Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2018)

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#202      

LBZ

L
LBZ
MadIllini4 said:
Where is this speculation of a Finke transfer coming from?
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His younger brother Tim Finke signed with Grand Canyon University last fall. So the speculation is that he goes to play for them next year as well.

I think all of the transfer stuff is nonsense until a player or a coach states they are heading out.
 
#203      

PtownIllini8

P
PtownIllini8
LBZ said:
His younger brother Tim Finke signed with Grand Canyon University last fall. So the speculation is that he goes to play for them next year as well.

I think all of the transfer stuff is nonsense until a player or a coach states they are heading out.
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Because Finke could grad transfer out. At least I assume he has to have his degree by May.
 
#204      

othawhitemeat

O
othawhitemeat
People say Aaron Jordan, but I see someone that is way more fluid with the ball. I think if Jordan was more fluid with the ball, he would be a 13 ppg scorer.
 
#206      

Deleted member 4960

D
Guest
Deleted member 4960
MadIllini4 said:
Where is this speculation of a Finke transfer coming from? Though I would welcome it, doesn't make a whole lot of sense from his perspective.
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Why would you welcome it? So you want to trade a senior with size that can shoot for a freshman project big that won't have skills to score next year. I don't get why most people don't realize Finke is playing out of position. He is a stretch 4 that your asking to be an under the basket dominating, rebounding, shot blocking 5. Just because he is 6-10 doesn't mean that will happen. His skill set is length and longer range shooting. I think he improved his game considerably this year with around the basket scoring. I know we need more bigs that can defend I just think getting rid of Finke for a freshman project (that's all that is left) that won't have near his skills at scoring is insane. You can't count on a grad transfer either because you don't know what is out there.
 
#207      

rockillini

R
rockillini
UnderwoodsCoffeeGuy said:
Did anyone else listen to Alan’s interview on Tay and Carp? Really impressed me. He’s a shooter, defender, and a winner. He talks about playing his role to the best of his ability and doing what it takes to win. Love a coaches son.
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Yes, Alan is a really good kid.

A side note tidbit: Coach Griffin recently married a woman from Champaign and they occasionally attend church here in town.
 
#209      

3 point girl

3
texas
3 point girl
DonIllini said:
People seem to be overlooking that Alan Griffin has a NBA pedigree. Plus he wants to be here and fits the system. I’m with it!!
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I watched Alan's dad start for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals in 2006 and have followed his coaching career for the last 8 years. He was always underrated too. You cant say enough about high basketball IQ-give me a coaches son all day long.
 
#210      

FeelYourPaign

FeelYourPaign
So Cal
FeelYourPaign
rockillini said:
Yes, Alan is a really good kid.

A side note tidbit: Coach Griffin recently married a woman from Champaign and they occasionally attend church here in town.
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That last bit left me smiling. Just a little more cement to strengthen the bond.
 
#211      

GeauxIllini

G
GeauxIllini
Finke graduated at Christmas. That’s when he cut his hair. He said he graduated so it was time for to start looking the part of a college graduate.
 
#212      

Illini B-Ball Fan

Illini B-Ball Fan
Illini B-Ball Fan
#213      

IlliniNation1010

I
IlliniNation1010
drew306 said:
Reading the tea leaves of our recruiting (Underwood in to see Ramey tonight post-Griffin commitment, new offers out to 2018 big men), a guard transferring out has a whiff of inevitability - seems like staff wants to add another class of '18 guard/wing along with a class of '18 big man.

Not sure where that leaves Trice...
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Confidence level is very high with Trice. They are hoping he will make it official soon, otherwise things may change
 
#214      

SycIllini

S
Sycamore, Illinois
SycIllini
PlayAZ said:
Finke and Matic would leave 3 schollies open and be able to give us a class of Ayo 5*, Griffin NR, Trice #1JC, Ramey 4-5*/Jones 4*, B1G to be names later (Kane)?

That would I believe most of our expectations for this class if not all of us. Are all legit chances, yes I think so...:chief:
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I hope Matic does not transfer. He has the size to work with and I think he just needs experience to be a contributor. He might not be a star but, think he could provide much needed depth if he stays.
 
#215      

foby

foby
Bonnaroo Land
foby
PlayAZ said:
Finke and Matic would leave 3 schollies open and be able to give us a class of Ayo 5*, Griffin NR, Trice #1JC, Ramey 4-5*/Jones 4*, B1G to be names later (Kane)?

That would I believe most of our expectations for this class if not all of us. Are all legit chances, yes I think so...:chief:
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Posters should remember that if Finke, Jordan or *gulp* Black transfer, and they are replaced by a non-grad transfer, then schollies are ate up for 2019.
 
#216      

foby

foby
Bonnaroo Land
foby
SycIllini said:
I hope Matic does not transfer. He has the size to work with and I think he just needs experience to be a contributor. He might not be a star but, think he could provide much needed depth if he stays.
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Totally Agree. And I do think he has the skills for stardom if his head catches up.
 
