes!

Wouldn't get too caught up in it. Can't talk his athleticism up enough. He is a freak.

 

[Calvin]

^ It’s just amazing how people are always, consistently, so concerned about creaning when we actually have roster spots to give out. Let the creaning discussion commence when we’re offering scholarships after we have 13 filled.

+1

In addition, I expect some guys on the roster today are going to have to reflect on whether they want to be here.

Mind you, I think we have good guys, good character, and I wish every one of them well here, or wherever they choose. Maybe the fit is worse than I've realized. We do need to get the system functioning though, to be relevant, and to do that, we need a lot more motor, and more smarts executing, than we currently have.

 

[TCTORNADO]

Haven't these rankings been out for a few months now? If so, players get better, correct?

They get updated multiple times throughout the season. Check back often for updates.

 

[TCTORNADO]

Four-star junior Tre Mitchell is hearing from #Xavier #Stanford #Vandy #Pitt #Illinois and others,
https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/four-star-tre-mitchell-s-recruitment-is-heating-up

2019

 

[ChazzReinhold]

Hearing rumors of a recruit named Thelazia Gulosa. Heard he's got a good eye.

But he would have a parasitic effect on the team.

 

[TCTORNADO]

But he would have a parasitic effect on the team.

I figured of all people, you would worm your way in somehow.

 

[Illwinsagain]

+1

In addition, I expect some guys on the roster today are going to have to reflect on whether they want to be here.

Mind you, I think we have good guys, good character, and I wish every one of them well here, or wherever they choose. Maybe the fit is worse than I've realized. We do need to get the system functioning though, to be relevant, and to do that, we need a lot more motor, and more smarts executing, than we currently have.

I just have a tough time believing that our players are worse than SFA and OSU.

 

[Spoon House]

I just have a tough time believing that our players are worse than SFA and OSU.

Their attitude certainly is.

 

[LBZ]

I just have a tough time believing that our players are worse than SFA and OSU.

OSU has won against Oklahoma, Kansas & West Virginia. The latter of the 2 were road games.

That aside. Have always thought early non conference games between IL, OK, KS & K State could be pretty interesting on a neutral court. Probably not good for our win column & would be tough to name it the current & former coaches tournament. But would much rather watch that than some of the other tune up games in Nov.

Per Austin Trice. Saw a couple of rebounds he grabbed & was immediately aware to throw it down court for a run out. Hope he can translate that to B1G if he comes to Champaign.

 

[Illiniguy13]

I just have a tough time believing that our players are worse than SFA and OSU.

See: Juwan Evans, Phil Forte, Thomas Walkup and those team's role players vs. ours (at least production-wise). I don't doubt for a second that those SFA & OSU teams shot the ball better than we do. They were probably more athletic, too.

 

[JJE]

I know it’s been rumored here, but KMOX is reporting Jordan Goodwin is done for the season due to a title IX investigation. Don’t know all the facts, but seems like we dodge a bullet a little bit there.

 

[TownieMatt]

See: Juwan Evans, Phil Forte, Thomas Walkup and those team's role players vs. ours (at least production-wise). I don't doubt for a second that those SFA & OSU teams shot the ball better than we do. They were probably more athletic, too.

I think the biggest issue with this team is that the personnel don't fit the system well at all. Underwood's offense works best with long athletes who can get to the basket off the dribble and offensive rebound (shooting obviously also, but that's true for everyone). Right now, our roster is too reliant on combo guys aren't great at getting to the basket, and finesse bigs that aren't great rebounders.

I think we can all see that Underwood is working to correct those holes in the roster and add athletic wings and glass-cleaners. But guess what, everyone wants athletic wings and glass-cleaners. We're not recruiting from a position of national relevance anymore. These kids don't remember Dee and Deron.
They were barely alive. For most of our targets, we're selling the chance for early playing-time in a good conference, not the chance to join a winning program that will guarantee you visibility on the national stage and a straight-line to the NBA.

 

[ChiefIllini]

I know it’s been rumored here, but KMOX is reporting Jordan Goodwin is done for the season due to a title IX investigation. Don’t know all the facts, but seems like we dodge a bullet a little bit there.

Suspended two months from school.

 

[aluma]

I think the biggest issue with this team is that the personnel don't fit the system well at all. Underwood's offense works best with long athletes who can get to the basket off the dribble and offensive rebound (shooting obviously also, but that's true for everyone). Right now, our roster is too reliant on combo guys aren't great at getting to the basket, and finesse bigs that aren't great rebounders.

I think we can all see that Underwood is working to correct those holes in the roster and add athletic wings and glass-cleaners. But guess what, everyone wants athletic wings and glass-cleaners. We're not recruiting from a position of national relevance anymore. These kids don't remember Dee and Deron.
They were barely alive. For most of our targets, we're selling the chance for early playing-time in a good conference, not the chance to join a winning program that will guarantee you visibility on the national stage and a straight-line to the NBA.

Bingo! Our fanbase tries to make it sound like we are a top program but we just aren't anymore. We are officially the guy in high school that was once a stud but now is a loser and lives at home with his mom. We have to move past our glory days when our program was strong and accept that it will take time to be nationally relevant again. Luckily, in basketball, it only takes a handful of players to dramatically improve a team. That's why recruiting is so important for Underwood moving forward.

 

[PrudenceJuris]

Four-star junior Tre Mitchell is hearing from #Xavier #Stanford #Vandy #Pitt #Illinois and others,
https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/four-star-tre-mitchell-s-recruitment-is-heating-up

You had me at 6'9" and 260 lbs.