Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-March 2016)

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Why is the Pickett thread locked? Nice to celebrate his commit from everything else going on here the past couple days.

The explanation is in that thread.

 

[midastouch11]

I'm sitting here watching the East st Louis vs Belleville east game. JP is very impressive.

But the main reason for this post is the announcer.....LMAO!!!! He is beyond ridiculous. To his credit he says he "the most biased broadcaster in the history of charter communication ". But I had to turn the volume down. Anything against ESL is a bad call and anything for them is an excellent call. It was funny at first but became unbearable and very unprofessional.

That's all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvSAB3xNb5M

For those interested in wasting some time in lowdef. Pickett looks like a good one right out of the gates.

 

[whovous]

Here are the last three paragraphs of the story in Harry Froling's hometown paper:

With his first visit out of the way Froling is looking forward to the rest of his journey overseas before he and his parents return home to make his final decision later this month.

“At the end of the day it’s up to me and opportunity, development and the coaches are the three biggest things that I need,” he said.

“My sisters would love to have me at SMU but that doesn’t influence my decision in any way, we are living our own lives now.”

So, less than two weeks to a decision and SMU does not have an outsized advantage.

 

[cjcastan]

Here are the last three paragraphs of the story in Harry Froling's hometown paper:

With his first visit out of the way Froling is looking forward to the rest of his journey overseas before he and his parents return home to make his final decision later this month.

“At the end of the day it’s up to me and opportunity, development and the coaches are the three biggest things that I need,” he said.

“My sisters would love to have me at SMU but that doesn’t influence my decision in any way, we are living our own lives now.”

So, less than two weeks to a decision and SMU does not have an outsized advantage.

If he wants opportunity, if Thorne doesn't come back, we will have that in spades

 

[OrangeDeeLight]

Here are the last three paragraphs of the story in Harry Froling's hometown paper:

With his first visit out of the way Froling is looking forward to the rest of his journey overseas before he and his parents return home to make his final decision later this month.

“At the end of the day it’s up to me and opportunity, development and the coaches are the three biggest things that I need,” he said.

“My sisters would love to have me at SMU but that doesn’t influence my decision in any way, we are living our own lives now.”

So, less than two weeks to a decision and SMU does not have an outsized advantage.

If he wants opportunity, if Thorne doesn't come back, we will have that in spades

Recruits always say this. Then they turn us down. And more often than not going to a team loaded at their position and playing behind folks for 1-2 years. Makes no sense.

 

[roz77]

On the Froling and Tilmon quotes - after all that's happened on the recruiting front the past few years, I don't even try and read tea leaves based on recruit's comments. I read and enjoy recruiting news, and I enjoy spending time in this thread, but I don't try and predict a gosh darn thing at this point. It's much better for my sanity that way.

 

[illini8507]

On the Froling and Tilmon quotes - after all that's happened on the recruiting front the past few years, I don't even try and read tea leaves based on recruit's comments. I read and enjoy recruiting news, and I enjoy spending time in this thread, but I don't try and predict a gosh darn thing at this point. It's much better for my sanity that way.

Agreed. That being said, I don't see how anyone could interpret anything from those Tilmon comments at all be it positive or negative. There's nothing there.

 

[Illinijose]

I think we have a solid shot at the Justin Smiths, Damonte Williams, and the kid from Belleville Athlthoff (Jordan). I'm not sure about Tilmon, he is a high 5 star who will be on UK, KU, UNC, MSU radar. I believe he went to Lumiere to help his grades similar to what DJ Richardson did at Findley. I'm not sure the blue bloods will go after Williams as he in not yet a true PG. I wonder if Oklahoma and Kruger will get into recruiting Williams as Frank played for Lon for two years (their relationship was often difficult for both). But Lon has a top team nationally and has coached at several major schools and the NBA. Lon also knows how to coach the PG position.

 

[ssanti13]

If we were absolutely certain Damonte Williams won't be PG material at the next level, is he still a high priority?

It sounds like the kid has talent, but ultimately may be a combo-guard...it sounds like combo guard is the last thing we need.

 

[Cubby Blue]

If we were absolutely certain Damonte Williams won't be PG material at the next level, is he still a high priority?

It sounds like the kid has talent, but ultimately may be a combo-guard...it sounds like combo guard is the last thing we need.

Depends on if by Combo you mean 1-2. If so, yes we need those type of guys. Too many of our "combo's" are 2-3 in reality (not possessing point guard capabilities).

 

[Illinijose]

We need true PGs and true bigs for those remaining spots. What made the Flying Illini the exception was that they were NBA type athletic. Love Damonte as a PG prospect, but as a SG not so much. What I like about Jordan Goodwin is that he can provide the physical play we have been lacking. Bottom line we are not the tough team we have had in the past.

 

[Cubby Blue]

I believe he went to Lumiere to help his grades similar to what DJ Richardson did at Findley.

Oh, is that the reason he went there. :thumb:

 

[zpfled]

Depends on if by Combo you mean 1-2. If so, yes we need those type of guys. Too many of our "combo's" are 2-3 in reality (not possessing point guard capabilities).

