Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-March 2016)

[89illinigrad]

Progressive may have been a stretch, but so many people want to put a number or position next to each player or recruit name. I think if Groce gets the roster he wants, it will be basketball player as the position. And we heard Mr. Jordan talk about it in preseason when he called AJ a basketball player and not a 1 2 or 3. Woke up on the right side of the bed today. Poured a big glass of JFG coffee. Feel good about things. Hope that Goodwin news will work out.

Its analogous to the Cubs and their shortstop "issues", when they had Castro, Russell and Baez. People were worried as to where the Cubs would put them all. But, the great thing about shortstop prospects is that they typically have the range and arm strength to play anywhere, thus you just worry about developing them first and then find a position for them when they are ready.

Same thing can be said for guys who can play point in basketball. We had 3 pgs on our team back in 2005 (Dee, Deron and Head) and that worked out pretty well for us.

 

[Combo]

I know its a little progressive thinking, but some of the things you see in the NBA right now (they will eventually work down to college) don't really have guys playing a true position any more. Its lead guard, a "big" and guys that can play with skill. I really see our roster being able to do that in a few years. It wont have huge size with a true 7 footer on the block, but I think the roster can have 5 guys on the floor with good length, skill to handle the ball at all 5 sports, and guys who can hit shots at all 5 spots. I really hope the rest of this class can come together. Its hard to see it with the season we are finishing up, but I still think we are close to something special.

Actually college ball has been about quickness for quite a while now. The NBA has gone that way more recently with the obvious success of Golden State. With the prevalence of the 3-pt shot and the long rebounds it causes, you really don't need a 7ft down low (not that I don't want Tilmon!).

Draymond Green at 6'7 is one of the top PFs in the NBA. And frequently he even plays C. Yet so many here freak out about us possibly starting a 6'6 PF. Again, I'd love to get Tilmon (and another Big). But I think that our problem has been poor PG play that last two years. Fix that and we will have a quality product on the floor. Fix PG AND add a stud big like Tilmon and the sky is the limit.

 

[BananaShampoo]

Man, I REALLY like the way this hypothetical future lineup looks on paper:

1 - TJL
1/2 - Damonte
2 - JCL/AJ
3 - Goodwin/DJW/AJ/Nichols
4 - Finke/Nichols
5 - Tilmon

That is a team with skill, length, toughness, rebounding, speed, ball handling, and versatility. If those guys could play together for 2 seasons straight to gain chemistry I could see us going a long way with that lineup.

 

[combes]

Man, I REALLY like the way this hypothetical future lineup looks on paper:

1 - TJL
1/2 - Damonte
2 - JCL/AJ
3 - Goodwin/DJW/AJ/Nichols
4 - Finke/Nichols
5 - Tilmon

That is a team with skill, length, toughness, rebounding, speed, ball handling, and versatility. If those guys could play together for 2 seasons straight to gain chemistry I could see us going a long way with that lineup.

Unless Black is booted, he will be on that roster, too, as he is in the same class as Finke, JCL, DJ and Jordan now. And, of course, another big is needed.

And you also forgot Pickett who I think is a heck of a talent.

Without doubling up players at more than one spot and without another center, I would see that roster like this when Tilmon's class are freshmen:

C Tilmon, Finke
F Black, Nichols
G DJ Williams, Goodwin
G JCL, Jordan, Pickett
G Lucas, D Williams

 

[TCTORNADO]

Man, I REALLY like the way this hypothetical future lineup looks on paper:

1 - TJL
1/2 - Damonte
2 - JCL/AJ
3 - Goodwin/DJW/AJ/Nichols
4 - Finke/Nichols
5 - Tilmon

That is a team with skill, length, toughness, rebounding, speed, ball handling, and versatility. If those guys could play together for 2 seasons straight to gain chemistry I could see us going a long way with that lineup.

Pre-season Top 4 in the B1G.

 

[OrangeDeeLight]

Latest Rival's ratings:

12--Wilkes
14--Bowen
32--Scruggs
36--Malik Williams
44--Culver
54--Da'Monte
55-Eastern
63--Jarren Jackson
77--Christian David
87--Goodwin
119--Theo John
112--Terrence Lewis
123--Justin Smith
No Verge or Negron

https://n.rivals.com/prospect_rankings/rivals150/2017

Jeremiah Tilmon is #16

Where is Javon Pickett???

 

[Illinoy]

Actually college ball has been about quickness for quite a while now. The NBA has gone that way more recently with the obvious success of Golden State. With the prevalence of the 3-pt shot and the long rebounds it causes, you really don't need a 7ft down low (not that I don't want Tilmon!).

Draymond Green at 6'7 is one of the top PFs in the NBA. And frequently he even plays C. Yet so many here freak out about us possibly starting a 6'6 PF. Again, I'd love to get Tilmon (and another Big). But I think that our problem has been poor PG play that last two years. Fix that and we will have a quality product on the floor. Fix PG AND add a stud big like Tilmon and the sky is the limit.

I think we might be saying the same thing but I'd agree that so many here worry about fitting traditional molds of 1,2,3,4,5. I see positions more so as roles and they're quite seperate from an offensive and defensive standpoint.

On offense you need the facilitator, outside shooter/s, slasher, post-scorer, and rebounder. If you notice these roles are interchangeable among the traditional positions.

The defensive role positions are ball stoppers, post-defender, and rebounder. The ball stoppers are obviously designed to prohibit facilitation, outside shooting, and slashing. Post-defense and rebounding are self-explanatory; however it must be noted that height is not as important as length. Some of the best post-defenders possess this along with high basketball IQ a la Draymond Green, Dennis Rodman, and Kenneth Farried. All are 6'7" or smaller yet they have wingspans above 7'0" and impeccable instincts.

