Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2018)
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illini80
- Forgottonia
Really, really, really hope he stays. But if he can make some major $$ playing overseas, how could anyone blame him. Keeping my fingers crossed for another year, but it certainly doesn't feel very positive right now.
Call me naive, but Black and Smith were not ones I anticipated leaving. My god, thinking about the recruits we targeted and missed on now feels even worse. I didn't think that was possible 24 hours ago.
Call me naive, but Black and Smith were not ones I anticipated leaving. My god, thinking about the recruits we targeted and missed on now feels even worse. I didn't think that was possible 24 hours ago.
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Kramer116
- Chicago
Honestly no idea, maybe he can be convinced to stay another year but won't fault him if he wants to go pro to support his family as well.
Seemed to work with Nichols though so there is some hope.
If we lose Black not the end of the world if we can land a 5th year to replace his production.
Bubba Eder
- Northeast Missouri
I didn't realize that I had said anything, lol
Not sure what's happening with Leron, but The more I think about it, the more it makes sense for him to go to Europe and play pro. He has his degree, is going to make money playing basketball for the next decade, and don't see a path for him to the NBA next year due to his height. He may want to play in the tourney, but if you get the chance at a couple hundred thousand or a chance to play in the first round of the NCAA tourney, I think most kids would take the money.
illini80
- Forgottonia
So you are hearing that Kipper is staying? That would at least be one bit of good news today. The only bit.
It'll be a blow to the team, but I'm really happy for Leron that he's turned it around. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the case for him staying is very strong.
First we are not going to find a fifth year that is going to replace Black’s production losing him would be a major blow to any improvement next year as we would lose arguably our best player with no replacement. Second are we ever going to get a big who is not a project? For the second year in a row we are getting what is left of the big market late and it doesn’t look like much. Next year is huge with who we are after at some point we have to bring in size that is not 2 or 3 years away
Deleted member 11196
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I don't think rookies who go to Europe from losing teams, sign contracts in the 6 figure range... Correct me if I'm wrong...
Maybe he can grad transfer to Kentucky and make $250k then.
With everything else that's went on today and all of the speculation beginning last night, I don't think it can be understated how important Kipper will be to next season. Easily the best news of the past 24 hours if he does indeed stay and Leron decides for Europe.
I hope Kipper does stay, however after watching the BU rage in the MSU game, I'm afraid Kipper could contribute to a BU heart attack or stroke.
Good News from EJ?
Via Derek Piper:
Asked top #Illini target EJ Liddell about Mark Smith transfer
"I really wish Mark the best on anywhere he goes, but that's not going to affect (my) decision.. Mark transferred for his reasons and I'm going to go to a school where I fit in. It might be Illinois or somewhere else"
Via Derek Piper:
Asked top #Illini target EJ Liddell about Mark Smith transfer
"I really wish Mark the best on anywhere he goes, but that's not going to affect (my) decision.. Mark transferred for his reasons and I'm going to go to a school where I fit in. It might be Illinois or somewhere else"
Via Derek Piper:
Asked top #Illini target EJ Liddell about Mark Smith transfer
"I really wish Mark the best on anywhere he goes, but that's not going to affect (my) decision.. Mark transferred for his reasons and I'm going to go to a school where I fit in. It might be Illinois or somewhere else"
Asked top #Illini target EJ Liddell about Mark Smith transfer
"I really wish Mark the best on anywhere he goes, but that's not going to affect (my) decision.. Mark transferred for his reasons and I'm going to go to a school where I fit in. It might be Illinois or somewhere else"
Whitmans Sampler
- Eastern Iowa
Neutral news
Neutral news is better than bad news...
While that does make sense. Would think staying another year would bring more money later. Given his improvement throughout this past year, definitely think he can get even better.
There was an article about Ethan Happ entering the draft. His thoughts are that he can develop more at Wisconsin than anything less than the NBA.
https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/20...app-nba-future-brad-davision-shoulder-surgery
Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
https://mobile.twitter.com/dpiper247/status/970857246065414145?s=21
Maybe it doesn’t mean much, but encouraging comments from Liddell.
“Asked top #Illini target EJ Liddell about Mark Smith transfer
"I really wish Mark the best on anywhere he goes, but that's not going to affect (my) decision.. Mark transferred for his reasons and I'm going to go to a school where I fit in. It might be Illinois or somewhere else”
Maybe it doesn’t mean much, but encouraging comments from Liddell.
“Asked top #Illini target EJ Liddell about Mark Smith transfer
"I really wish Mark the best on anywhere he goes, but that's not going to affect (my) decision.. Mark transferred for his reasons and I'm going to go to a school where I fit in. It might be Illinois or somewhere else”
I would agree of Leron didn't already have his degree, but since he will, I'm not sure if that's the case. He'd be able to focus 100% on basketball if he plays professionally, whereas in school, he'll still need to maintain grades.
Hard to read into this much. I guess it's better than him outright eliminating us at least.
I follow European basketball pretty closely and Leron going pro in Europe makes zero sense, will not happen, that's Illini message board wishful thinking. There will very little interest for someone like Black from European clubs that pay well.
If he does leave, he will likely go to a college basketball contender where he can improve his status. He will be a very highly sought 5th year transfer and receive interest from multiple P5 schools.
If he does leave, he will likely go to a college basketball contender where he can improve his status. He will be a very highly sought 5th year transfer and receive interest from multiple P5 schools.
Not sure it is so black and white for Leron as $$$ vs tournament. Leron may very well want to complete another year here after the strides he has made. He lacks the ideal athleticism for the NBA but has a junk yard dog mentality with a vastly improved outside shot. He may want to stay here be a star on this team and take a shot at the NBA before conceding to Europe.
Who would have thought a guy like Chuck Hayes would have the NBA career he did? Plus Europe can be a tough adjustment even with the good money they make.
Who would have thought a guy like Chuck Hayes would have the NBA career he did? Plus Europe can be a tough adjustment even with the good money they make.
A coach recently wrote on the academic issues regarding transfers. Yes they occur often, but the coach felt at a great cost to their academic progress in many instances.
I don't know how former Illini players have fared in their professional lives outside of basketball, but we tend to lead the BIG in degrees the last 15 years. Also don't know how Leron has fared academically or what he thinks about just being a college/Grad trained professional.
But at Illinois, the team will be built around him, Trent, and I believe Kipper next year. We land 1-2 bigs next year and not only do we look better for tourney qualification but Black gets to play more outside and have better match-ups.
I don't know how former Illini players have fared in their professional lives outside of basketball, but we tend to lead the BIG in degrees the last 15 years. Also don't know how Leron has fared academically or what he thinks about just being a college/Grad trained professional.
But at Illinois, the team will be built around him, Trent, and I believe Kipper next year. We land 1-2 bigs next year and not only do we look better for tourney qualification but Black gets to play more outside and have better match-ups.
Deleted member 29907
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I may be too old school on this but given the university stood by him during the unlawful behavior and then helped him progress significantly between So and Jr seasons - I do feel there should be some allegiance to staying to 1) improve some more (e.g. not foul so much, ball handling, etc) and 2) help the team gain steps to where we want to go. Yeah, I know - help the family - is there an dire situation there? Would one more year of development perhaps help in the long run? We've only just this year (and late in the year) see him take the ball down the lane for a thundering dunk.
I get the class vs full time practice/improve, but perhaps he can take some online UNC classes to fulfill the requirements?
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