Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (July-August 2016)

[Orangetool]

I'm hearing that far off rumble again. A distant storm, maybe a quake.

Keeps getting louder.

Illini recruiting momentum.

 

[Illinibirds]

I realize I'm not the only one saying this, but...

Just because Illinois gets one 5-star and there are rumors that the top player in IL is also going to commit doesn't mean we are somehow in a position to pick and choose and treat the kids with whom the coaches have developed relationships poorly.

Frazier is a PG who is hitting his stride at the right time. We DON'T pass on him if he wants to come.

Pickett is a talented scorer who committed to Illinois when Illinois was about as attractive as a port-a-potty. You don't insult him just because you think the flashy recruits *might* commit instead.

:clappy:

 

[Ulysses Everett McGill]

Tc brings good things to this board. I've goofed on here plenty myself. But yes picketts a goodie

Yep on both. Appreciate TC's concistent qualitY input here! But I'd leave JV's future with JV and his parents, and Groce and staff. I'm glad he hopped on board; doubt a delayed entry into college makes sense for him personally, but a redshirt for year 1 might. Again, up to him and staff.

Eagerly watching for what Groce reels in here on out.

 

[Ulysses Everett McGill]

I think you can add one more to your list:

- Get in on a recruit early (before he blows up). Tilmon said that Groce believing in him and the Illini recruiting him since he was in 8th grade was a big reason why he committed. If Goodwin commits as well, it probably helped that we were the first P5 school to offer. With Frazier, we were in on him early as well and now he is starting to show everyone just how good he is.

Basically, getting in on a recruit early and building a long standing relationship with that recruit can be the reason why a recruit chooses us over one of the blue bloods.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gggemI9lF1U

 

[zoggle101]

Pickett has a ton of upside. He has to be bigger than 6'3?? No doubts that the roster is sick with talent, and Pickett will have work to do crack the rotation early.

 

[combes]

Over 6-5

 

[Deleted member 10676]

Bigfoot Hoops ‏@BigfootHoops 14m14 minutes ago 17u Meanstreets 75 Miami Topics 58 Alonzo Verge 17pts #bigfoothoops

Derek Piper ‏@DPiperScout https://twitter.com/DPiperScout/status/756627933263982592
#Illini watched 2019 PG Marquise Walker (@_therealquise) in Vegas earlier today, his dad tells me.

 

[zpfled]

Pickett has a ton of upside. He has to be bigger than 6'3?? No doubts that the roster is sick with talent, and Pickett will have work to do crack the rotation early.

Pickett is a prospect similar to AJ in my mind. Both have great size for a 2, good scorers, need some development. But if they work hard, they've got all the tools to become stars as upperclassmen.

 

[Renegade19]

I realize I'm not the only one saying this, but...

Just because Illinois gets one 5-star and there are rumors that the top player in IL is also going to commit doesn't mean we are somehow in a position to pick and choose and treat the kids with whom the coaches have developed relationships poorly.

Frazier is a PG who is hitting his stride at the right time. We DON'T pass on him if he wants to come.

Pickett is a talented scorer who committed to Illinois when Illinois was about as attractive as a port-a-potty. You don't insult him just because you think the flashy recruits *might* commit instead.

This! POTD in my opinion.

 

[zoggle101]

Pickett is a prospect similar to AJ in my mind. Both have great size for a 2, good scorers, need some development. But if they work hard, they've got all the tools to become stars as upperclassmen.

I think Pickett's body isn't your normal 6'5 skinny athlete. It's not a year into Fletcher's weight and conditioning program either. I thought he looked on the bigger side of 6'5" too. He's probably 6'6" in shoes

 

[Stucash]

Pickett is a prospect similar to AJ in my mind. Both have great size for a 2, good scorers, need some development. But if they work hard, they've got all the tools to become stars as upperclassmen.

you need these guys every year. part of the reason we've suffered as of late. little to no grit/experience

 

[CAHALL15]

Pickett has a ton of upside. He has to be bigger than 6'3?? No doubts that the roster is sick with talent, and Pickett will have work to do crack the rotation early.

The attached picture was from 6+ months ago. He really does seem like a Malcolm Hill clone to me. If he bulks up and has the same dedication, he can be an awesome player for us. A redshirt year to bulk up and become more athletic would do him a lot of good.

 

[AnticipatedSerendipity]

Gray shows Draymond-esque traits

Raiquan Gray has emerged as priority prospect for high-major programs all over the country this travel season with the Florida Vipers.

“I took an official visit to Baylor and an unofficial visit to Ole Miss already,” Gray said. “I plan on visiting Florida State and Memphis soon, probably in the next month or so.”

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/fab-48-evaluations-and-notes-on-top-prospects

How good of a chance do the Illini have with him? Seems intriguing at the very least

 

[GForce]

Size-wise, based on that photo, Pickett is a 3/4. But of the video I've seen, he plays more like a 2.

 

[Connor]

Size-wise, based on that photo, Pickett is a 3/4. But of the video I've seen, he plays more like a 2.

Pickett is a wing player like Goodwin is just brings different tools than Goodwin.

 

[Deleted member 10676]

I put the Final Thought from this in the Football Media/Conference Realignment thread but the actual article is of interest to recruiting junkies. Others have mentioned this on here. Interesting the way so many people think of ways to make money off of kids playing hoops.
Inside College Hoops: The 'Packet Racket' is making amateur basketball lucrative

http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...acket-is-making-amateur-basketball-lucrative/

 

[t7nich]

Piper on the radio today.. Thinks Goodwin will likely take 2 or 3 visits. Illinois, Northwestern, and maybe Mizzou.

