Austin "PoGo" Trice
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-February 2018)
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Austin "PoGo" Trice
Not hyped about Trice. Going the juco rout seems like desperation. We need proven players against top talent not low-ranked players who dominate soft juco post competition.
This team needs an infusion of talent. Players like Ramey and Blake Hinson, or Tevian Jones. If we're scraping and scrapping for 2-3 star recruits (some of the current predicted recruits are two stars depending on the site) and jucos it doesn't give great confidence to what BU, Orlando, Chin, and Walker are accomplishing behind the scenes.
I would love to be wrong about Trice, maybe someone can help give information why he would be a great player in the B1G
Was hoping for more of the Ramey/C Gordon type infusion of talent...but after Gordon's ejection the other night am guessing the staff will not be pursuing any more (if they ever were)...am guessing that is the type of shooting-self in the foot mistakes/losing type of decision making the staff is trying to recruit us out of.
This team needs an infusion of talent. Players like Ramey and Blake Hinson, or Tevian Jones. If we're scraping and scrapping for 2-3 star recruits (some of the current predicted recruits are two stars depending on the site) and jucos it doesn't give great confidence to what BU, Orlando, Chin, and Walker are accomplishing behind the scenes.
I would love to be wrong about Trice, maybe someone can help give information why he would be a great player in the B1G
Was hoping for more of the Ramey/C Gordon type infusion of talent...but after Gordon's ejection the other night am guessing the staff will not be pursuing any more (if they ever were)...am guessing that is the type of shooting-self in the foot mistakes/losing type of decision making the staff is trying to recruit us out of.
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Deleted member 11241
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Not sure how going after Trice is desperation. We need bigs in a bad way for next year and all the elite ones are not an option at this point. I would rather take Trice than another freshman project big that may take a couple years to develop. I could understand if we were recruiting a bunch of Juco players to make our class, but to my knowledge, Trice is the only one. He is very athletic and plays with a tenacity that this team desperately needs. He does a great job at positioning himself for rebounds and can throw it down better than any Illini I have seen in a long time. We need athletic players that can come in and be factors immediately and Trice fits the bill. He doesn't have to be an all big ten player either. There were several plays in those highlight videos (spin moves, blocks, dunks) that I don't think we have anyone on this current roster that could do. Just because someone plays at the Juco level, doesn't mean they are not good enough to move on to high major level. There is not much left for the '18 recruiting cycle and our coaches are in on several bigs for '19. So, take what we can get for now and I think Trice would give this team a much needed boost in athleticism and toughness.
Also, the staff cannot pursue Gordon, as he is a committed recruit. If for some reason he was to ask out of his LOI and have it granted, then the staff can recruit him if they have any interest
Staff won’t touch Gordon. Not the type of culture kid they want.
Deleted member 631370
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Holy crap, this guy wants to rip the rim down.
Probably not as complete and polished as a Josh Cunningham, but man.....I'd love to have this kind of tenacity for a few years.
That's a pretty definitive statement. For the record if he does in fact de-commit I would hope they would still be interested.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
just got back from suspension and then gets ejected from first game back ?
No thanks
Uh huh. Makes the basket look 9 foot.
Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
Psst: we’re desperate. How do you propose we go about signing these “proven players”?
Yes, we need an infusion of talent. Sometimes you just need bodies. Not ideal, but see previous paragraph.
Does he have to be great? Can’t he just be adequate? Is adequate better than having literally no one?
This is where Illini basketball resides. And with the FBI poking around in college basketball, a “quick fix” (*wink*) doesn’t seem likely these days.
Trice would immediately be the best run/jump athlete on a team lacking in athleticism. And we’re not in a position to look down our noses simply because he’s at a JC, or for any reason for that matter.
+1 to all of this.
Next season line-ups at the 3-5 positions
featuring Kipper, Black, Trice, Ebo, and grad transfer big(Cunningham) would be a significant upgrade in size and athleticism down low.
I think next season depending on the matchups Black and Kipper can see time at the 3. Black is starting to be more of a Roger Powell player. He consistently hits the 3.
Last 3 games Matic is looking like he can contribute down the road. If he continues to put on size I wouldn't run him out of town. He can shoot, run, and pass.
featuring Kipper, Black, Trice, Ebo, and grad transfer big(Cunningham) would be a significant upgrade in size and athleticism down low.
I think next season depending on the matchups Black and Kipper can see time at the 3. Black is starting to be more of a Roger Powell player. He consistently hits the 3.