 

[TCTORNADO]

Where is Javon Pickett???

Sittin by the dock of the bay.

 

[ILL in IA]

Ha! ILLinIA's description was Flying Illini all the way!

Yeah. I try not to compare the hypothetical team that we are still recruiting to possibly the best team in school history. Like when we compare every white guy with game to Larry Bird to Dirk. Lose a little credibility right off the bat.

 

[IlliniBrave75]

Goodwin a priority for Illinois

Goodwin was also aware that the Illini just picked up a commitment from 2017 point guard Da’Monte Williams from Peoria (Ill.) Manual. He got to know Williams on the summer circuit when Williams suits up for the Mac Irvin Fire.

“Me and Da’Monte are cool,” Goodwin said. “I see him at EYBL tournaments all the time and we talk.”

https://illinois.n.rivals.com/news/goodwin-a-priority-for-illinois

 

[bredhartmann]

Impressive video of Goodwin in that link. He seems to be a lot more explosive this year than last year (I imagine football has a lot to do with that). I remember watching him at state last year and he could barely dunk but he throws a couple down with authority in that video.

 

[BananaShampoo]

Unless Black is booted, he will be on that roster, too, as he is in the same class as Finke, JCL, DJ and Jordan now. And, of course, another big is needed.

And you also forgot Pickett who I think is a heck of a talent.

Without doubling up players at more than one spot and without another center, I would see that roster like this when Tilmon's class are freshmen:

C Tilmon, Finke
F Black, Nichols
G DJ Williams, Goodwin
G JCL, Jordan, Pickett
G Lucas, D Williams

Whoops! Yes I forgot about Pickett. He will certainly add even more depth to the 2 guard spot. I guess I wasn't thinking about Black, either, but then a) I'd kind of resigned myself to thinking he wouldn't be back on the team (though seems like he just might be back now), and b) I was thinking about what our team would look like when our '17 guys are sophs.

 

[BananaShampoo]

Impressive video of Goodwin in that link. He seems to be a lot more explosive this year than last year (I imagine football has a lot to do with that). I remember watching him at state last year and he could barely dunk but he throws a couple down with authority in that video.

I'm wondering if that was his mom in the beginning of the video wearing Illini gear? I sure hope so.

 

[Renegade19]

Sittin by the dock of the bay.

Nah, he's hanging out with Mustang Sally.

 

[IlliniBrave75]

Watching the clip from the tweet below makes me realize how much I miss having a guy like Lucus Johnson on the current Illini. Not sure who we are recruiting that could be that guy for us?

Mark Tupper‏@MarkTupper20h20 hours ago

Frank's body control was amazing. And Lucas Johnson was beautifully annoying. Classic Lucas! #dechr https://twitter.com/GToohill/status/704767798740971521…


Mark Tupper Retweeted Greg Toohill
Greg Toohill @GToohill @MarkTupper this one was pretty classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWNlbiVoaRw&sns=tw … via @YouTube

 

[ILL in IA]

I'm wondering if that was his mom in the beginning of the video wearing Illini gear? I sure hope so.

I was just going to ask the same thing

 

[combes]

Whoops! Yes I forgot about Pickett. He will certainly add even more depth to the 2 guard spot. I guess I wasn't thinking about Black, either, but then a) I'd kind of resigned myself to thinking he wouldn't be back on the team (though seems like he just might be back now), and b) I was thinking about what our team would look like when our '17 guys are sophs.

Black would still be there when the 2017 class are sophomores. He would be a senior that year. If he is back, he is in the same class with JCL, Finke, Williams, Jordan.

 

[midastouch11]

I'm wondering if that was his mom in the beginning of the video wearing Illini gear? I sure hope so.

That's Malcolm Hill's mother.

 

[Cubby Blue]

That's Malcolm Hill's mother.

Nice to see her out recruiting for us. :thumb:

 

[ILL in IA]

Watching the clip from the tweet below makes me realize how much I miss having a guy like Lucus Johnson on the current Illini. Not sure who we are recruiting that could be that guy for us?

Mark Tupper‏@MarkTupper20h20 hours ago

Frank's body control was amazing. And Lucas Johnson was beautifully annoying. Classic Lucas! #dechr https://twitter.com/GToohill/status/704767798740971521…


Mark Tupper Retweeted Greg Toohill
Greg Toohill @GToohill @MarkTupper this one was pretty classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWNlbiVoaRw&sns=tw … via @YouTube

I love the comment when Johnson grabs the rebound. "He thought about using the elbow, but he decided not to"

 

[Greensboro]

i think the idea of two guys on the court together that can play the 1 or 2 and both can guad the 1 or 2 is the flexibility we have missed. both being able to dribble penatrate, shoot 3's and find the open man gets us closer to the
past we hope for. yes, a big would be great, but a backcourt wins come tournament time.

I'm still waiting for 1 of those guys to show up.

 

[hooraybeer]

crazy how one day and one big commitment can change things. it feels like Illini nation received a large dose of IV epi

 

[BirdDog9048]

Sittin by the dock of the bay.

If you're gonna make a reference like that, at least make sure that the guy actually made the song... :hand:

 

[Second and Chalmers]

If you're gonna make a reference like that, at least make sure that the guy actually made the song... :hand:

Those are the kinds of mistakes you make when you post in the midnight hour.

 

[frozenrope9190]

Those are the kinds of mistakes you make when you post in the midnight hour.

Or in the Land of 1000 Dances.