Or Finke, who is a combo 1/4/5

Sorry, I just really enjoyed that one game where he played PG for a couple possessions.

 

[Cubby Blue]

We need true PGs and true bigs for those remaining spots. What made the Flying Illini the exception was that they were NBA type athletic. Love Damonte as a PG prospect, but as a SG not so much. What I like about Jordan Goodwin is that he can provide the physical play we have been lacking. Bottom line we are not the tough team we have had in the past.

If you like toughness, then you recruit Damonte. Period. Exclamation point.

 

[Bomb Squad 217]

If you like toughness, then you recruit Damonte. Period. Exclamation point.

Definitely. He produces. He's Franks kid. Typically, I like getting kids with parents who were great. Theres obviously exceptions both ways(Jordan for example, which is so sad).

 

[IlliniDent]

Would love to have both williams and another true of type player. Obviously Tilmon is a top priority and Goodwin would be an excellent glue guy that can just produce. We'll see how it goes but we need one or two more to jump in to get things going.

 

[Cubby Blue]

Would love to have both williams and another true of type player. Obviously Tilmon is a top priority and Goodwin would be an excellent glue guy that can just produce. We'll see how it goes but we need one or two more to jump in to get things going.

Yes that will be nice.

 

[Obelix]

Independent of connections, perceived relationships, friendships etc., Tilmon and Damonte Williams are the top two priorities in the State of Illinois. More than Pickett, Goodwin, and others. The only other player is Eastern, who I have not seen play after injury but I really liked him before he got injured. Tilmon with quite a bit of distance from all others. JMO.

 

[TownieMatt]

Independent of connections, perceived relationships, friendships etc., Tilmon and Damonte Williams are the top two priorities in the State of Illinois. More than Pickett, Goodwin, and others. The only other player is Eastern, who I have not seen play after injury but I really liked him before he got injured. Tilmon with quite a bit of distance from all others. JMO.

I was absolutely smitten with Eastern before the injury, and having seen him after the injury, I still really like him. However, his game is really similar to Williams. Both are long 1/2 guards with good scoring ability. Eastern might be a little better PG at this stage, but neither plays that position for their HS team. Given the other teams after Eastern (MSU scares me), and the obvious connection we have with Williams, I'd put most of my eggs in the Da'Monte basket if I were Groce.

 

[TCTORNADO]

I'm worried that the Illini buzz has left the Eastern and Smith recruitments. I know Groce is stealth, but there just seems to be too much other activity around those 2.

 

[zpfled]

Tilmon seems like a gettable recruit...go after him as hard as possible. Try to get Goodwin, too, and get the Pickett, Goodwin, Tilmon trifecta.

Williams seems like a realistic option, too.

Eastern seems like a kid who's going to end up at a proven winner. If I'm Groce, I don't waste a lot of resources on him.

 

[Cubby Blue]

Buzz is overrated!

 

[Deleted member 10676]

I'm worried that the Illini buzz has left the Eastern and Smith recruitments. I know Groce is stealth, but there just seems to be too much other activity around those 2.

I agree, to the point Eastern's CB is 100% MSU. Plus Sparty was in to see Smith on Saturday and he scored 32 points. He told MOB Indiana is also coming at him hard. Didn't mention us.
After watching Brian Bowen of La Lu dominate in yesterday's game and outplay every other big man on the court including Tilmon, Banks and Nick Richards who is considered a strong Kentucky lean, I looked up his CB -- 100% MSU. Not that strange I guess considering he's from Saginaw. Izzo will never retire if he keeps getting recruits like these guys every year.

 

[PaytonHighstep]

I agree, to the point Eastern's CB is 100% MSU. Plus Sparty was in to see Smith on Saturday and he scored 32 points. He told MOB Indiana is also coming at him hard. Didn't mention us.
After watching Brian Bowen of La Lu dominate in yesterday's game and outplay every other big man on the court including Tilmon, Banks and Nick Richards who is considered a strong Kentucky lean, I looked up his CB -- 100% MSU. Not that strange I guess considering he's from Saginaw. Izzo will never retire if he keeps getting recruits like these guys every year.

Agreed. Remember what started Izzo on his crazy run at MSU. He got local instate recruits to buy into his message and program, which catapulted MSU into a top 5-10 program. He developed 3 and 4 star recruits that he paired nicely with his top instate recruits. Looking back at his recruiting classes, I'm even more impressed with his coaching and ability to push his players to outperform their rankings is some cases. He developed some guys into solid to above average B1G players regularly.

 

[zpfled]

Agreed. Remember what started Izzo on his crazy run at MSU. He got local instate recruits to buy into his message and program, which catapulted MSU into a top 5-10 program. He developed 3 and 4 star recruits that he paired nicely with his top instate recruits. Looking back at his recruiting classes, I'm even more impressed with his coaching and ability to push his players to outperform their rankings is some cases. He developed some guys into solid to above average B1G players regularly.

This is exactly what I hope to see happen at Illinois. 3-4 stars from the region, primarily.

We're never going to be the team that gets a bunch of McDAA's, and I'm ok with that. If we get a bunch of Nunns and Hills and Finkes and let them grow into stars, that's the most fun anyway.