Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2018)
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Tacomallini
- Washington State
good one!
I don’t think anyone wants to see a mass defection of players here but this is the reality. Watch the top 3 or 4 teams in the league and ask yourself how many minutes any of the guys we are discussing would be getting. Frazier is the ONLY guy who should set off huge alarm bells if we hear he is leaving. Otherwise it could be a mutual decision or guys who don’t like the slightly abrasive style of Underwood. I know Lucas and Smith aren’t finished products as players but if this coaching staff can’t replace that talent level in short order then we have a much bigger problem. If guys leave I wish them all the best but I still have confidence in this staff. I called about 4 conference wins this year and I bet we see similar next year. After that this group (whatever it looks like) should start to see the wins build. It’s gonna take some time.
haasi
- New York
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Pretty clear he wants the ball in his hands. Just as clear that that's not going to happen here. As to your assessment: spot on. Wish he'd stick it out. Think he'll become a good, possibly VG, player. Just don't think it's in the cards.
Tacomallini
- Washington State
I just want kids that WANT to be here, and if they don't want to be here then they can take the next exit.
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haasi
- New York
That’s good news. Let’s hope he comes.
Kedric Prince
@KedPrince4
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36m
#Illini 4-star ’18 guard Tevian Jones will visit Illinois this weekend, Jones said: I like Illinois they are a really good program I am excited for my visit.
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Maybe Smith wants the ball in his hands, maybe he doesn't. That's not important. What is important is his dad wants the ball in his hands. This is 100% being driven from a parent. Anyone from the Edwardsville area and tied into the program knows that Mr. Smith graduated from the Lavar Ball school of parenting athletes. He's been very vocal about it. It was already being discussed in circles in Jan. Most wrote it off to speculation/rumors, but it had legs and it was stemming from the parents side. As season went on and struggles were magnified, it only gained momentum
IF Smith xfers, should not be a surprise at all. As others have suggested, kid has never experienced failure, nor has his father as a parent. First reaction is to blame the circumstances, blame the coaches, blame the system, anyone/anything other than the player. By all accts a great kid. And I think he was making strides. But the need for immediate gratification and Ayo coming in, the writing was on the wall. Wish the kid the best whatever he decides. A departure by Smith will have little impact on the future of Illinois basketball. May have some minor short term affects on downstate recruiting...TBD
IF Smith xfers, should not be a surprise at all. As others have suggested, kid has never experienced failure, nor has his father as a parent. First reaction is to blame the circumstances, blame the coaches, blame the system, anyone/anything other than the player. By all accts a great kid. And I think he was making strides. But the need for immediate gratification and Ayo coming in, the writing was on the wall. Wish the kid the best whatever he decides. A departure by Smith will have little impact on the future of Illinois basketball. May have some minor short term affects on downstate recruiting...TBD
This would all feel so much better if we somehow landed Jones
Just like everyone says recruiting is fluid, I'm sure several of these transfer rumors are fluid as well. Especially with players likely to play key roles here going forward, like Smith, Leron and Kipper. While they may be thinking that they're going to transfer at this moment, I'm sure the coaches will be recruiting them to stay in their player meetings. So I would hold writing these guys off until there is an official word out there that they will transfer. With that being said, there seems to be an awful lot of smoke around Smith particularly.
Deleted member 649710
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I really hope these Smith rumors are nonsense, because he had the tools to become a great college player. He had a very typical season for a freshman: inconsistent. He'll improve for sure. I can't imagine what more he and his family expected from this coaching staff, as he was given a ton of opportunity to be a leader from the get go (18 starts). He just didn't defend or produce on the offensive end as well as some others. No biggie, he's a frosh, he'll figure it out. If he thinks he can transfer to another major conference program, sit a year, and then be handed the keys, he's going to be epically disappointed. He's going to have to earn his time anywhere.
ivwilsoniv
- Aurora, IL
I just want kids that WANT to be here, and if they don't want to be here then they can take the next exit.
I just WANT kids that will win B1G titles for Illinois.
Wow. Kid's really thin, but love the quickness, length, and speed.
Hope Smith stays, but he'll have to earn his minutes. Thought he looked a bit more comfortable last few games. But these guys can count. Lot of guards vying for time. Smith, played his way out of minutes he was getting earlier, hope he stays and plays his way back to more expanded role.
Leron, getting married, maybe wants to go pro? But, it won't be in NBA, yet. Only money would be overseas. D league salaries are pretty meager. Love to see him stay.
