Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (July-August 2016)

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#851      
Joel Goodson
BlueChipBridesmaid said:
People throwing in the towel on Scruggs are going to be positively surprised next month. I'm not saying we'll get him, but Monday changed quite a few things for Groce & Co.
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+1

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
 
#853      
Mike
Joel Goodson said:
+1

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
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+1
Did Chris Columbus stay home? Nooooo.
What if the Wright Brothers thought that only birds should fly?
And did Galoka think that the Ulus were too ugly to save?
 
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#854      
sunman
Mike said:
+1
Did Chris Columbus stay home? Nooooo.
What if the Wright Brothers thought that only birds should fly?
And did Galoka think that the Ulus were too ugly to save?
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MAN!!!! Going old school!! But it is a great movie!!
 
#855      
Mike
sunman said:
MAN!!!! Going old school!! But it is a great movie!!
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What movie? ;)


Point is that when you have momentum (Tilmon and company) you take advantage of it. Sounds like our coaches are traveling like crazy right now and agree that the time is right to go after the biggest class we've ever had.
 
#856      
SescIllini
After hearing Tilmon speak and seeing the interest of other schools involved with J Goodwin I feel we have a lead. Mentioned before that MSU and Indiana offered but they have prioritized in-state higher ranked players. If we land J Goodwin, I think we will offer two more players.

As much as I would like to land Mayan Kiir and Scruggs, it appears it is a uphill battle to land these players. Kiir appears to be a Louisville lean and Scruggs would be difficult recruit over Indiana and others. Theo John and Frazier appear to be very solid 4 year pick ups in position of need.
 
#857      
Joel Goodson
SescIllini said:
After hearing Tilmon speak and seeing the interest of other schools involved with J Goodwin I feel we have a lead. Mentioned before that MSU and Indiana offered but they have prioritized in-state higher ranked players. If we land J Goodwin, I think we will offer two more players.

As much as I would like to land Mayan Kiir and Scruggs, it appears it is a uphill battle to land these players. Kiir appears to be a Louisville lean and Scruggs would be difficult recruit over Indiana and others. Theo John and Frazier appear to be very solid 4 year pick ups in position of need.
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I'd much rather have slightly undersized Justin Smith at PF than John, assuming Kiir's off the table.
 
#858      
Illiniguy13
Joel Goodson said:
I'd much rather have slightly undersized Justin Smith at PF than John, assuming Kiir's off the table.
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Agreed. As much as I appreciate the physical potential John has, he's just way too raw. I might even take Negron over John at this point
 
#859      
Big Al
Joel Goodson said:
I'd much rather have slightly undersized Justin Smith at PF than John, assuming Kiir's off the table.
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Illiniguy13 said:
Agreed. As much as I appreciate the physical potential John has, he's just way too raw. I might even take Negron over John at this point
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Smith is not a PF. Who will be your center to start the 2019 season when Finke, Black, and Tilmon (hypothetically speaking) have all moved on? Theo John as a junior would be a tremendous piece to plug into that starting spot. He would also be a nice backup to have as a developing freshman and sophomore. Offensively he doesn't bring much, but I think he'd be slightly better than average as an underclassman big on the defensive end. Tilmon is going to have his fair share of foul trouble and it would be nice to have another big body to sub in besides LB and MF.
 
#860      
Tevo
Tevo said:
"Jordan, can you walk us through the decision? What, in the end, made you choose Illinois?"

"Well, it was really close between Illinois, Michigan State and Texas. I know Coach Izzo and Coach Smart have both had a lot of success and success in the tournament, and that's really important to me. But then I heard that they both missed one of my EYBL games, so that was it. They're dead to me."
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CAHALL15 said:
I think you're taking one aspect of that statement too narrowly. If loyalty is something Goodwin values, then Groce has shown that. In addition, coaches generally attend the games of players they value/want the most. Multiple absences, to me, says that Goodwin is not their top priority.
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Yeah, I know. :thumb: Just having some fun! I hope he DOES say that!
 
#861      
Illiniguy13
Big Al said:
Smith is not a PF. Who will be your center to start the 2019 season when Finke, Black, and Tilmon (hypothetically speaking) have all moved on? Theo John as a junior would be a tremendous piece to plug into that starting spot. He would also be a nice backup to have as a developing freshman and sophomore. Offensively he doesn't bring much, but I think he'd be slightly better than average as an underclassman big on the defensive end. Tilmon is going to have his fair share of foul trouble and it would be nice to have another big body to sub in besides LB and MF.
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He's definitely a specimen. A strong, athletic 6'8" with a 7'3" wingspan puts him in freak category. The rawness offensively is understandable, but with his build you'd think he'd be rebounding/blocking everything. It's sounding like he's been pretty unimpressive across the board lately stat-wise.
 
