Huge relief.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-March 2017)
- Status
Huge relief.
Not that it matters but according the the previous tweet MS's 30th point gave Edwardsville 60 and now he has 40 of their 69. Something's missing here!
The extra 10 are style points.
Whoa... Who would've thought that the Illini could get the player of the year in Florida for basketball and football (Epstein)
I actually never thought anything of this, contrary to others. If you look at the position, the player, the previous offers, etc...Trent's best option is to stay with the illini regardless.
This also might speak to the timing of interview, questions, answers given...maybe the kid already knows something that we don't? Maybe he likes the knowledge (coach) that he is aware and makes this statement?
Each of our recruits will, as they should, evaluate their commitment when Groce is fired. They'd be silly not to.
MrOizo
- Chicago
There has to be a way to make the two-steps-illinois process work with Verge... He's worth it.
MrOizo
- Chicago
Gotta give Groce huuuge credit for finding and owning the Frazier recruitment. Fantastic work.
Wittsdream
- Chicago
Absolutely believe that Smith is THE kid that can have the Dee Brown/Deron Williams effect on this program.
In fact, if I'm Whitman, my priorities are as follows:
1a) Replace Groce with a really good head coach (obviously).
1b) Retain Jamall Walker as an assistant coach.
1c) Make sure that head coach prioritizes Mark Smith as soon as he's announced. Whitman will play a huge role in trying to secure his commitment.
With guys like Dosunmu, Finke, Liddell and Okoro as top targets going forward, this upcoming 20 month window is our best opportunity in a long time to assemble all of the requisite pieces for both conference and postseason success.
Tilmon is so important because he is a skilled big man, and we are in short supply of those as things stand. And Frazier is so electric in the open court that he would inject instant entertainment into the games, and keep defenses on their heels end to end.
But Smith is the guy, with a skillset and size to be a future NBA PG (he's already 6-5 and 225), and a tough as nails competitor to take us to that next level.
Jamal Murray-lite!
In fact, if I'm Whitman, my priorities are as follows:
1a) Replace Groce with a really good head coach (obviously).
1b) Retain Jamall Walker as an assistant coach.
1c) Make sure that head coach prioritizes Mark Smith as soon as he's announced. Whitman will play a huge role in trying to secure his commitment.
With guys like Dosunmu, Finke, Liddell and Okoro as top targets going forward, this upcoming 20 month window is our best opportunity in a long time to assemble all of the requisite pieces for both conference and postseason success.
Tilmon is so important because he is a skilled big man, and we are in short supply of those as things stand. And Frazier is so electric in the open court that he would inject instant entertainment into the games, and keep defenses on their heels end to end.
But Smith is the guy, with a skillset and size to be a future NBA PG (he's already 6-5 and 225), and a tough as nails competitor to take us to that next level.
Jamal Murray-lite!
Darren Hertz found TF, when Hertz worked for UF and Frazier camped there
Assists are the same thing as points @ Edwardsville.
Wittsdream
- Chicago
Why the incredulity?
Simply stating that Whitman, along with Walker, will do everything in their power to make sure Smith doesn't slip out of our hands, since it'll be logical that the incoming replacement coach will more than likely not have experienced any prior contact with Smith and his family.
Nothing nefarious inferred, just making sure they stay on Smith like a duck on a junebug.