 

[Magoo222]

Gray shows Draymond-esque traits

Raiquan Gray has emerged as priority prospect for high-major programs all over the country this travel season with the Florida Vipers.

The 6-foot-7, 240-pound standout looks the part of a power forward with his size, but his versatility allows him to really play all over the court, similar to Warriors' star Draymond Green. Gray has a smooth jump shot and can put the ball on the floor and make plays for others. If he draws a smaller defender, he’s comfortable playing on the block with his back to the basket too.

Gray rattled off a list that includes Pittsburgh, Baylor, West Virginia, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Memphis, Maryland, SMU, UConn and Texas. He’s already taken two visits and hopes to take two more in the near future as he moves closer to a decision.

“I took an official visit to Baylor and an unofficial visit to Ole Miss already,” Gray said. “I plan on visiting Florida State and Memphis soon, probably in the next month or so.”

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/fab-48-evaluations-and-notes-on-top-prospects

So Gray is showing 50 Shades of Green ?

 

[Deleted member 10676]

[FONT=&quot]Scott Phillips ‏@phillipshoops [/FONT][FONT=&quot]1h1 hour ago [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]NC State and Michigan are three deep at Mac Irvin Fire game. Danny Manning here. Wisconsin, Indiana, SMU have assistants.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Scott Phillips ‏@phillipshoops [/FONT][FONT=&quot]1h1 hour ago [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Impressive start for Stevenson 2017 wing Justin Smith. Scored 3 times off post touches against smaller defenders. Showing versatility.

[FONT=&quot]Might have moved Ayo up to the 17 squad tonight. 16u h[FONT=&quot]as w[FONT=&quot]on 2 games today and [FONT=&quot]no mention of [FONT=&quot]Ay[FONT=&quot]o [FONT=&quot]-- 2 b[FONT=&quot]ig games for Kezo and Horton-Tu[FONT=&quot]cker. 15u also seems to be dominating in Vegas[FONT=&quot] with Jacobs, Miller, Cle[FONT=&quot]ments and Kahlil Whitney. [/FONT][/FONT] [/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[/FONT]

 

[jrichisamazing]

Piper on the radio today.. Thinks Goodwin will likely take 2 or 3 visits. Illinois, Northwestern, and maybe Mizzou.

I know this won't happen...but if we build up all this recruiting momentum then Goodwin decides to go to Northwestern, I would officially lose it.

 

[Deleted member 10676]

I know this won't happen...but if we build up all this recruiting momentum then Goodwin decides to go to Northwestern, I would officially lose it.

I've already said, if that happens, I'm staying away from here for at least a week, maybe 2. So many people on here already have him in O&B. When Henricksen says NW is in a better place than anybody would have guessed, I take notice. Still not expecting him to choose them but I wouldn't be totally shocked.

 

[jonnymo]

The kid can play. I've seen him several times. He was not bait. They wanted him. It is insulting to the kid to say he was taken to lure others. He was taken on his on merit.

EXACTLY.

It just so happens that he helps in getting his buddies here.

 

[cjcastan]

Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

I've already said, if that happens, I'm staying away from here for at least a week, maybe 2. So many people on here already have him in O&B. When Henricksen says NW is in a better place than anybody would have guessed, I take notice. Still not expecting him to choose them but I wouldn't be totally shocked.

If we lose a down state top 100 player that we want badly, to a program that has never made the tourney; we should shut down the program.

Seriously though I hope jgood and Frazier wrap it up soon so the staff can focus on the 6th schollie and the upcoming season

 

[jonnymo]

Good grief. He was 1st team all state as a junior and averaged 23(?) ppg in the St. Louis metro area and still has another 10+ months before he arrives on campus.

Forget that they're from the same HS, Pickett reminds me a lot of Malcolm Hill at that same age. Neither player wows you from an athletic or physical standpoint, but they produce in a big way. And Hill really struggled as a freshman; that entire class did. (Amazingly, Jaylon Tate was the only guy that was able to contribute semi-consistently early on.) Pickett will need time to adjust to the college game, no doubt, but he and the team are in a good position where he can take some bumps, figure out where he stacks up to that level of competition, and work on his development without the added pressure of being relied upon to be a major contributor from day 1. He want's to be an Illini; there's no guarantee that opportunity would still be there after a year of prep school so he jumped on it at the first chance. (Good for him, good for us.)

The only kids going the 5th year prep route are for academic reasons to qualify, another year could possibly bump them up to D-1 level play, or the great ones that want to hide in the shadows for a year instead of possibly getting exposed at the college level to make the NBA. That's not Picket. As mentioned above he was 1st team all state as a junior.

Also a few years back I posted on here for people to watch what they say about recruits and commits because they are reading these boards and many posters laughed and scoffed at the post. Well a month later a certain U of I OL commit from Ohio went on social media and said this much. Also during a WCIA interview. It's OK to come on here and talk about there strength and weaknesses but (especially if they are already committed) to suggest was brought here mainly to lure other recruits is pretty insulting.

Remember he was 1st team all state in Illinois biggest class as a junior. The kid is good.

 

[IllGuardU]

Well said. How would you feel if this were your kid.