Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-March 2016)

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#776      

sdillini

S
sdillini
Cubby Blue said:
and with TJL being a pure point and one year ahead of Damonte, a combo is a great spot to be.

People don't like to hear it, but Dee Brown was a combo guard. In college, so was Dwill. Together they could both play the point and both play the 2.

Contrary to popular belief on forums, I like combo guards. It is not a bad word. Especially if you have a pure point on the team with them.
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The key is if they REALLY ARE combo guards. Everyone with two arms seems to be called a "combo guard" these days.:)
 
#778      

combes

C
combes
aluma said:
It's going to take a miracle to land any of the recruits from the class of 2017. I'm wondering if Pickett is regretting his decision after watching that debacle. As much as I like Groce, I just can't see how he will dig out of this hole.
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Recruits don't make decisions based on one game. Or even a handful of games. The coaches sell them on the overall program and the future. Even if a recruit sees a bad game like last night, most of them think it will be different when they are there. Remember, Pickett committed after watching the Nebraska debacle.
 
#779      

Bomb Squad 217

B
Bomb Squad 217
combes said:
Recruits don't make decisions based on one game. Or even a handful of games. The coaches sell them on the overall program and the future. Even if a recruit sees a bad game like last night, most of them think it will be different when they are there. Remember, Pickett committed after watching the Nebraska debacle.
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Exactly. As one example,maybe not a good one, look at who Kentucky continued bring in. Even after recruits saw them consistently lose and get tossed in the first round of the NIT one year with a roster full of MCDAA's. Groce just has to sell them.
 
#780      

pfeifale000

P
pfeifale000
ESPN recently released their new updated rankings for 2016 and 2017. Looks like Charlie Moore and Xavier Simpson shot up about 20 spots each. TJL didn't make the Top 100. Also Tilmon fell back a few spots and is now considered a 4 star prospect. Tyler Cook did move up a few spots to my surprise.
 
#781      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
combes said:
Recruits don't make decisions based on one game. Or even a handful of games. The coaches sell them on the overall program and the future. Even if a recruit sees a bad game like last night, most of them think it will be different when they are there. Remember, Pickett committed after watching the Nebraska debacle.
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While I agree that decisions are not based on one game, the overall state of the program plays a big role and we are not doing very well in that department. Bad games/losses, especially multiple ones, do not help. Three years not smelling the NCAA tournament does not help either.

It is also a lot easier to get commitments from non-top-100 recruits, but a lot more difficult to get commitments from highly ranked recruits, especially those ranked in the top-50. The popular premise (by some) that we will be OK with lesser ranked recruits and Groce/staff will just outdevelop opposing teams and outcoach opposing coaches does not hold water. Groce will need highly ranked talent, otherwise he is dead in the water. JMO.
 
#782      

Larry Rose

Larry Rose
Larry Rose
pfeifale000 said:
ESPN recently released their new updated rankings for 2016 and 2017. Looks like Charlie Moore and Xavier Simpson shot up about 20 spots each. TJL didn't make the Top 100. Also Tilmon fell back a few spots and is now considered a 4 star prospect. Tyler Cook did move up a few spots to my surprise.
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I don't care what the rankings say, IMO TJL is better than Charlie Moore. He also has a lot higher ceiling. Xavier Simpson is really good though. Should be interesting to watch these guys grow as college players.
 
#783      

aluma

A
aluma
Obelix said:
While I agree that decisions are not based on one game, the overall state of the program plays a big role and we are not doing very well in that department. Bad games/losses, especially multiple ones, do not help. Three years not smelling the NCAA tournament does not help either.

It is also a lot easier to get commitments from non-top-100 recruits, but a lot more difficult to get commitments from highly ranked recruits, especially those ranked in the top-50. The popular premise (by some) that we will be OK with lesser ranked recruits and Groce/staff will just outdevelop opposing teams and outcoach opposing coaches does not hold water. Groce will need highly ranked talent, otherwise he is dead in the water. JMO.
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This^^^^
 
#784      

TCTORNADO

TCTORNADO
TCTORNADO
Larry Rose said:
I don't care what the rankings say, IMO TJL is better than Charlie Moore. He also has a lot higher ceiling. Xavier Simpson is really good though. Should be interesting to watch these guys grow as college players.
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Should be interesting to see if anybody goes to the Simeon/TJL game on the 30th to get a first hand report. If not, the Washington/Centennial game @ Parkland should provide further feedback.
I think we're all guessing on TJL. Kid either way is going to have more freshman pressure on him than any recruit in a long time. He hopefully will be the PG savior. :)
 
#785      

IlliniFan12

I
Cedar Falls, IA
IlliniFan12
TCTORNADO said:
Should be interesting to see if anybody goes to the Simeon/TJL game on the 30th to get a first hand report. If not, the Washington/Centennial game @ Parkland should provide further feedback.
I think we're all guessing on TJL. Kid either way is going to have more freshman pressure on him than any recruit in a long time. He hopefully will be the PG savior. :)
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Yep, probably more pressure than Tracy had as a frosh.
 