#862      
IlliniInOK
I'd be perfectly ok with getting Theo John and hoping he turns into Nnanna Egwu with good hands.
 
#863      
Bomb Squad 217
Theo John is the perfect example of dont judge a kid by his highlight tape. Looking at his, you might think he was in the NBA right now.
 
#864      
Big Al
Bomb Squad 217 said:
Theo John is the perfect example of dont judge a kid by his highlight tape. Looking at his, you might think he was in the NBA right now.
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Yes, but what are you looking for from him? Defend, rebound, and screen for 10-15 mpg. I think he's going to be ready to contribute in those areas as a freshman. As an upperclassman, maybe he will have a couple of go-to post moves and more offensive value.
 
#866      
OldGreg
This whole "Smith is not a 4" narrative is getting old. Traditionally, that is correct but guess what...Villanova just won a championship with 6'5" maybe 6'6" Kris Jenkins basically being their 4 man. Smith can without a doubt fill that type of role and after two years in the program and with Fletcher bulking him up, Smith could be even better at it. As long as you have a competant, rim protecting 5 (we just landed one) and your whole team commits to rebounding, there's absolutely no reason Groce can't make that work.
 
#867      
CAHALL15
Illiniguy13 said:
Agreed. As much as I appreciate the physical potential John has, he's just way too raw. I might even take Negron over John at this point
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I will also agree that I'd take Smith over John, but Negron is too extreme for me. I think Theo John is a solid offer, but I'd take a few players before him such as Mayan Kiir or Raiquan Gray.
 
#868      
Illinoy
OldGreg said:
This whole "Smith is not a 4" narrative is getting old. Traditionally, that is correct but guess what...Villanova just won a championship with 6'5" maybe 6'6" Kris Jenkins basically being their 4 man. Smith can without a doubt fill that type of role and after two years in the program and with Fletcher bulking him up, Smith could be even better at it. As long as you have a competant, rim protecting 5 (we just landed one) and your whole team commits to rebounding, there's absolutely no reason Groce can't make that work.
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I think OldGreg stole my computer because I was going to type that verbatim. Smith has an extremely high upside if you ask me.
 
#869      
t7nich
WhitesideBB said:
Those not close to Goodwin say he already has his mind made up and is heading to Champaign!!!
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I've been seeing this as well. I think it's excitement and hope more than anything. But I'm not discrediting anybody with actual information. I'm in the camp that believes we lead for him, and have for a while, but it aint over til it's over. Getting his buddy Tilmon definitely helps though.

Any idea how many visits he plans on taking? Seems like the 3 obvious ones would be ILL, MSU, and Texas.
 
#872      
IlliniBrave75
Brian Snow ‏@BSnowScout 7h7 hours ago
Brian Snow Retweeted Kyle Neddenriep
Cathedral is one of the best jobs in the area

https://twitter.com/KyleNeddenriep/status/753227632448122880
Kyle Neddenriep @KyleNeddenriep
Andy Fagan has resigned as Cathedral basketball coach. Has accepted Division I assistant job; can't say where until paperwork goes through.





Anyone familiar with Cathedral? Wondering what Division 1 school, and wondering if Cathedral has any D1 talent currently?
 
#873      
Joel Goodson
IlliniBrave75 said:
Brian Snow ‏@BSnowScout 7h7 hours ago
Brian Snow Retweeted Kyle Neddenriep
Cathedral is one of the best jobs in the area

https://twitter.com/KyleNeddenriep/status/753227632448122880
Kyle Neddenriep @KyleNeddenriep
Andy Fagan has resigned as Cathedral basketball coach. Has accepted Division I assistant job; can't say where until paperwork goes through.





Anyone familiar with Cathedral? Wondering what Division 1 school, and wondering if Cathedral has any D1 talent currently?
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Think Cathedral is where JCL played his first 2 years of HS.
 
#874      
Big Al
OldGreg said:
This whole "Smith is not a 4" narrative is getting old. Traditionally, that is correct but guess what...Villanova just won a championship with 6'5" maybe 6'6" Kris Jenkins basically being their 4 man. Smith can without a doubt fill that type of role and after two years in the program and with Fletcher bulking him up, Smith could be even better at it. As long as you have a competant, rim protecting 5 (we just landed one) and your whole team commits to rebounding, there's absolutely no reason Groce can't make that work.
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That's fine if you have the center position manned, but when Smith is a junior who is that going to be? Incoming freshmen? A 5th year transfer? It just seems like a really good time to take a project big that doesn't need to do a whole lot for his first couple of years other than develop and adjust.
 
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