Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2017)

[SescIllini]

Did Yankuba Sima already enroll at OK St? Would love another rim protector.

 

[PlayAZ]

Congrats to Trent Frazier and look forward to the speedster next year!

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports...asketball-player-year/sW83BVMLLBRZzgnuNsAwWM/

 

[jrichisamazing]

I have great confidence in Underwood as a basketball coach. This will be his first test as savvy recruiting operator.

If he gets depantsed on Tilmon after keeping Walker, that would not be a great start. I don't expect that, but I always brace for the worst.

I don't get why you think Walker was only kept to get Tilmon. Whitman personally recommended to keep Walker, and we all know Whitman is a smart guy. Walker was kept because Whitman and Underwood think he has long term value.

And we all know recruiting is chaos. Even though Walker is staying, anything can happen with these recruits. IMO Underwood shouldn't be judged, at all, on who he keeps from this class. Keeping them all doesn't mean he's some amazing recruiter and losing some of them doesn't mean he's a bad recruiter.

 

[MrOizo]

I don't get why you think Walker was only kept to get Tilmon. Whitman personally recommended to keep Walker, and we all know Whitman is a smart guy. Walker was kept because Whitman and Underwood think he has long term value.

And we all know recruiting is chaos. Even though Walker is staying, anything can happen with these recruits. IMO Underwood shouldn't be judged, at all, on who he keeps from this class. Keeping them all doesn't mean he's some amazing recruiter and losing some of them doesn't mean he's a bad recruiter.

Agree with this. You keep Walker and you hope that Tilmon decides to stay, but you're making uncertain decisions and recruiting isn't always linear. Connections in St Louis and throughout Illinois/Chicago is one reason to keep Walker, continuity for current players is another, connections with Mark Smith and Tilmon are others. Let's hope all of this works out, but it's all fluid with no guarantees...

 

[EfremWinters84]

Roster management got Groce in trouble, don't think we'll see that from BU.

Ironically, I can recall this being one of the first things Groce addressed (or, complained about) right after he got the job. "We've got to fix class balance," he said.

 

[Deleted member 236589]

Agree with this. You keep Walker and you hope that Tilmon decides to stay, but you're making uncertain decisions and recruiting isn't always linear. Connections in St Louis and throughout Illinois/Chicago is one reason to keep Walker, continuity for current players is another, connections with Mark Smith and Tilmon are others. Let's hope all of this works out, but it's all fluid with no guarantees...

I agree 100% with your assessment on continuity for current players and connections in the area for being two very good reasons for retaining Walker.

That said, THE reason that it is front page news is because of this recruiting class, comments made about Walker by the Tilmon's and the recruitment of Mark Smith. If this class wasn't too 10(ish) with the Player of the Year in the State sniffing around the program, JW would be unemployed right now. There is a laundry list of candidates to bring in that could actively recruit the St. Louis area. That list shrinks to about one when it comes to holding on to this recruiting class and putting a good product on the floor next year.

Walker was holding all the cards because all the talent tied themselves to him. Now, if he fails to bring any of them home, not only is it a massive failure on his end, but it becomes potentially a bad hire(as we don't know who BU could have brought in). It would also be a really bogus move by some of the parents of these kids forcing this hand, then going in a different direction, but that's just my personal opinion and a completely different discussion.

This roster has way too much turnover this year to worry about continuity. It's all about this incoming class and if it falls apart....Well, again, just my opinion, but I would have wished the money would have been spent elsewhere. That would be hindsight however. If he keeps everything in tact, he's worth every penny because the Outlook of next season changes, the perception of the program changes and there's faith in our ability to recruit the area.

We'll see what unfolds.

 

[Kathy]

Even if Walker did not secure Tilmon (reason he was kept-partially), nothing would still not apply. Walker is the 2017 version of Collins with inroads to all areas and gyms...he even without Tilmon is far from a "nothing" retention.

Why include this little snippet? It has nothing to do with your point. First of all, it wasn't his work with "just" Tilmon. He was also the main recruiter with Smith, Liddell, and others. So can we stop with everyone's personal expertise and enlightening the rest of us that "after all, that's the only reason he was kept."

BTW: That wasn't the only reason! He has inroads with coaches & recruits throughout Illinois, which BU and the rest of his staff does not. IMO, that's the reason he was kept.