Last 3 games Matic is looking like he can contribute down the road. If he continues to put on size I wouldn't run him out of town. He can shoot, run, and pass.
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
This. Excellent rebuttal.
Is Trice the savior? Heck no. But he'll help, maybe a lot.
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
+1 to all points.
Is Trice scheduled back in C/U for the Purdue game on Thursday??
That would make it Thrice...
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Would like a fifth year big but believe we can be competive with Trice, Jones, and Ayo. Do not really want to lose anyone to transfers from this years team. Do not think we can predict the development and don't see anyone that is a sure bust. Aaron Jordan could be a beast next year if they find a way to get him open shots. Need Lucas as a backup to Frazier and who knows about Smith, Williams, Ebo and Matic. Not a believer that anyone but five star recruits are going to be better.
Guess it depends on how you define "work out". I imagine if at this time next year Trice's numbers in the B1G are 5/5/1 then most outsiders won't think he "worked out". But if you see him as what he is, an energetic, athletic kid to come in, eat some minutes while grabbing some boards, playing some D, setting good screens, flushing some man sized dunks and generally just being a dog on the court who makes life hell for opponents, then I think he worked out just fine. Nobody is expecting him to carry Illinois to the tourney, but he has the ability to be an awesome and exciting role player I think. I really hope he chooses U of I.
Just curious as to why you believe Jordan could be a beast next year? In my opinion he is what he is. He's a decent shooter with a low release point which needs lots of space to get his shot off against top competition. He's just an average athlete, not even that quick, no real hops to speak of. Simply put hes a MAC or MVC level player. What keeps him on the floor is his hustle the guys works harder than probably anyone else on the team besides Black. Just don't see any reason or indication that he could be any better than he already is. I think Finke and maybe Lucas transfer out to give us a 4 man class. With that said Im gonna say that class will consist Dosunmu, Ramey or Jacobs, Trice, and Cunningham. I just have a gut feeling that Cunningham is coming, last time I felt that way we got Mike Thorne as a transfer. If those pieces fall in place we are a tournament team in my opinion.
Last 2 JUCO's were Rodney Alexander and Dominique Keller. How did they work out??
Got to probably go back to 2001 to find one that worked out--Marcus Griffin.
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He averaged 3 3pt shots per game. Do not agree with lack of hops and as ability to take to the Ball to the hoop improves he will get significantly more shots. Also believe he has been steadily improving his defense which will get him more floor time. Maybe beast is too strong but someone who will be considered by oppositions scouts.
Last 2 JUCO's were Rodney Alexander and Dominique Keller. How did they work out??
I agree I don't think we will successful long-term relying on grad or JUCO tranfers. But a JUCO with a defined role like Trice can help immediately and bridge the gap between departing seniors and developing bigs.
This stat important why we need to develop our two young bigs. Not a lot of impact transfers, and too much competition for the few.
Deleted member 631370
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Would you rather have Trice, or keep that position vacant?
Because considering we may have 4-5 scholarships to fill next year and so far we only have one commitment, that may very well be the choice.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
+3 or 4 (forget where it was at!)
All this talk of getting upper level "talent" or stars etc.. reminds me of an interview with Jimmy Johnson about his move to the Cowboys from college and how he evaluated "talent" and specifically Emmitt Smith. The scouts kept screaming about the more "talented" RB from Indiana (Anthony Thompson I think) and his standout stats along with his size and speed.
All of it pointed to Thompson being the pick. Jimmy said Thompson's longest run from scrimmage was like 38 yards or something, but "every time I watch Emmitt he's breaking off 60 and 70 yard runs against Alabama and Tennessee. He's a player, he can play the game".
Side note, in that 1990 draft the #1 pick? Jeff George.
I think back to our best teams and I wonder about Dee, Luther, Deron and others who were not the 5 ( I know Dee was 5) star, most talented guys in the fold...but they could play the game.
They had high BB IQ, unstoppable motors and consistently beat teams with better athletic talent. I want these kind of players, and I don't care where they come from.
His low release point on his shot is a liability and easy to defend he needs too much space to get his shot off we've seen it all year. He is not exactly a slasher not saying he can't get better but I think you are setting yourself up for dissapointment. I see a guy who will average about 6 or 7 points tops and play solid all around. Good role player nothing more.
Last 2 JUCO's were Rodney Alexander and Dominique Keller. How did they work out??
What does “worked out” mean to you?
Dominique Keller was a solid contributor for his two years here. Don’t know why anyone would have a problem with his signing in retrospect.
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