Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (July-August 2016)

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#2,158      
Making the cuts on #15 Wilkes, #31 Scruggs, #48 Goodwin, #67 Smith, #83 Uyaelunmo, #107 Frazier. Maybe make cuts for Top 100's Verge and Eastern. If they can wrap up 2 of these this class will be in VERY good shape. This could be a legendary class, and it is very exciting to see. Have to close some deals here!
 
#2,160      
Making the cuts on #15 Wilkes, #31 Scruggs, #48 Goodwin, #67 Smith, #83 Uyaelunmo, #107 Frazier. Maybe make cuts for Top 100's Verge and Eastern. If they can wrap up 2 of these this class will be in VERY good shape. This could be a legendary class, and it is very exciting to see. Have to close some deals here!

ohhh and add #99 Lewis.
 
#2,161      
Resigned to Lewis going elsewhere. Understand it, but hate it. Goodwin better commit to us. Very confident, but until it happens...

Smith: hoping he's East or West coast bound. Don't want him in the BIG.
 
#2,162      
Good to see with Lewis. My sense is the staff wants a wing, a lead guard, and a big to finish. I think they'd only take one of Goodwin, Lewis, J. Smith, and Eastern. With how we're apparently sitting with Goodwin, the other 3 are probably not coming here. Wilkes is a supersize wing, but he's so talented we'd take him no matter what. Same with Tugs Bowen. Plus, both would theoretically be able to play the stretch-4. <1% chance we get either of those two.

I'm still seeing a Goodwin/Frazier/Kiir, Epperson, or Uyaelunmo finish, but it could get wild over the next 3 months!
 
#2,163      
I'm still seeing a Goodwin/Frazier/Kiir, Epperson, or Uyaelunmo finish, but it could get wild over the next 3 months!

Yes, please. I suppose Scruggs could beat Frazier to the punch, but that's unlikely. That recruitment is so quiet though, eerily reminiscent of JCLs. Hoping Goodwin advances his timeline.
 
#2,164      
Good to see with Lewis. My sense is the staff wants a wing, a lead guard, and a big to finish. I think they'd only take one of Goodwin, Lewis, J. Smith, and Eastern. With how we're apparently sitting with Goodwin, the other 3 are probably not coming here. Wilkes is a supersize wing, but he's so talented we'd take him no matter what. Same with Tugs Bowen. Plus, both would theoretically be able to play the stretch-4. <1% chance we get either of those two.

I'm still seeing a Goodwin/Frazier/Kiir, Epperson, or Uyaelunmo finish, but it could get wild over the next 3 months!

I wouldn't be surprised if the staff took a lead guard and two of goodwin, smith, lewis or wilkes. I think they see those guys a ball players that can defend and rebound a size up from their offensive position.
 
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#2,165      
Resigned to Lewis going elsewhere. Understand it, but hate it. Goodwin better commit to us. Very confident, but until it happens...

Smith: hoping he's East or West coast bound. Don't want him in the BIG.

I was excited about Lewis before that recruitment cooled off. Is Iowa State the new favorite? I assume we have a negligible chance with both Smith and Eastern.
 
#2,166      
Resigned to Lewis going elsewhere. Understand it, but hate it. Goodwin better commit to us. Very confident, but until it happens...

Smith: hoping he's East or West coast bound. Don't want him in the BIG.

Assuming we don't land any of them, I sure won't complain if Wilkes, Scruggs & Lewis head out of the BIG as well...although something tells me Wilkes might be giving us fits as a Wolverine or Hoosier :/ Hope I'm wrong!
 
#2,167      
I was excited about Lewis before that recruitment cooled off. Is Iowa State the new favorite? I assume we have a negligible chance with both Smith and Eastern.

Why does everyone believe the recruitment has cooled? Did something specific happen or is it just because we've heard more from other players and Leeis hasn't yet committed?
 
#2,168      
Why does everyone believe the recruitment has cooled? Did something specific happen or is it just because we've heard more from other players and Leeis hasn't yet committed?

I believe it was because of an interview of Lewis in which we were not mentioned.
 
#2,169      
It will be interesting to see how the official visits are scheduled now that so many of our targets are cutting their lists. Not only the visits here but at the other schools. One commitment, even if it isn't someone we are recruiting, can change the recruitment of a number of players!
 
#2,170      
Good to see with Lewis. My sense is the staff wants a wing, a lead guard, and a big to finish. I think they'd only take one of Goodwin, Lewis, J. Smith, and Eastern. With how we're apparently sitting with Goodwin, the other 3 are probably not coming here. Wilkes is a supersize wing, but he's so talented we'd take him no matter what. Same with Tugs Bowen. Plus, both would theoretically be able to play the stretch-4. <1% chance we get either of those two.

I'm still seeing a Goodwin/Frazier/Kiir, Epperson, or Uyaelunmo finish, but it could get wild over the next 3 months!

I actually think that given Smith's ability to play the small-ball 4, we might take him even with another wing. A class of:

Frazier (PG)
Williams (Combo)
Goodwin (Wing)
Pickett (Wing)
Smith (Wing/F)
Tilmon (Big)

would still be fantastic IMO, even if we are becoming "WingU".
 
#2,171      
Well at least two of those teams are putting him second behind Wilkes in their wish list.

And it appears from this, Smith is a plan B for 'Nova. (Borzello insider article but this much is free.) He may prefer Stanford at any rate.
Villanova seemingly has all the advantages in its recruitment of five-star wing Lonnie Walker. The biggest one: Walker (No. 14 in ESPN 100) is from Reading, Pa., about an hour from the Wildcats’ campus.
 
#2,173      
It appears from Lewis' list that hiring Rob Jeter was one smart move by Marvin Menzies at UNLV.
 
#2,174      
Big deal. Tilmon did an interview a few weeks before he committed where he couldn't remember Illinois among his suitors.

I wasn't saying that it was a big deal. I was just answering your question as to why some people may feel that way!
 
#2,175      
Taking another wing (besides Goodwin) boils down to "How bad do we need another (true) big?" IMO, the answer is badly. A true PF (or PF/C) is a way bigger priority than another wing. And, no, I'm not suggesting taking a scrub over an quasi-elite wing.
 
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