It's great when you see fresh teams advancing in the tournament. I am so tired of the same Elitist Program names every year at the end. Let them join the D-League if they want and let's return college ball to COLLEGE ball. I want to see the Illini winning and winning the right way. The best thing about North Carolina vs. Kentucky. One of them is guaranteed to lose. The best thing about South Carolina vs. Florida? South Carolina, just for being there.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2017)
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It's great when you see fresh teams advancing in the tournament. I am so tired of the same Elitist Program names every year at the end. Let them join the D-League if they want and let's return college ball to COLLEGE ball. I want to see the Illini winning and winning the right way. The best thing about North Carolina vs. Kentucky. One of them is guaranteed to lose. The best thing about South Carolina vs. Florida? South Carolina, just for being there.
There is a big difference recruiting a kind from Illinois and recruiting a kid from NY, Miami, or Atlanta. Reality is that while UI may occasionally pull a recruit from Florida (e.g., Frazier), Texas, etc., the majority of of recruits, our bread and butter, come from Illinois (dominant) and neighboring states. What actually increases the value of the Illini job is the fertile recruiting base, primarily Illinois. Furthermore, some of the most powerful/influential national AAU programs are indeed in Illinois and Chicago.
The premise that we can all of a sudden become a prominent national program that can easily pull quality recruits from outside our recruiting base is a false one.
I doubt it just because he was at KSU earlier this weekend meaning he is still in his search. But I'd never say never...
Pretty doubtful.
I'm guessing a Smith commitment comes in about a week, but he might take his remaining two visits and announce on or near 4/12. I think there's about an 80% chance he becomes an Illini, but it's not a foregone conclusion. I've heard he really likes KSU and is intrigued by tOSU. I wouldn't be surprised if he gave Cuonzo and/or Archie Miller a legit shot to make a pitch. There's also a remote chance that due to the peculiar dynamics of his recruitment (potential NBA talent plus very late emergence), he decides not to sign at all and waits for a blue blood to offer after transfers/early entries create roster gaps. In that case, he'd just enroll in the fall at Duke or Kansas or wherever. I don't think that's his plan at all, but it could make sense.
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Frank CusumanoVerified account @Frank_Cusumano Mar 25
Mark Smith, player of the year from Edwardsville, visiting K-State and likely Ohio State and Butler. Home visits with Cuonzo and Underwood.
Think I saw on the TigerBoard Cuonzo was coming in Tuesday so a commitment today is very unlikely. Still seems to be accumulating data.
Mark Smith, player of the year from Edwardsville, visiting K-State and likely Ohio State and Butler. Home visits with Cuonzo and Underwood.
Think I saw on the TigerBoard Cuonzo was coming in Tuesday so a commitment today is very unlikely. Still seems to be accumulating data.
Mark Smith is very intrigued by Butler as well from what I have heard. I expect it to be Illinois, but I do think that Butler could be a dark horse here.
When is the home visit with Underwood?
sacraig
- The desert
I thought it was today. Probably evening since he is probably still on his way back from Manhattan, KS.
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Derek Piper @DPiperScout Mar 24
#Illini HC Brad Underwood & Jamall Walker will visit Mr. Basketball Mark Smith on Sunday - he tells me. He's headed to Kansas State today.
I would agree, probably later in the day.
I get that there's been tweets claiming that people close to Tilmon are saying that he is back to being fully committed to Illinois, but isn't it a little odd that there hasn't been either a direct quote from him or his family or a tweet from him confirming anything? Maybe I've been beaten down so long I always expect the worst, but it seems like something that would take very little effort.
whitesxfan2012
Orange & Blue tweety bird
- Louisville, KY
Have a little faith everyone. Deep breaths...the kick below the belt days are still fresh in everyone's minds, I understand...let this play out.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
Someone with more time or less children than me (which oddly seem to go hand-in-hand): What's the lowest composite ranking an Illinois Mr. Basketball and/or Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year has had? I'm sure we've had some down years where Mr. Basketball wasn't super-highly ranked, but I would bet that not many of them are as low as 100...
So one tweet tells all?
He's a signed recruit, so ... yeah. If he asks out of his LOI, then I'll get worried.
Kevin Dillard in 2008 had a composite rating of #142. I think Dillard originally signed with SIU, but ended up at Dayton.
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I know it came up a ways back, but just how tall is Javon? You have to like his motor if he's hasn't slowed down enough for anyone to measure accurately. Tilmon we got down to the nearest 1/2 inch over a 6'10.5" total. They say a smile can add a 1/2".
He is at least as tall as Malcolm. Malcolm posted a picture to his instagram, which I have shared in the past that shows them being equal in height. That was more than a year ago so it's possible that Javon has grown some since that time.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
That was the Dunigan, Shumpert, Lewis Jackson, Verdell Jones year, right? Curious how Dillard won the award(s) over those other guys, but I don't have their stats handy. That is a surprisingly low number, though, for a Mr. Basketball.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Yeah. Like 2012, '08 was a very down year for Illinois hs basketball.
FWIW Tilmon just posted a picture in a Iowa jacket...
Check Jeremiah's Instagram
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I think it was a bet.
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