Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2018)

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#1,152      
Whether right or wrong, it simply appears to me that BU and staff are looking into, contacting, vetting, and offering twice as many, or more, players than any Illini coaches ever. Recruiting, especially when committed to following the rules, is the heartbeat of college basketball success. Coaching is the blood flow, and this staff seems to do both very well. I always wondered why Groce seemed so focused on elite players who he failed to sign and then had no backups after getting left at the alter. The fact is I am likely wrong to a degree, but the facts offer validity also. Regardless, there are many Illini lines in the water and some good fish are being hauled in. The chalenge of fitting them all together remains to be seen.
 
#1,155      
he's got the BIQ we need

There is no question that basketball IQ, or even more importantly the vision to see quickly what is necessary to succeed in any sport, is a huge and yet almost never recognized (at least in the media), virtue of any athlete. So much emphasis in today's game is placed on athleticism, followed by basketball skills, and IQ, or the understanding of what to do at all times to max. out value of every possession, both on offense and defense, is something only elite players possess and can make many players who are not particularly athlete appear elite. Williams seems to have it...seemingly at the right place and time more often and doing things without the ball that most fans ignore but lead to maximum team success at the end possession...offense or defense. It is something with which players are born and seldom, if ever, learned.

My best example was in my sr. year. We had a team of 6 srs. who started, all National Honor Society, all who had played together since 5th grade, all who were short and un-athletic (but making up for that by being deceptively slow). But, being a pretty smart group and with several years of experience, we understood the playing of the game, whether or not we could play it as needed. If we did not know exactly what to do, we would stop practice and ask the coach, get the answer, and do our best to perform. Only two of the starters could be described as good shooters (one made every All-State team and was the only player over 6' tall), one was a willing but inconsistent shooter but worked hard, and the other two never shot the ball over 6 ft. The center who never shot, was the smartest player I knew. That team (21-5) finished the season as conf. season and tournament champs and owned victories over both teams who played in the sectional finals, one of them twice. In that day, there was one class and 812 teams in the state playoffs that year.

The point is, if you know how to play the game, and your opponent is not capable of playing the game at an altitude unattainable by you, there is a way to play and win if you play the game right.

The Flyin' Illini were also a great example, but I would not rate them second to any team in athleticism....but they sure knew how to use theirs and play the game to the max.
 
#1,156      
Whether right or wrong, it simply appears to me that BU and staff are looking into, contacting, vetting, and offering twice as many, or more, players than any Illini coaches ever. Recruiting, especially when committed to following the rules, is the heartbeat of college basketball success. Coaching is the blood flow, and this staff seems to do both very well. I always wondered why Groce seemed so focused on elite players who he failed to sign and then had no backups after getting left at the alter. The fact is I am likely wrong to a degree, but the facts offer validity also. Regardless, there are many Illini lines in the water and some good fish are being hauled in. The chalenge of fitting them all together remains to be seen.

Good post but it's not true. Groce offered a ton of B and C guys. It's good to have a lot of lines in the water, but ultimately BU will need to get more Ayo's and Liddell's.

It's still way too early to know if BU is good at recruiting. That was the biggest question mark coming in. The '18 class was really awkward because of the big '17 class and Alstork being the only senior. The '19 and '20 classes are going to teach us a lot.
 
#1,158      
Who are these B or C guys of which you speak? Offering and putting in the time to get one of those B or C types are 2 entirely different things.

It seem Groce devoted all his time to the Cliff Alexanders and then hit the grad transfer route.

If we had taken a Mav Morgan project 3 years ago, we would a lot happier right now.
 
#1,159      
Steppinac wins the title

They beat Christ the king for the championship.

Alan griffin scored 20. Everyone who is baggin his game (probably because of star ratings) should watch him play first. This kid is a winner and has skills. He outshined other div 1 players game after game including that 30 pt outburst in the semifinals.

I think he is going to contribute his freshman year.
 
#1,160      
They beat Christ the king for the championship.

Alan griffin scored 20. Everyone who is baggin his game (probably because of star ratings) should watch him play first. This kid is a winner and has skills. He outshined other div 1 players game after game including that 30 pt outburst in the semifinals.

I think he is going to contribute his freshman year.

Plus his coach says he rebounds above his height.
 
#1,161      
Who are these B or C guys of which you speak? Offering and putting in the time to get one of those B or C types are 2 entirely different things.

It seem Groce devoted all his time to the Cliff Alexanders and then hit the grad transfer route.

If we had taken a Mav Morgan project 3 years ago, we would a lot happier right now.
if we had a b or c PG any of JGs years 2-4, he'd (JG)still be here. JTL was good pickup, but too late.
 
#1,162      
Who are these B or C guys of which you speak? Offering and putting in the time to get one of those B or C types are 2 entirely different things.

It seem Groce devoted all his time to the Cliff Alexanders and then hit the grad transfer route.

If we had taken a Mav Morgan project 3 years ago, we would a lot happier right now.

Mav was not a project. IIRC he was player of the year in Ohio for his level.
 
#1,163      

BananaShampoo

Captain 'Paign
Phoenix, AZ
Mav was not a project. IIRC he was player of the year in Ohio for his level.
He was most certainly a project if you saw him play his first two years. Didn't blossom till halfway through junior year. Also he was ranked in the mid 100s coming in. Turned out to be a solid player, but it took time.
 
#1,165      

illini80

Forgottonia
Mav was not a project. IIRC he was player of the year in Ohio for his level.
You may have your own definition, but by most accounts he was a project and a worthwhile one. 3 star ranking, roughly top 150. 2/3 of the way thru his junior season before he was much of a contributor.
 
#1,166      
I'm definitely not an Insider but I'm hearing rumors of a second 7-footer on the way to UIUC. Not even sure we were recruiting a second 7-footer so this may be hogwash. Anybody know anything?
 
#1,167      

sacraig

The desert
I'm definitely not an Insider but I'm hearing rumors of a second 7-footer on the way to UIUC. Not even sure we were recruiting a second 7-footer so this may be hogwash. Anybody know anything?

Weren't one or both of those NY bigs we offered close to 7 feet?
 
#1,168      
if we had a b or c PG any of JGs years 2-4, he'd (JG)still be here. JTL was good pickup, but too late.

Groce would still be here if Nunn hadn't messed up but that's in the past. I am excited about our new recruits and how they should fill some of our needs. Now I hope Black and Finke stay and we add Okoro in 2019.
 
#1,174      

TownieMatt

CU Expat
Chicago
Okay. He looked pretty good on the dunk. I was worried about his athleticism, but that was pretty fluid.

He's almost awkwardly athletic. If you watch longer highlights off him, he isn't a quick jumper but can get up when he gathers himself. Fletch will be key developing more explosiveness.
 
#1,175      

foby

Bonnaroo Land
He's almost awkwardly athletic. If you watch longer highlights off him, he isn't a quick jumper but can get up when he gathers himself. Fletch will be key developing more explosiveness.

Maybe calling him "sneaky athletic" would fit. The more I see of him, the more I am convinced the staff found a real hidden gem.
 
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