I hope we land Smith, it will give Da Williams more chance to get fully healthy. I am not saying he should RS but it would let him not have to try to do like our guys in football the last 2 years and rush back only to get hurt again. I truly Believe that TL will be our starting point next year. but I would also expect time for both Trent and Smith. just going to have a lot more options and a lot more ball handling ability then we have had for a good while. Yes they will be Fr and a SO who hasn't got a lot of time. But its still got to be better then we have had to watch for the last few year
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-March 2017)
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He reminds me of Deron Williams
Marcus Smart
I have the same one. Christmas gift in 2012 I believe, possibly 2013. Rebrand came out summer 2014, right before TA got hurt the first time.
He is in the conversation with McCamey type athleticism (probably slightly better), that year Rose and Gordon were on a different level. Mark Smith with Damonte would be very good size and athleticism to the PG/combo guard positions.
No doubt. And to piggy-back on above posters, He does have a little Deron Williams to his game. Deron was crafty and not ultra-explosive. Same thoughts about McCamey who also was not overly explosive, but was productive at this level. I have no idea if he will ever be as good as McCamey or Deron, but he has potential and he plays the game in a similar fashion as those two.
He would be a nice addition to this class and allow to go all in on a post player.
I agree, also we haven't had recent PG's who could control tempo. Deron was the best at it and Frank Williams wasn't too bad. They made the game be played at pace and tempo which was best for their team. Smith I believe can bring that leadership on the defensive side of the ball as well, and more importantly Smith shows he can win games.
I was in attendance and my son is in their band. They played Illinois Loyalty, which is their school song. Their fight song is something else.
Illinois' fight song is Oskee Wow Wow. Our school song is Illinois Loyalty.
Northwestern. Supposedly the entire staff was front and center in their purple polos at the ESL game.
They weee sitting about mid court couple rows back. I saw 3-4 guys in NW gear. I don't know their assistants but I can verify it was Collins in the middle
79illinois
- Winnetka, IL
Illini class of 2019 target? 6'9" Ciaran Brayboy from New Trier HS
http://jwcdaily.com/2017/01/05/shift-to-hoops-paying-off-for-nts-brayboy/
http://jwcdaily.com/2017/01/05/shift-to-hoops-paying-off-for-nts-brayboy/
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Mark Smith isn't on 247 at all.
good!
I'll take one of him and one of Francis Okoro please!
Talk about a front line that would make....especially if they both keep on growing!
Great, count your blessings. Still surprised some folks still think he is a mid-major or can't play PG for us. I'm still in the camp that we need a developing big (Epperson) and transfer big. But he is too good to turn down.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
No caches we are competing with care in the slightest whether a kid is on 247sports or not. Smith is blowing up in the eyes of college coaches and scouts. Sites like 247sports do 90% of their evaluations on the AAU circuit. I don't blame them, you can see tons of prospects in one place over a weekend. But when a kid explodes during the HS season, recruiting sites go out the window.
Ideal situation is getting a development guy and have him play 5-10 minutes the next couple years.
What probably will end up happening is a grad transfer comes in. Sadly that probably means our need for a top 100 C in 2018 is our top priority. He wouldn't start then, but he would in 2019, which would include another grad transfer.
I know people dont think we need a true 6-10 or taller player on our team, but its still kinda scary to realize come 2019 we most likely have 0 6-7+ guys. Guess its a few years down the road but having a development type player would mean an upperclassmen starter then. Or maybe Tilmon stays 3+ years and becomes the all-time leading rebounder in UI history
I agree with this.
I've seen him play a couple times now. He seems little passive now and not trying to do too much with the older players out there, but he has the makings of a guy who should dominate the next two years as an upperclassman.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
Could have sworn this was a DJW comment from 3-4 years ago
Yeah I would agree with that. Hargrove definitely needs to work on his handles if he is going to continue to develop and be a high level prospect. Either that or continue to grow to 6-8 or 6-9. A lot of his points are on spot of threes, or offensive boards, which he has a pretty good nack for.
Hargrove and Ayo D are the type of athletes our fanbase wants. Having a few of these never hurts. Our recruiting is really good right, and I would hate to take a step back.
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