 

[Deleted member 2438]

Why include this little snippet? It has nothing to do with your point. First of all, it wasn't his work with "just" Tilmon. He was also the main recruiter with Smith, Liddell, and others. So can we stop with everyone's personal expertise and enlightening the rest of us that "after all, that's the only reason he was kept."

BTW: That wasn't the only reason! He has inroads with coaches & recruits throughout Illinois, which BU and the rest of his staff does not. IMO, that's the reason he was kept.

+1000

 

[Deleted member 236589]

Why include this little snippet? It has nothing to do with your point. First of all, it wasn't his work with "just" Tilmon. He was also the main recruiter with Smith, Liddell, and others. So can we stop with everyone's personal expertise and enlightening the rest of us that "after all, that's the only reason he was kept."

BTW: That wasn't the only reason! He has inroads with coaches & recruits throughout Illinois, which BU and the rest of his staff does not. IMO, that's the reason he was kept.

Your point is well taken, but there were probably 20 other assistants with those same inroads in the state....Especially with the pool of money that was provided to Underwood to spend on his Assistants. However, that pool was whittled down to one as respects to the incoming class. He's the only candidate who offers the ability to keep the 2017 class together and has to be the differentiator in hiring him vs an Assistant from another program.

So....To say that Tilmon, Williams, Pickett and Smith weren't the main reasons.....Is crazy. If this class falls apart, he's sent scrambling for transfers. He knows it, Whitman knows it, those kids know it....And next year, as well as the following year could be really rough. If he keeps it together, with development, this is potentially a tournament team. It's a HUGE swing based on comments made by some parents about retaining Walker.

So....There's a lot riding on this hire and to think it's not about next season is really just trying to cushion yourself for a potential punch in the groin.

 

[Deleted member 236589]

Why include this little snippet? It has nothing to do with your point. First of all, it wasn't his work with "just" Tilmon. He was also the main recruiter with Smith, Liddell, and others. So can we stop with everyone's personal expertise and enlightening the rest of us that "after all, that's the only reason he was kept."

BTW: That wasn't the only reason! He has inroads with coaches & recruits throughout Illinois, which BU and the rest of his staff does not. IMO, that's the reason he was kept.

He hasn't hired the rest of his staff yet and you don't know who his choice would have been for one of those three seats if Walker was not retained. So....How can you make the assumption that the rest of his staff doesn't have inroads, when 1)you don't know who his staff is and 2)if Walker wasn't hired, you don't know where that allotment of money would have done

The ONLY facts are that comments were made that if Walker goes, Tilmon goes, he was retained, they are making direct contact with next year's signed recruits and Smith. Those are the only facts to go on. Anything other than those facts are purely conjecture. One can reasonably deduct why Walker was hired based on the nature of their actions, while the remainder of the staff has yet to be filled out.

 

[MrOizo]

Agreed with everything you said. Fortunately if I had to win a recruiting scrum that is "exotic" so to speak Bob Huggins and Frank Martin would be two of the first guys I would turn to to win a street fight like this. Underwood has seen these up close

Really good point. There's no good reason to assume BU is ineffective and/or gullible on the recruiting scene based on the bad arses he has worked for.

 

[BirdDog9048]

...
The ONLY facts are that comments were made that if Walker goes, Tilmon goes, he was retained, they are making direct contact with next year's signed recruits and Smith. Those are the only facts to go on. Anything other than those facts are purely conjecture. One can reasonably deduct why Walker was hired based on the nature of their actions, while the remainder of the staff has yet to be filled out.

Who made those comments other than posters on this board? Lots of people were speculating, but we don't know it to be a solid fact.

 

[HR217]

Who made those comments other than posters on this board? Lots of people were speculating, but we don't know it to be a solid fact.

We do.

 

[Illinifanatic4ever]

Per Derek Piper Brad Underwood & Jamall Walker will visit Mr. Basketball Mark Smith on Sunday - he tells me. He's headed to Kansas State today.

 

[Deleted member 8213]

Per Derek Piper Brad Underwood & Jamall Walker will visit Mr. Basketball Mark Smith on Sunday - he tells me. He's headed to Kansas State today.