#217      

gecIllini

gecIllini
Colorado
gecIllini
HoopCity said:
Really, Bob Knight did not recruit horrible athletes. Someone that is 6'9" that can run the floor, pass behind the back, had no look passes and could shoot the 3 better than most is not a horrible athlete!!
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I am not what you are trying to say here, Larry Bird played college ball at Indiana State (coach: Bill Hodges)
 
#219      

UCantHideYer

U
UCantHideYer
jjh22003 said:
Vesel won’t ever see playing time. He needs to go. I’d be ok with Finke leaving too.
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I agree. Matic was lost out there. With his supposed skills, we sure didn't have him show any of them this year. We should be able to see a little of the raw skills.

And I really like Finke. He's come a long way & did the willing redshirt for us. But our need for some defense & post up is going to make him the odd man out.
 
#220      

IllinoisFanAtFSU

I
IllinoisFanAtFSU
I want everyone to stay with the program. Here's why:

-Yes our backcourt is crowded, but I want there to be a heated competition heading into next season to encourage everyone to work on their skillsets. Who will start alongside Frazier? Lucas developed a bit of an outside shot lately and I would love for him to stay in town and continue to work on that. Damonte can play the 2/3 and has gobs of potential on both sides of the court -- already a good defender. Smith can grow into a good scoring 2, and him leaving would be an awful narrative. Jordan can also play 2/3 and had a good season. Anyone leaving from here would be a blow.

-As for our forwards/bigs, anyone leaving would be even worse. Vesel is the only one that we could "afford" to lose, but with a full year in the weightroom even he might be able to help defend the post next year. Ebo is going to be our best rim protector next year. Kipper just dropped 30+ points so I don't know why anyone would start the transfer rumor mill there -- he is amazingly talented and I can't wait to watch him continue to improve. Black is our best player and I hope beyond hope that he stays. I think he will. Finally, Finke. How on earth anyone wants one of two tall guys we have on this team to leave is beyond me. He also played really well offensively the last two games of the year after he recovered from the concussion. His defense is poor but he could still slightly improve that and the rest of his skillset adds value.

I like what we have, I like that we are adding Ayo, and I hope that we add a grad transfer/freshman big. Everyone should be pulling for this team to stay together.
 
#221      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
Hoppy2105 said:
Alan Griffin isn't a big so their statement could still ring true. (even though I'm not sure I believe it considering most bigs we get this year will be a project of some sort)
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The statement was not made with respect to Griffin, it was a statement attributed to BU/staff by the local analysts (Werner/Piper) with respect to Flo Thamba. When you offer Samba Kane (even more of a project), that statement is completely false.
 
#223      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
Verified Insider said:
Before this becomes some pointless Bruce Weber debate, my point was that he made kids like Barry Brown and Dean Wade his priority rather than falling back on 3* kids because none of the 5* kids panned out.

Wade is averaging 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists a game, and shoots over 40% from three. You don't think a guy like that would have been far, far superior to Mike Shaw at Illinois? You don't think Illinois would have been a better team with more guys like Dean Wade, and fewer guys like Shaw and emergency gap-fillers like Charles Jackson?

Weber is who he is -- a guy who will finish middle-of-the-pack in this conference in most years. But he apparently has learned some lessons, and rather than waste his time on kids that he's never going to kid, he goes after kids that truly fit his style. His problem is that he doesn't have enough of them.
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Again, Weber is Weber, if people thought he was terrible the last 5 years at Illinois, there is no reason to believe he is doing very well at KSU, as presented in previous post, his record is almost identical at KSU, slightly worse. So there is really no reason to believe he would have been doing better at UI with the recruits he got at KSU. His KSU program is a far cry from Frank Martin's program, the same story is repeating at KSU.

As far as Wade versus Shaw comparison, it is not a fair comparison. You can always pick the recruit who panned out (after the fact) than the recruit who did not (after the fact). Mike Shaw was a recruit who was a downward spiral partially because of injuries and was forced to quit basketball because of medical. The downfall of Bruce Weber was not Mike Shaw, neither do I buy the excuse that he was forced to recruit players he did not want. That is a pathetic excuse of Bruce.

As far as playing the game of "would you rather have X recruit vs. Y recruit," it is a fair game to play before their career starts, not after the fact. Everyone can play Monday morning QB and be right.
 
#224      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
Verified Insider said:
But when your priority targets have all gone somewhere else, are you supposed to sulk about it and just quit on the recruiting season? Or do you go out and find the next best player or best fit available and move on?

Underwood is doing the latter. We'll see how it pays off for us.
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Is any coach who is not doing that? Every logical coach who will miss on multiple recruits and ends up with huge, huge gaps will try to fill those gaps with the best he can do given the reduced player availability. They have to, it is not part of an elaborate strategy. I like BU, but I can't say that he is doing anything miraculously different or outsmarting other coaches in the same situation.
 
#225      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
respect my decision™
Joel Goodson
Obelix said:
The statement was not made with respect to Griffin, it was a statement attributed to BU/staff by the local analysts (Werner/Piper) with respect to Flo Thamba. When you offer Samba Kane (even more of a project), that statement is completely false.
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+1

The meme that the "recruiting gurus" floated shortly before Thamba committed was ludicrous.
 
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