chief78
- Florida
Our 2018 class should be (drumroll please)........Ayo, De Sousa, Ignas, and THT. Now staff, go make that happen and we should be good for a year.
I'd sure be happy with that class! Not counting on it, though it is fun speculate.

Our 2018 class should be (drumroll please)........Ayo, De Sousa, Ignas, and THT. Now staff, go make that happen and we should be good for a year.

I said the other day that sometimes I just roll my eyes and let it go after reading some posts. There's a couple here today. (not exactly an eyeroll, but...)
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Well all the votes have been counted.......and checked by a reputable third party. Our 2018 class should be (drumroll please)........Ayo, De Sousa, Ignas, and THT. Now staff, go make that happen and we should be good for a year.
Ayo is good, but I don't see him replacing any those 3, anytime soon, maybe play along side, but not replace.
THT, and Ayo the staff needs to be on them, 24/7:thumb:![]()
Great, but you forgot to add who gets creaned with a class of 4.![]()
I would take any two of Nate Hinton, Jericole Hellems, or Zion Griffin over Ayo or THT.
Matic?
EJ is only 16, if he grows another inch or two that'd be gravy. He'll be just fine playing(and defending) the 4 at the next level with his length & strength down low. That jump shot looks pretty, too. Undersized or not, he'll be a mismatch.
Hahahahaha. Wait, are you serious? (seriously, I can't tell)
The bigger point I was making about Griffin, Hellems and Hinton is that even if we don't get Ayo or THT, we could still end up with a decent class. I haven't seen Griffin, other than highlights, but based on what I've read, and Henricksen's assessment, I'm impressed, as are a growing list of D1 coaches. I'll be surprised if BU doesn't offer him within the next week. Hinton has caught the wave and rivals THT for BIG offers. And Hellems isn't far behind THT or Hinton in offers. If we get two of those three guys (Griffin, Hinton, Hellems), and a big, and don't get either Ayo or THT, I would still feel good about this class. But as I said, at the moment, I think we land Ayo. It would be a coup to get Ayo and one of those three players.
Yeah, that's fair - I don't disagree with this post. I thought you were saying that if you had the option of a national top 25-30 recruit versus 2 of Griffin/Hellems/Hinton that you would go with the latter. Which is your opinion and fine, but it seems like there's a growing vocal minority on this board against Ayo, and I cannot for the life of me figure it out.
Illinois basketball fans are used to seeing our players, in most cases but not always, finish out their education staying the full 4 years. Ayo appears he will be a one-and-done, so does that have anything to do with the vocal minority you brought up? Also, anyone for extra credit, when's the last time Illinois had a one-and-done basketball player head off to the pros?
Hope EJ does not grow any more. Goes into a different level of recruit with some added height if he retains his skills.

Illinois basketball fans are used to seeing our players, in most cases but not always, finish out their education staying the full 4 years. Ayo appears he will be a one-and-done, so does that have anything to do with the vocal minority you brought up? Also, anyone for extra credit, when's the last time Illinois had a one-and-done basketball player head off to the pros?
I believe answer to the trivia question is Jereme Richmond...one and done and "headed off to pros".Illinois basketball fans are used to seeing our players, in most cases but not always, finish out their education staying the full 4 years. Ayo appears he will be a one-and-done, so does that have anything to do with the vocal minority you brought up? Also, anyone for extra credit, when's the last time Illinois had a one-and-done basketball player head off to the pros?
Illini B-Ball Fan;1322862 Also said:I second Illinitiger's guess of Jereme Richmond. He did head off to the pros. Just didn't quite make it.![]()