This is great, now I hope we hear about something set up with Da'Monte soon. :thumb:

 

[IlliniRunIn07]

This is great, now I hope we hear about something set up with Da'Monte soon. :thumb:

Would've rather he cancelled his KSU visit, but so long as he doesn't commit before Sunday, I will consider this good news.

 

[BirdDog9048]

We do.

Thanks for elaborating. I really appreciate it.

 

[Sir Dunk A Lot]

Would've rather he cancelled his KSU visit, but so long as he doesn't commit before Sunday, I will consider this good news.

KSU will never scare me with basketball recruits, at least with Weber at the helm. I'd be much more worried with a blue blood visit. Hopefully Walker and BU can get him on board... we could actually be really good in the next 1-2 years with Smith, especially if the rest of the class stays together.

 

[MrOizo]

Per Derek Piper Brad Underwood & Jamall Walker will visit Mr. Basketball Mark Smith on Sunday - he tells me. He's headed to Kansas State today.

As long as Jerrance and Self don't intercept him en route to or from the visit I'm good.

 

[Trakis]

Gonna be an interesting week coming up.

 

[jmwillini]

KSU will never scare me with basketball recruits, at least with Weber at the helm. I'd be much more worried with a blue blood visit. Hopefully Walker and BU can get him on board... we could actually be really good in the next 1-2 years with Smith, especially if the rest of the class stays together.

I don't necessarily disagree, but we did lose a recruit to them in the past year. Xavier Sneed averaged around 7.5 and 2.5 as a freshman.

 

[ILL in IA]

KSU will never scare me with basketball recruits, at least with Weber at the helm. I'd be much more worried with a blue blood visit. Hopefully Walker and BU can get him on board... we could actually be really good in the next 1-2 years with Smith, especially if the rest of the class stays together.

And on top of that, the only reason they are a presence with so many Illinois kids is again because of Weber's connections in state. A different coach at K-State may have no connection in the area and not in on as many kids. Either way, I like our chances going forward.

 

[Kathy]

Your point is well taken, but there were probably 20 other assistants with those same inroads in the state....Especially with the pool of money that was provided to Underwood to spend on his Assistants. However, that pool was whittled down to one as respects to the incoming class. He's the only candidate who offers the ability to keep the 2017 class together and has to be the differentiator in hiring him vs an Assistant from another program.

So....To say that Tilmon, Williams, Pickett and Smith weren't the main reasons.....Is crazy. If this class falls apart, he's sent scrambling for transfers. He knows it, Whitman knows it, those kids know it....And next year, as well as the following year could be really rough. If he keeps it together, with development, this is potentially a tournament team. It's a HUGE swing based on comments made by some parents about retaining Walker.

So....There's a lot riding on this hire and to think it's not about next season is really just trying to cushion yourself for a potential punch in the groin.

That is what I was saying. It was his body of work with multiple recruits, not just Tilmon.

 

[TCTORNADO]

Groce was very proactive right away. He was able to get in with Nunn (that was a surprise), was able to keep Hill, and signed Colbert (highly regarded) and Mav. Also brought Rayvonte Rice who ended up a very good player. He also was able to get in the recruitment of DJax, Snider, and Cliff although he missed. His failure was that he was not able to get a B1G PG, even later with Brunson and Evans, nor a B1G post player (other than developing Mav). But he was very proactive, I do not believe one can say that Groce waited until year 2.

Matter of semantics, what I meant by first year, was Groce's 1st year roster. Basically, he swapped out Orris for McLaurin. I think we will see BU do more changes with his "1st" year roster.
Regarding, Groce's "2nd" year roster, he was very active by not renewing scholarships for Ibby, Langford, Shaw and Henry.

 

[Deleted member 236589]

That is what I was saying. It was his body of work with multiple recruits, not just Tilmon.

That I agree 100% with. This is about the 2017 class, not just one player, though that one player is where the spotlight is being shined due to the amount of stars he has next to his name.

There would have still been time to make inroads for 2018 and beyond with another good, quality assistant. Keeping Walking is in direct correlation with keeping this particular class together. It is what it is and I agree with retaining him because given what we lose, this class is critical.

There is a lot of pressure on him to make this happen. As much as some want to support his long term future here, if he fails in pulling this together, there is going to be a massive meltdown and for good reason.

I personally think he's going to come through, but only time will tell.