#786      

Larry Rose

Larry Rose
Larry Rose
TCTORNADO said:
Should be interesting to see if anybody goes to the Simeon/TJL game on the 30th to get a first hand report. If not, the Washington/Centennial game @ Parkland should provide further feedback.
I think we're all guessing on TJL. Kid either way is going to have more freshman pressure on him than any recruit in a long time. He hopefully will be the PG savior. :)
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I'll be there most likely. I always feel like Charlie has been overrated. I just don't see him as one of the top 10 PG in the country. Maybe its because i have seen him a lot more than the others, and i am more critical. I like Devin Gage just as much as Charlie, and he is rated a lot lower.
 
#787      

TCTORNADO

TCTORNADO
TCTORNADO
Larry Rose said:
I'll be there most likely. I always feel like Charlie has been overrated. I just don't see him as one of the top 10 PG in the country. Maybe its because i have seen him a lot more than the others, and i am more critical. I like Devin Gage just as much as Charlie, and he is rated a lot lower.
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Wiil be a good matchup with Gilyard/Kezo.
 
#789      

CIIF

CIIF
Edwardsville
CIIF
It is just so dang hard to tell once you get out of the top dozen or so kids in each class. Some live up to expectations and some do not.

Tracy was offered by Kentucky for pete's sake. Let's hope that in his last year he proves why he had so many good offers!
 
#790      

soill618

S
soill618
If I'm Illini staff I use Alexander as an example to Tilmon that bigger isn't always better. Hopefully star appeal as feature player and immediate big minutes and location are a factor in his decision.
 
#794      

roger murdock

roger murdock
roger murdock
combes said:
Recruits don't make decisions based on one game. Or even a handful of games. The coaches sell them on the overall program and the future. Even if a recruit sees a bad game like last night, most of them think it will be different when they are there. Remember, Pickett committed after watching the Nebraska debacle.
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What about three and a half years of games? Groce's pitch, and his vision, are ringing much more hollow than when he was first hired. One year in the NCAA, two in the NIT, and a *probable* no tournament season don't exactly excite the fan base. I would doubt top recruits are clamoring to hop aboard the Groce train, either. It's not like there are no other suitors for Tilmon, Williams, Goodwin, et.al. Hopefully I am wrong, because the easiest and quickest way for us to get back to relevancy is for the loaded '17 class to buy into the program. But it's not the way I would bet.
 
#795      

IlliniOX08

I
Bucktown, Chicago
IlliniOX08
roger murdock said:
What about three and a half years of games? Groce's pitch, and his vision, are ringing much more hollow than when he was first hired. One year in the NCAA, two in the NIT, and a *probable* no tournament season don't exactly excite the fan base. I would doubt top recruits are clamoring to hop aboard the Groce train, either. It's not like there are no other suitors for Tilmon, Williams, Goodwin, et.al. Hopefully I am wrong, because the easiest and quickest way for us to get back to relevancy is for the loaded '17 class to buy into the program. But it's not the way I would bet.
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Yep. And Pickett, while a recruit on the upward trend and blooming at the right time, is still a recruit with a fairly shallow offer sheet. I hope he continues to improve and backs up the lofty billing that Henricksen and others have put on him.

But we're gonna need the other big boys to follow to get back to a top 4 B1G program. Pickett can be a phenomenal role player/4 year guy. We're going to need Tilmon's/Williams'/Goodwin's of the world to come here and make a difference from day 1. Otherwise we're kicking the hopes of another dream class down the road to 2018 or 2019. Promise, hope, whatever is just a wish if it never actually comes true. And so far in the Groce tenure.. it hasn't.
 
#799      

Smacko

S
Lexington, KY
Smacko
pfeifale000 said:
Mike Shaw was the most overrated player in the national rankings that I can remember. Couldn't even crack the lineup at Bradley.
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There were a number of guys in that class from Chicago who had early hype that did not pan out.
 
#800      

Chipatsj23h

Chipatsj23h
Chipatsj23h
pfeifale000 said:
Mike Shaw was the most overrated player in the national rankings that I can remember. Couldn't even crack the lineup at Bradley.
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Shaw fell off but his freshman and sophomore year he was PHENOMENAL. He was dominate and was a fantastic player, junior and senior year he was still very good, but When Shaw was a Freshman I believe he was top 20 in the country, Tracy was also right there.
 
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