Trakis
- Chicago, IL
So... do I want Groce to stay then? I don't know anymore what I want.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-March 2017)
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So... do I want Groce to stay then? I don't know anymore what I want.
I haven't seen anything on Jacob Epperson lately. In fact, he's not even listed as a prospect any longer over on Scout. Are we no longer recruiting him?
Hooping34... can you confirm?
I haven't bothered my source lately but I know Smith is really focused on trying to get to Peoria & that starts tomorrow...so they have been hush-hush about the recruiting status as of late...I know they were at the Indiana-NW game on Saturday...
Deleted member 10676
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He was a shooting guard at Proviso East, played alongside Paris Lee of IL ST except for his senior year. He wasn't that highly ranked and we weren't looking for shooting guards. A late bloomer. I vaguely remember him from the Proviso West Holiday Tournament his senior year, but he wasn't highly recruited by any high majors except for Huggins.
http://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/183028/jevon-carter
Projected to Creighton by several per 24/7 basketball
Scott Burgess@scottybscout 12h12 hours ago
Belleville East defeats Collinsville 78-48. Javon Pickett 25. Malachi Smith 12. Rico Sylvester 13. Kenrique Brown 13. Keydrian Jones 8
Belleville East defeats Collinsville 78-48. Javon Pickett 25. Malachi Smith 12. Rico Sylvester 13. Kenrique Brown 13. Keydrian Jones 8
Deleted member 10676
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Jeremiah Tilmon and ESL vs Althoff tonight at 7 in Regional semi's.
http://thecube.com/event/althoff-catholic-high-school-vs-east-st-louis-seni-719980
Javon looked very good last night. Scored in a variety of ways -- 3's, driving layups, stop and pops, and 1 soaring breakaway dunk that would have done Kenny Battle proud. Think he's going to be a very good player for us.
http://thecube.com/event/althoff-catholic-high-school-vs-east-st-louis-seni-719980
Javon looked very good last night. Scored in a variety of ways -- 3's, driving layups, stop and pops, and 1 soaring breakaway dunk that would have done Kenny Battle proud. Think he's going to be a very good player for us.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
Wasn't this the class that we already had a commitment from a pg? Right up till his nli didn't show up on the fax
Illinell
'03 IMPE All Star
- Bridgeport, Chicago
Believe so, yes.
haasi
- New York
Not sure where this goes, but I guess it's good we didn't get maurice Watson. http://deadspin.com/prosecutor-maurice-watson-forced-woman-to-perform-oral-1792805367
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This is where recruiting and the coaching situation has always been interesting.
Couple different things I've heard. At one point Groce was basically told if he doesn't make the tournament he's gone. Whitman loves the guy and he wants to keep him. He apparently didn't enjoy giving him the ultimatum but Groce understands there's a bottom line.
When this basically transpired and it looked like the wheels were going to fall off Whitman recognized the importance of keeping recruiting going and the class we coming in (along with adding Mark Smith). Now I don't doubt if we could get a home run hire we wouldn't let him bring his own staff but there were rumblings that wasn't out there.
One name rumored interested was Monty Williams and the other was Cuonzo Martin. Now Martin hasn't done himself any favors.. No way Whitman fires Groce to hire a guy who may also miss the tournament.
I've mentioned this before and it was reported that when Mark Smith visited he spent a lot more time with Whitman and Walker than he did John Groce. With the kind of names interested it was strongly being suggested whoever takes over retains Walkers service.
Things have obviously changed. I outlined the scenario if things continued to play out how they were. John Groce has managed to do the unthinkable and I think if he makes the tournament Mark Smith is a lock but I do want to reinforce something.. The relationship with Walker is about as important as anything similar to some kids with Jerrance.
If Groce didn't make the tournament Mark Smith was still going to see who the next Illinois head coach was and if Walker was still on the staff give him a chance. Frankly Mark Smith wants to come to Illinois. He's similar to Malcolm Hill in that he truly wants to give his state school every chance before he moves on.
JMO but as much as I've doubted Groce (and still do) I think it's a bonus if we make the tournament for our seniors and to get this class on campus. Groce better know how to "plug in the right pieces" sooner next year though because with that class here a very good coach could do a lot with those pieces. Shame Maverick Morgan didn't redshirt but I digress.
Thanks for the info Paign!
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
I still don't understand how Javon is ranked as low as he is. Every game I see of his he puts up monster scoring stats, and it's not like it's against poor competition. It's not like he's 5'9 or something either. Is it lack of defense/other skills, lack of AAU exposure, or something else?
Thank you for sharing. My only concern is not allowing a coach to bring in his own staff can cause mistrust and division.
