From a recruiting standpoint with coaching issue mentioned below...really good sign. I still think add Mark Smith is a given imo!
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-March 2017)
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From a recruiting standpoint with coaching issue mentioned below...really good sign. I still think add Mark Smith is a given imo!
I talk to someone who is in pretty frequent contact with Smith and this was something he mentioned in a conversation on Monday. I wasn't there so I didnt get the context how he said it but it was just relayed to me that it was something that was mentioned.
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MOB's comparison -- (since this board seems to love comparisons.)
Michael O'BrienVerified account @michaelsobrien
Only watched him play once, but Edwardsville’s Mark Smith reminded me of Demetri McCamey. Both his build and his style of play.
Michael O'BrienVerified account @michaelsobrien
Only watched him play once, but Edwardsville’s Mark Smith reminded me of Demetri McCamey. Both his build and his style of play.
More athletic/slightly more physical dmac is what a friend who's from edwardsville has told me a dozen times.
Well to be more accurate he said skillset of Demetri but a bit more physicality like Ray Rice.
haasi
- New York
I was thinking the same - nice mix of Rice and Dmac. Not sure his passing or handle is quite up to DMac's level, but he's definitely a superior athlete.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
More physicality was really the only thing I thought was missing from DMac that would have made him a complete player, so if that's Mark Smith then sign me up (or better yet, sign HIM up)!
I live in Edwardsville, and have been in that area most of my life. The only indication that I have gotten from people that know Mark are that he has always loved the Illini, he followed them through the great years and not so great years. It doesn't mean he is going to Illinois but I'm confident they will be in his final 3 choices. As for the game last night, hot shooting by Simeon won that game and a game plan to stop Mark. Edwardsville didn't have a defensive stopper for the quick guards, we missed a bunch of open looks in the 1st half and thus a huge hole was created. It was a fun year, it was just one of those nights that Simeon played great and Edwardsville woke up to late. Mark will be a very good college ball player. Don't worry about this game too much. I have seen him more than 10 times over the past couple of years, he will be fine. Quality young man with skills that could play in the orange and blue or grey? But big schools with stable situations are interested so let it play out. If he chooses the Illini, I'll be making some road trips, but if it's k state (he likes Weber by the way) or Butler or whoever, I congratulate him for putting it together over the last year or two to get to this point.
By the way Liddell from Belleville West will be great too! Hargrove from East St Louis will be intriguing to watch. Tilmon has the skills but needs to grow up a little, I have seen a couple head scratchers over the past year that concern me( kicking the ball down the court after his 4th foul- that led to a technical, then his night was done).
Cuonzo would be ok for me. He grew up and played around where I'm from, and he is very highly regarded in the inner circles. Of course others mentioned would be fine, but give Cuonzo a chance if he gets it.
By the way Liddell from Belleville West will be great too! Hargrove from East St Louis will be intriguing to watch. Tilmon has the skills but needs to grow up a little, I have seen a couple head scratchers over the past year that concern me( kicking the ball down the court after his 4th foul- that led to a technical, then his night was done).
Cuonzo would be ok for me. He grew up and played around where I'm from, and he is very highly regarded in the inner circles. Of course others mentioned would be fine, but give Cuonzo a chance if he gets it.
Went to the Edwardsville game last night. AJ looked like he was sick and Smith didn't look like himself either. Simeon plays a level of defense that is unheard of at the high school level. Couple that with the fact that the ref let Simeon be physical in the paint and the first half was a disaster for the tigers. If they played ten times Simeon would win 7 or 8 times. That being said Smith was the best player on the floor I've seen five times this year and each time I've liked him more and more. Gilyard exposes Smith's biggest flaw, he isn't lightning quick, but he's so strong and intelligent. he gets to the rim and above it with ease his court vision and passing are excellent. For a guard he rebounds. The main way he reminds of Demitri is defense which as we all know is not a good thing. At first I didn't think he was a top 30 burger type but now I think maybe he is. He should definitely be Mr. Basketball this year.
He avoids a lot of charges from high school kids who don't know how to bait charges.
He'd get rung up on most of the attacks of the basket I've seen of him on film against a Purdue-type team, but he's a good player, he'll figure it out.
