Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (July-August 2017)
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I'd be content with that class. If we get Conditt, I personally would not want another big unless they are elite level. Otherwise, I'd definitely be happy with adding the other three.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Nope. And beg to differ w/your assessment of that class. I've explained my reasoning in detail earlier.
Furthermore, considering how late Underwood and staff arrived on the scene, their first class was pretty remarkable. Yes, I have high hopes. No, I'm not delusional.
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foby
- Bonnaroo Land
So would starting, having a breakout season, winning, going to the dance, and then the idea of doing the same in your hometown the next season with an improved and higher ranked team.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
I seriously don't get this. Finke loves the new system. If its a system where he thrives why would he leave? Also if we are taking Tim just to keep Michael around for 1 extra year then that is insane.
While we may end up with Tim, I think recent performances have shown he has been passed up by some of our other options.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Taking Finke, to hold on to his older brother, is a distinctly poor reason to accept his commitment.
At one time, Tim was a lean to tOsu, so not sure what he intends to do. Some may think he is not as good as before, I think he has still time to work on things. I was in his shoes , I would have committed long time ago. Obviously, he had other plans, and maybe he still does. Kids are alot different nowadays.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
At one time, Tim was a lean to tOsu, so not sure what he intends to do. Some may think he is not as good as before, I think he has still time to work on things. I was in his shoes , I would have committed long time ago. Obviously, he had other plans, and maybe he still does. Kids are alot different nowadays.
Right. We've always landed downstate targets from our breadbasket: CU, Peoria, Springfield, Decatur, Quincy & Lincoln. Kids like Roger McClendon, Chuck Verderber, Michael Payne, Ed Horton, David Booth, ad infinitum.
I didn't see your reasoning, but my reasoning is this: First of all, gettting a top 25 player (been awhile since we had one of those) makes it an excellent class right away. It's a guard's game and Ayo with Smith and one of Lucas, Frazier or DMW gives us a superb backcourt. You pair any of those three with Black and Finke upfront as 5th year (we hope) players and that's a dynamite group.
I also think Conditt has a ton of potential. No, he's likely not a first year starter, but you can see the potential down the line. Landing an elite big like De Souza would be fantastic, but it doesn't seem likely. Those types are extremely difficult to get if you're not Duke/Kentucky/UNC etc.
Finke and Pearson certainly aren't stars, but they're not total reaches either. You have 13 rides to give and I have no problem with taking guys here and there for depth purposes.
I'd love to hear your reasoning. And make no mistake I'd love to have a class with guys like DeSouza, Ignas, etc.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=1322214&postcount=917
FWIW, I harbor no hope about DeSousa. Virtually no hope for Ignas and a bunch of others we've offered.
I would love to land any 2 of the bigs we are after no matter who else we land, that is if we are taking 4. we know we are losing Finke and Black in 2019 so to have 4 young bigs already on the team lets the staff go after who ever they want in 19, yes I know some of those guys are bigs as well but still would be nice to have some size who can run and dribble and shoot
Ayo, Pearson, THT/Stewart, and Conditt. That would fill a lot of gaps, be a very nice class ranking wise, and talent potential wise would put well on our way to getting better and securing more top class' moving forward. Also pretty reasonable choices.
I think the Finke ship may have sailed.
I think the Finke ship may have sailed.
What makes you think that?
This year, a successful recruiting class for Illinois is fairly easy to judge. You start with Henricksen--the best evaluator of talent in Illinois. He has Ayo and THT as 1 & 2, then there is a drop with Finke at 3. It's simple--unless something unexpected happens, to be successful we need to get either Ayo or THT. The remaining most likely recruits are all second tier D1 prospects and whatever combination we end up with won't make that much of a difference in the short term as long as we have position balance. It's impossible to predict how any of the second tier players will perform in a couple of years. As of right now, based on the tea leaves, we probably have a 50-50 chance for Ayo and a 1-3 chance for THT. Finke and Conditt are probably 50-50 and the other recruits are probably 1-3. Bill Self has said he hopes to land 1 in 3 potential recruits. Unless special relationships exist, virtually every school misses out on a majority of its targets. That's why losing Ayo would be the hardest blow to our program and why getting him would be sufficient for a successful recruiting season--we have the special relationships, the coach, the location, and the system to sign him. Failure to do so would be more than disappointing unless we get THT, who appears at the moment to be less likely to sign, though not impossible. Of course, surprises can occur, such as if we landed a player like Jericole Hellems.
Agree.
Wouldn't this reasoning also apply to taking Pearson to get Ayo? Just asking.
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
We already have MFinke, so no, not the same reasoning. Pearson helping to get Ayo is a whole different thing.
Don't know why that would be the case but if I were betting, my money would be on Vanderbilt right now.
Horizons
I am forever amazed that so many posters limit their options to Illinois prospects. Yes Ayo is a top tier recruit regardless of location but our offer list includes several better prospects than either Condit, Finke or THT IMO. If we are truly to be a top tier program we must expand our recruiting horizons. Protect and get the highest ranked Illinois prospects but add in the best available prospects around the country and the world.
I am forever amazed that so many posters limit their options to Illinois prospects. Yes Ayo is a top tier recruit regardless of location but our offer list includes several better prospects than either Condit, Finke or THT IMO. If we are truly to be a top tier program we must expand our recruiting horizons. Protect and get the highest ranked Illinois prospects but add in the best available prospects around the country and the world.
Wouldn't be so sure about that. Hearing ILL or Vandy still. But with Stewart, and THT heading elsewhere, our chances only increase.
I have heard that if Garland decides to go to Vandy that could change things for a lot of recruits. Specifically Finke.
Now the dreamer in me wants Ayo, De Sousa, THT, and Ignas, but I think that if we are all being realistic here the class would be Ayo, Finke, Pearson, Conditt as of right now.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
Great point. We want to start locking up Chicago for the players we want in our system/program/school.
After that, with the national ties that Big O has, along with the reach into Texas that Underwood has, we should hopefully start attracting more national players.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
I don't think anyone is limiting our options. It just happens to be that this year, our top recruiting options that we seem to have a shot with are from Illinois.
Castleton, Sow, Stewart, De Sousa, Ignas, Hellems, Hinton etc are all from other states and people that are discussed quite frequently on this board.
DJ Stewart just committed to Mississippi State.
https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/889528510179667968
https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/889528510179667968
The reason you are still hearing ILL or Vandy are the most likely is because after his summer is because Vandy the highest level that will offer him besides maybe us who are only still in on him because of family ties and location. Mostly family ties I'm guessing.
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