Deleted member 10676
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Guest
[FONT="]O'Brien burns Irvins by listing two other guys who had huge games last night and omitting Ayo. btw, Krutwig, Negron and message board legend Chastain are going to be a very strong nucleus for Loyola starting next year. Kid almost had a quadruple -double in a high school sectional title game and was taken out with 4 minutes to go -- so he got those stats in 28 minutes or less, assuming he got a minute or two breather in the first half. Krutwig finished 2nd in POY. And for downstaters, Sun-Times POY is only for Chicago area. Both O'Brien and Henricksen have said Smith will get Mr. Basketball.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Michael O'BrienVerified account @michaelsobrien [/FONT]
[FONT="]Just to make the Player of the Year reasoning obvious:[/FONT]
[FONT="]Krutwig's big game: 20 pts, 19 rebs, 15 blcks, 8 assts [/FONT]
[FONT="]Eastern's big game: 29 pts, 17 rebs [/FONT]
[FONT="]Verge AVERAGED 26 pts, 8 rebs, 7 assts, 3 stls[/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Michael O'BrienVerified account @michaelsobrien [/FONT]
[FONT="]Just to make the Player of the Year reasoning obvious:[/FONT]
[FONT="]Krutwig's big game: 20 pts, 19 rebs, 15 blcks, 8 assts [/FONT]
[FONT="]Eastern's big game: 29 pts, 17 rebs [/FONT]
[FONT="]Verge AVERAGED 26 pts, 8 rebs, 7 assts, 3 stls[/FONT]
Exactly, words don't mean much right now. The majority of recruits are going to say they will honor their commitment because they don't want to rile up the fanbase. But once a coach gets fired all that goes out the window.
And I've seen people say stats show that most of the time players stay after a coach gets fired. But how many of those teams are bringing in a top 10-ish recruiting class. We have players that other teams want and if Groce gets fired then those other teams will be busting down doors. It's really impossible to say which players will end up staying and which will go somewhere else.
Jeremy Werner @JWernerScout
Hmmm...
Jeff Borzello @jeffborzello
Uncommitted five-star wing Brian Bowen took an unofficial visit to DePaul yesterday. Blue Demons have quietly working in that recruitment.
Hmmm...
Jeff Borzello @jeffborzello
Uncommitted five-star wing Brian Bowen took an unofficial visit to DePaul yesterday. Blue Demons have quietly working in that recruitment.
Deleted member 10676
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video from Edwardsville-Danville game.
http://www.news-gazette.com/video/2...edwardsville-top-danville-take-sectional.html
http://www.news-gazette.com/video/2...edwardsville-top-danville-take-sectional.html
Wittsdream
- Chicago
Interesting. As an addendum to this, one of the callers on the Tay & J show a couple of days ago mentioned Shane Heirman, LaLu's head coach, as a reasonable candidate for Whitman to reach out to for an assistant coaching position at UI.
Highly doubt anything like that would gain traction, for a myriad of reasons (including his close ties to Groce), but it would sure make for a tantalizing "thinking outside the box" hire, assuming Heirman was resolute on making that leap (after receiving overtures from various high-major schools last Spring).
Josh Jackson's attorney, seeking no charges, allegedly offered to pay family
No doubt the money would come from a Kansas booster. Someday KU is going to get caught.
No doubt the money would come from a Kansas booster. Someday KU is going to get caught.
Watched the Simeon - Thornton game on the cube. While Simeon pulled away late, Verge was spectacular most of the game. He finished with about 20. In the fist half Verge he made several 3's and showed off an uncanny ability to finish contested shots in the lane. In the 2nd half Simeon face guarded him basically 94 feet and constantly ran 2nd and even 3rd defenders at him. Verge still had several excellent finishes against the pressure, and he also made high level passes. He did this without appearing like a ball hog. Unfortunately, his teammates weren't able to make enough plays to keep it close, and he did seem to visibly tire at the end.
Simeon played a very strong team game and eventually pulled away. Tucker and Brown looked very good. Verge was easily the best player on the court though.
Given Verge's recent comments, would love to see him in Orange and Blue someday. If he doesn't qualify, is there any chance he could go the prep school route for a year? I know things didn't work out for him in Florida, but man what a talent!
Simeon played a very strong team game and eventually pulled away. Tucker and Brown looked very good. Verge was easily the best player on the court though.
Given Verge's recent comments, would love to see him in Orange and Blue someday. If he doesn't qualify, is there any chance he could go the prep school route for a year? I know things didn't work out for him in Florida, but man what a talent!
I'm familiar with a coach that might have some ties to Hargrave Military.
Great news from Smith, we're definitely in the mix.
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