I would agree with most of that. Smith does have a quick 1st step but he's not a blazer, usually gets by players because he uses his body well and is smart. He almost always goes the correct way when he drives, great vision. He can drive and finish with both hands.
As for a player he reminds me of, I may get roasted - is Gill. Plus they both wear #13. I was in high school when Gill played so I don't remember everything about him but when I look at old pictures of him he kinda looks like Mark. Mark is about 6'5"- 220 ish. Guarding Gilyard didn't happen that much that I saw on the streaming - rebuffering feed - did it! If so I missed that! Only saw about 1/4th of the game at best, but heard audio. I heard #2 Marinko guarded Gilyard some too, but that said, Mark isn't going to do as well against a blazer. I would say Mark could bring the ball up, but on defense he should be on the 2 , unless the 1 is like him. If anyone has seen Jordan Goodwin the SLU commit, he plays a lot like Smith. Goodwin is a top 50 national player, and Smith has bested him everytime, no slight on Goodwin. He's awesome too! I see some similarities between Mccamey, maybe little Nick Anderson or Deron.
As for a player he reminds me of, I may get roasted - is Gill. Plus they both wear #13. I was in high school when Gill played so I don't remember everything about him but when I look at old pictures of him he kinda looks like Mark. Mark is about 6'5"- 220 ish. Guarding Gilyard didn't happen that much that I saw on the streaming - rebuffering feed - did it! If so I missed that! Only saw about 1/4th of the game at best, but heard audio. I heard #2 Marinko guarded Gilyard some too, but that said, Mark isn't going to do as well against a blazer. I would say Mark could bring the ball up, but on defense he should be on the 2 , unless the 1 is like him. If anyone has seen Jordan Goodwin the SLU commit, he plays a lot like Smith. Goodwin is a top 50 national player, and Smith has bested him everytime, no slight on Goodwin. He's awesome too! I see some similarities between Mccamey, maybe little Nick Anderson or Deron.
Oh I think a few people on here have heard of that guy before
I agree about Goodwin he's got such a nose for the ball he's involved in every play. Smith beats him because he has point guard skills.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Ugh. Sucks if he goes there I still think we have the last laugh.
What other programs has he followed? If any?It's over. We're screwed.
Trakis
- Chicago, IL
He follows a ton of them.
He got a cal offer so it makes senses
Plus the baseball commitment thing to mizzou last year. He obviously liked the campus enough. Mizzou tigers/ Edwardsville Tigers, weird
IF, and I don't think this is going to happen, but if:
-Charlie Moore follows Cuonzo to MU
-Juhwon Harris-Dyson (SG, #156 in '17) switches from Cal to the Tigers
-Mark Smith commits to the Tigers
-Cuonzo hires Jamall Walker and Tilmon switches to the Tigers
-Romar is canned at Washington, Cuonzo hires Michael Porter, Sr (was an assistant at Mizzou previously and both of his daughters attend there), and Michael Porter, Jr switches from the Huskies to the Tigers
...this could turn out badly for us. If a few pieces fall into place for Cuonzo and he consequently wins a bunch of games immediately, he could really start cleaning up on the recruiting front.
-Charlie Moore follows Cuonzo to MU
-Juhwon Harris-Dyson (SG, #156 in '17) switches from Cal to the Tigers
-Mark Smith commits to the Tigers
-Cuonzo hires Jamall Walker and Tilmon switches to the Tigers
-Romar is canned at Washington, Cuonzo hires Michael Porter, Sr (was an assistant at Mizzou previously and both of his daughters attend there), and Michael Porter, Jr switches from the Huskies to the Tigers
...this could turn out badly for us. If a few pieces fall into place for Cuonzo and he consequently wins a bunch of games immediately, he could really start cleaning up on the recruiting front.
eMitch
- Quincy, IL
Didn't Washington already issue a statement saying Romar was staying?
Just fired.
Both Moore and Porter would have to sit out a year. Harris-Dyson would have to get released from his NLI. Cal might be able to release him to anybody but Missouri. We could do the same thing with Tilmon and his NLI.
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