Its not unfair to question his character based off what went down, but here's the other end: if you're not that well-off, unlikely to make the NBA, and have one chance to cash in, you prolly need to take it. Illinois & Co have an informal policy of not ponying up for anything below a borderline 5 star. So that's that.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (July-August 2016)
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Counterpoints:
1. He is assured he will actually play for the coach he's signing for.
2. He can keep his existing support system in his life on a day to day basis.
3. He's going to be the focal point of his team immediately.
4. If these rumors are true, he's going to have a coach he trusts and is comfortable with on the staff.
But the biggest thing is, if he has talent, the NBA or Europe will find him. The professional risk he's taking is being developed by Travis Ford who is a steaming trash heap of a coach, not playing A-10 games average fans aren't watching.
They're still friends after all. We're probably taking this a lot harder than he is. Which probably says something about us.
And he couldn't tell the staff, or even talk to them for weeks
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I don't know about you all but I wanted Goodwin because of his desire to win and he was an Illinois kid. Other than that, I never believed him to be our program changer. I still think we're in a couple wings and I wouldn't be surprised if the staff had something else in their back pocket. Who knows, the way things turned for SLU with Goodwin, maybe things will change for us and Wilkes...
Ford has always been a solid recruiter; however for every Marcus Smart, there is a Lebryan Nash. I think this has more to do with Goodwin's AAU coach, versus being the next Marcus Smart. Smart was a top 10 recruit and a burger boy. Needless to say, I kind of feel bad for Goodwin. I think the DeAndre Ayton's and Michael Porter Jr's of the world can go to any program and have less to prove; however others outside the top 20 range have a lot more to prove.
I just feel like he's just a kid and he's taking all the risk if he goes SLU. I don't like it when adults sway a kids future and there's very little altruism present. I'm not saying he should go to Illinois 100% because there are questions around my beloved; however I think as we grow older, we can handle the consequences of our first major adult decisions a lot better when it's made free of undue influence.
Ford has always been a solid recruiter; however for every Marcus Smart, there is a Lebryan Nash. I think this has more to do with Goodwin's AAU coach, versus being the next Marcus Smart. Smart was a top 10 recruit and a burger boy. Needless to say, I kind of feel bad for Goodwin. I think the DeAndre Ayton's and Michael Porter Jr's of the world can go to any program and have less to prove; however others outside the top 20 range have a lot more to prove.
I just feel like he's just a kid and he's taking all the risk if he goes SLU. I don't like it when adults sway a kids future and there's very little altruism present. I'm not saying he should go to Illinois 100% because there are questions around my beloved; however I think as we grow older, we can handle the consequences of our first major adult decisions a lot better when it's made free of undue influence.
That's the worst part to me. You build this great relationship with a staff over years and then don't even call yourself.
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JGood is not a "much needed recruit"
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LincolnIlliniFan
- Lincoln, IL
Really love his competitive motor and drive to win at all costs. Should definitely have SLU in the hunt for some A10 championships by his senior year, heck maybe even a NIT final four. I'm sure the tipping point for him was that he'll be playing on Fox Sports Midwest on nights when the Blues are off. Much better coverage than B1G Network. Best of luck
Tells you that he may not be calling the shots, IMO.
JGood would of been a nice add to the team, but the way I see it is we got the #1 and #3 recruit out of the STL area that's good enough for me to be happy. ( I would love it if Lovie can start doing it yearly) I for one will never Bash any young man who picks another school no matter what the reason might be. I am way to more concern about our own teams our own players in all sports to truly care about those who don't want to be ILLINI
I was mentioning it to show that JGood doesn't even get to make his own announcement
Mike
C-U Townie
Who is announcing it then?
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Jordan taking the "high" road:
JGOOD
@jGoodwin1123 4m4 minutes ago
@jGoodwin1123 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
JGOOD
@jGoodwin1123 4m4 minutes ago @jGoodwin1123 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
The STL news says that he is expected to announce for SLU. They are stealing his thunder in a way
I take your point re the "other end", but as to what Illinois' "policy" (formal or informal) is, how would anyone know only a few short months into our new AD's tenure? Call me Pollyanna but I'd like to think Whitman wouldn't be risking a long career at his dream position even for a 5 star player, not at this point at least.
He's just really dedicated to that Ray Rice comparison. We'll see him in two years after he realizes there's a reason Ford ain't at a power conference school anymore.
Calling it now, he still wears the orange and blue.
Did we get his birthday wrong on the scouting report?
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
So much for waiting till his birthday. :huh:
But really I'm bummed. Not because we really needed Goodwin, but because I (and obviously the coaches) really WANTED him. To use the cliché, he is truly a "bulldog", and I really wanted him to be that guy for us. A guy with a passion for winning at all costs and who would lay it all out on the floor every night. It's a shame he was duped by a snake oil salesman in Ford and he can't see the rational picture. It's going to be his loss ultimately. I think a year or two down the road he's going to regret not going to play with his friends at Illinois - on the big stage on big time TV in front of 16,000+ fans in a brand new spanking arena against the MSU's and Indiana's of the world.
I really think under Fletch he would have become a BEAST, too. Can you imagine what Fletch could do with a guy like JGood to turn him into a physical specimen? His NBA chances would have shot through the roof with an NBA ready body and his obvious dedication to go along with his skills. I have no doubts a competitor like JGood would have gotten more than his share of minutes by his sophomore year and that he along with Tilmon, Pickett, JCL (if still around), AJ, DJW, TJL, DMW, Finke, and maybe Frazier, Kiir, or whomever else we land would have been an awesome core that would be competing for B1G championships sooner and Elite Eight births sooner rather than later. Oh well. His loss. I do wish him well but I wish he would have shown a little bit more class and respect towards the coaches who showed him the most loyalty and love throughout his whole recruitment process. But thems the breaks.
But really I'm bummed. Not because we really needed Goodwin, but because I (and obviously the coaches) really WANTED him. To use the cliché, he is truly a "bulldog", and I really wanted him to be that guy for us. A guy with a passion for winning at all costs and who would lay it all out on the floor every night. It's a shame he was duped by a snake oil salesman in Ford and he can't see the rational picture. It's going to be his loss ultimately. I think a year or two down the road he's going to regret not going to play with his friends at Illinois - on the big stage on big time TV in front of 16,000+ fans in a brand new spanking arena against the MSU's and Indiana's of the world.
I really think under Fletch he would have become a BEAST, too. Can you imagine what Fletch could do with a guy like JGood to turn him into a physical specimen? His NBA chances would have shot through the roof with an NBA ready body and his obvious dedication to go along with his skills. I have no doubts a competitor like JGood would have gotten more than his share of minutes by his sophomore year and that he along with Tilmon, Pickett, JCL (if still around), AJ, DJW, TJL, DMW, Finke, and maybe Frazier, Kiir, or whomever else we land would have been an awesome core that would be competing for B1G championships sooner and Elite Eight births sooner rather than later. Oh well. His loss. I do wish him well but I wish he would have shown a little bit more class and respect towards the coaches who showed him the most loyalty and love throughout his whole recruitment process. But thems the breaks.
It is his one chance as a local sportswriter to have a scoop. As has been shown he has been wrong more often than not before. He needs his day to shine too.
Ah misinterpreted it, my bad.
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