I don't think this team is as far away as some do, and would like to see these guys stay, plus additions and BIG MAN!
Leron, getting married, maybe wants to go pro? But, it won't be in NBA, yet. Only money would be overseas. D league salaries are pretty meager. Love to see him stay.
I don't think this team is as far away as some do, and would like to see these guys stay, plus additions and BIG MAN!
Deleted member 631370
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He's the kind of bouncy, athletic wing that you see at places like Michigan and Syracuse. Really, really need that kind of talent on this roster.
We haven't had that type of wing since......?
Deleted member 16068
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Weeellllll............we won 14 games this year. It can't be any worse next year. I'm willing to let this all play out and see what the team looks like for next year before I declare doom and gloom.
We have been so bad for so long now that we might as well let BU build with guys that fit what he wants to do.
With that being said, IF any of our guys transfer I wish them nothing but success.
We have been so bad for so long now that we might as well let BU build with guys that fit what he wants to do.
With that being said, IF any of our guys transfer I wish them nothing but success.
Ten players averaged over 10 minutes a game and 4 were freshman.
Experience and hard work are the best teachers.
I like our team and the style of basketball the coaching staff emphasizes.
GO ILLINI!
Experience and hard work are the best teachers.
I like our team and the style of basketball the coaching staff emphasizes.
GO ILLINI!
Deleted member 4333
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Deleted member 654622
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I just want kids that WANT to be here, and if they don't want to be here then they can take the next exit.
FOUR REMAIN FOR VALDIR MANUEL
The pickings are pretty slim for legitimate high-major big men in the class of 2018 and one of them is down to four.
Over the weekend, my co-worker Corey Evans reported that physical 6-foot-9 center Valdir Manuelis down to Illinois, Seton Hall, Syracuse and Wake Forest.
Headed into his senior season, many thought that Seton Hall had the inside edge. But, the Pirates haven't been able to seal the deal on Manuel, who has yet to take any official visits, and now they've got some competition.
Once he starts setting visits, Manuel may start to give off more of an indication of what direction he might be leaning. I'd probably be a bit nervous about Syracuse if I was one of the other programs in his final group. He's a fit at any of them, but he's exactly the type of guy who Jim Boeheim seems to swoop in on and plug into a seemingly never-ending parade of big guys to help anchor the zone.
https://basketballrecruiting.rivals...ing-porter-jr-didn-t-derail-mizzou-turnaround
The pickings are pretty slim for legitimate high-major big men in the class of 2018 and one of them is down to four.
Over the weekend, my co-worker Corey Evans reported that physical 6-foot-9 center Valdir Manuelis down to Illinois, Seton Hall, Syracuse and Wake Forest.
Headed into his senior season, many thought that Seton Hall had the inside edge. But, the Pirates haven't been able to seal the deal on Manuel, who has yet to take any official visits, and now they've got some competition.
Once he starts setting visits, Manuel may start to give off more of an indication of what direction he might be leaning. I'd probably be a bit nervous about Syracuse if I was one of the other programs in his final group. He's a fit at any of them, but he's exactly the type of guy who Jim Boeheim seems to swoop in on and plug into a seemingly never-ending parade of big guys to help anchor the zone.
https://basketballrecruiting.rivals...ing-porter-jr-didn-t-derail-mizzou-turnaround
Smith is a good kid. It's interesting that he chose Illinois because it was a rebuilding program and he wanted to spearhead that. I do think losing him would be tough. I know it didn't show it on the court, but I do think he would've been a key component to the team in the future. I think he just had to change his style a bit. He was always the biggest and strongest. He could easily get to the rim and finish given his body type. However, he got a bit of an awakening here and it wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. If he doesn't change his style or be more wise about when to use, he'll be any more successful anywhere else. I'm hoping that he can see that he doesn't need to be a freshman phenom to make a difference and get to where he wants to go. He needs to make strides...and I have no doubt he will at Illinois. I just hope he can see that. Or maybe I'm not seeing where the system that BU is implementing doesn't allow him to do that?
haasi
- New York
I think key to smith’s game is developing a very very consistent jumper, both spot up and pull up. He’s not quick enough to get by high major defenders on a consistent basis unless they really have to play up on him, and I don’t see him getting much quicker. If he turns into dead eye shooter capable of getting his shot off quickly, they’ll have to play up, which will open up driving and passing lanes. Smith and Malcolm similar athletically, by Malcolm had a series of unstoppable shots that mitigated his lack of ankle breaking quickness.
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