And if it isn't going to be a home run hire than is it really worth changing just for change's sake and hiring a lesser coach and handicapping with stipulations in his staff?
No. I don't think there is any way Whitman will change ships unless he knows he has someone better lined up. He doesn't seem to be the kind of athletic director who fires first and then looks to hire.
Thanks for an interesting post. Looking back to last season, my thinking was Groce will continue after this season if he makes the tourney this year (still possible) OR, even if he misses, if "things were looking up", insofar as recruiting and the general trend of the team goes as this season winds down. Recruiting is looking up, with Tilmon and the rest of the commits, plus maybe Smith if he views us as a stable situation. It makes sense to me that JW gave him the make-the-tourney ultimatum, so if we do leak our way in, I would guess JW honors the deal. Could be wrong -- maybe it was more "make the tourney is a must and as long as everything else looks good, you're good to go into 2017-18". But if it was a straight promise to keep him as long as we make the tourney, no way Whitman welshes on that IMO. Whether the "OR" condition I guessed above would apply we'll only know if we fail to make the tourney. It's clearly understandable why many many posters/fans want JG gone regardless of whether he gets in this year or not. I also understand why quite a few others are willing to give JG another year or two if there is no no-brainer home run hire available. In the end, the dynamics of JW's and JG's relationship and whatever deal/conditions they reached, the drama of finishing the last 2 games and BTT of this crazy B1G season, and other factors like Walker's retention it JG is let go, make this a real soap opera. I very much look forward to watching this all play out. Like grains of sand through an hourglass, so goes the days of our Illini lives ...
Deleted member 4333
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Anyone seen any confirmation that Khalil Whitney has an offer from the Illini? I can't find any. He has an offer from Illinois Chicago.
Deleted member 10676
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ESL comes from behind to beat Althoff 60-58. Not a game JT would've wanted to go out on. Sat a lot of it in foul trouble, picked up a charge about 10 seconds into the game and lasted about 10 seconds after coming in with 4 fouls and 5 minutes to go. Fouled out on another charge. Kevion Chairs put team on his back in the 4th and ended up with 15 pts. Estes 14, Carter 13, Hargrove 10.
He was a 3 star with a rather underwhelming recruitment. He's just developed into a good player.
I think he's no longer interested in us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=matWsYtR6dc
He definitely knows where the camera is at all times....but no I couldn't find anything either?
Deleted member 10676
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[FONT="]I'm multi-tasking here.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Belleville West 89, Belleville East 73; Javon Pickett - 27 pts. EJ Liddell-43 pts[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Morton came back from 12 down with 2:14 to go to beat Peoria Manual 79-74 in ot. Morton's Ryan Altenberger had 31 pts. -- (anybody know if he's related to Doug?) Adam Miller hit some big clutch 3's for Manual, but that was a hellacious comeback by Morton. Missed about 10 minutes of the first half of the Illini game I got so engrossed in this game.
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[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]Belleville West 89, Belleville East 73; Javon Pickett - 27 pts. EJ Liddell-43 pts[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]Morton came back from 12 down with 2:14 to go to beat Peoria Manual 79-74 in ot. Morton's Ryan Altenberger had 31 pts. -- (anybody know if he's related to Doug?) Adam Miller hit some big clutch 3's for Manual, but that was a hellacious comeback by Morton. Missed about 10 minutes of the first half of the Illini game I got so engrossed in this game.
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Altenbergers are former neighbors and I believe I asked Pete (dad) a while back and he said no relation to Doug. Ryan is going to Xavier on a baseball scholarship.
Jeremy WernerVerified account @JWernerScout 9m9 minutes ago
Updated Scout100 for 2018 hoops class has #illini targets Ayo Dosunmu at No. 21 and Tim Finke at No. 93http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/2018-basketball-prospects?minimumInterest=Low…
Updated Scout100 for 2018 hoops class has #illini targets Ayo Dosunmu at No. 21 and Tim Finke at No. 93http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/2018-basketball-prospects?minimumInterest=Low…
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Don't remember hearing about an offer, but we were on him when he blew up as a Freshman at Solorio. I haven't seen any indication that we're pursuing him since he moved to NJ though, and all his most recent offers are east coast schools.
If Frazier is better than TJL I will be ecstatic. Highlights give you very few defensive looks and it seems the ratings are much heavier on offense. IMO TJL has had more affect on the defensive end of the floor than the offensive and he has made some great passes. If JG is still here and Frasier comes there will be a lot of 2PG played. Would love to see an offense that can score in transition but the future will depend on if all of the very strong offensive recruits can play equally good defense.
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