Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2021)

[trtl]

it’s a bad deal for that coach too no? He is going to get canned as soon as Enoch leaves ASU.

They pay the coach way more than he currently makes and he knows it is likely a 2 year gig.

 

[BlueLeader]

unfortunately ASU made a move that we couldn't top

Don't you know we need good news?

FR tho thanks for info always.

 

[Kofiisforclosing]

Pretty much echoing what LvilleILL has said regarding ASU.

Sounds like we are currently second or third for TyTy.

Hopefully nothing changes with where we sit with Podz. Podz is a hell of a player (I know there's concern about his competition I don't share them).

Curbelo is at least a 3 year player because of his height and far from ready 3 point shot luckily but I think it's important to land a point guard in 2022.

 

[DocMorgan]

One thing I've learned over time, that most of you know as well, we're going to be fine - more than fine with hoops.

Recruits we think we're locks for are going to go elsewhere, recruits we are not expecting are going to come here.

That said, hopefully some day we can really start to get the key guys we want. There is no reason to lose kids to ASU, Auburn, etc. I know there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, but we do need to figure out how to lock down kids that should be no brainers, like Burnett and Enoch.

Not sure I agree. In my mind, basketball has not been fine for a long time until the last two years.

 

[Keisersose]

Best coaches and programs still need some breaks to fall their way sometimes.

Bad news about Enoch.

Surprising recent news about Ty Ty and Burnett.

we have terrific talent evaluators on this staff. Have done a great job finding guys that are much better than their ranking, but we gotta continue to have elite players like Ayo and Kofi in the mix too.

 

[WhiteHorseWings]

some of these kids just make bad decisions and don’t have the right people advising them. Really? You are going to sign at ASU because they are hiring your high school coach? Fine don’t come here then where we have proven to develop big men.

Um, didn’t we basically do a version of this to get Ayo?

 

[WaltJabsco]

The big guy we desperately needed.

Burnett and TyTy are more wants than needs. Neither are worth getting upset over not getting

No doubt. We've gotten used to a double-double from the post. We have to replace at least some of that production, and if Giorgi could do it, we'd know that by now. Ayo was a program changer for us, but we've already got guys here and incoming who can replace most of his productivity, if not his intangibles. We saw that when he was injured. If Kofi leaves, Underwood is scrambling.

This was the season the stars aligned for Illini basketball. They chose a hell of a game to phone one in.

 

[texillwek]

I feel like I know what's coming, but I'm going to ask anyway - outside of hiring someone in a recruit's circle, what is the draw of ASU?

 

[Deleted member 747903]

Best coaches and programs still need some breaks to fall their way sometimes.

Bad news about Enoch.

Surprising recent news about Ty Ty and Burnett.

we have terrific talent evaluators on this staff. Have done a great job finding guys that are much better than their ranking, but we gotta continue to have elite players like Ayo and Kofi in the mix too.

It’s starting to seem like we need to forget about trying to bring players like Burnett, Enoch, etc on board because some team is going to swoop in at the last second. Perhaps we need to continue to grab players like Goode, Melendez and build rosters like Michigan under Beilien.

 

[Joel Goodson]

I feel like I know what's coming, but I'm going to ask anyway - outside of hiring someone in a recruit's circle, what is the draw of ASU?

Hoops Mecca

 

[Joel Goodson]

It’s starting to seem like we need to forget about trying to bring players like Burnett, Enoch, etc on board because some team is going to swoop in at the last second. Perhaps we need to continue to grab players like Goode, Melendez and build rosters like Michigan under Beilien.

Hell no. We need to do both, regardless of bitter losses.

 

[Michael Myers]

Fact: In any recruiting battle, it is ILL vs. the field...

and as almost any gambler will tell you. Always take the field.

We don’t lose out to “a program” unless you look at only 1 player at a time. We lose to “the field”. And when I look at it logically, I get far less ticked off.

We will end up with some really good players/transfers, and we will be a strong program for the next few years.

Im good with that for now.

 

[Deleted member 747671]

Um, didn’t we basically do a version of this to get Ayo?

Not really. If you're talking about Chin, he was a relatively established college assistant. He's a known Chicago recruiter with very strong ties to the Irvins. So I guess in a way we chose that instead of someone with stronger ties to like Simeon, but that seems to have been the right choice.

 

[Keisersose]

Hell no. We need to do both, regardless of bitter losses.

we just can’t let good players get away while waiting on the “top ranked”

i think that was the problem with precious coaching staffs.

 

[Deleted member 747903]

Hell no. We need to do both, regardless of bitter losses.

I just get the feeling that these 5 stars with no connection to the state of Illinois, the midwest, or someone on our coaching staff are not going to come here regardless of what we are selling.

 

[sacraig]

Fact: In any recruiting battle, it is ILL vs. the field...

and as almost any gambler will tell you. Always take the field.

We don’t lose out to “a program” unless you look at only 1 player at a time. We lose to “the field”. And when I look at it logically, I get far less ticked off.

We will end up with some really good players/transfers, and we will be a strong program for the next few years.

Im good with that for now.

Uh... What? We ARE talking at 1 player at a time. We didn't lose to the field with Baokye. We seemingly will lose to ASU.

The field is a useful content when you're months out from a commitment, but when the field has narrowed, it's school vs. school.

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

Randomly played golf yesterday outside of Phoenix with an ASU alum. He told me the ASU community thinks bball is about to blow up down here. Driving around Tempe, sure is some very nice scenery and a lot more fun for sure. UofI can't compete with the off court. He didn't say any names, just his friends say big things are trending. #kickinjunknumber2372

 

[Travis1173]

ASU = coeds Mecca

 

[marvin1991]

Randomly played golf yesterday outside of Phoenix with an ASU alum. He told me the ASU community thinks bball is about to blow up down here. Driving around Tempe, sure is some very nice scenery and a lot more fun for sure. UofI can't compete with the off court. He didn't say any names, just his friends say big things are trending. #kickinjunknumber2372

Sure that is all true, but they have been saying big things happening since Hurleys arrival and he has picked up some great recruits in past. But not shown the results. Hurley is in desperation mode.

 

[skyIdub]

Page 69.

Just sayin.

 

[Joel Goodson]

The premise that recruiting outcomes are based strictly on basketball/program stuff is a fallacy. Times infinity for a lot of highly ranked kids. Times infinity factorial for kids who come from nothing. Obviously, there are exceptions. But there's most definitely a quid pro quo in a lot of these...transactions.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Pretty much echoing what LvilleILL has said regarding ASU.

Sounds like we are currently second or third for TyTy.

Hopefully nothing changes with where we sit with Podz. Podz is a hell of a player (I know there's concern about his competition I don't share them).

Curbelo is at least a 3 year player because of his height and far from ready 3 point shot luckily but I think it's important to land a point guard in 2022.

I think the staff agreed with this assessment. That's why Reggie Bass is a future Illini.

 

[WeWillWhen]

I feel like I know what's coming, but I'm going to ask anyway - outside of hiring someone in a recruit's circle, what is the draw of ASU?

Google “Tempe12”

 

[TheFameProtector]

That cuonzo style

We'll see if he ends up a Porter or a Tilmon. Took Cuonzo just two years to scuttle Tilmon's NBA hopes.

 

[GloryDays]

If anyone is trying to convince themselves you don't need top talent to win big, you're wrong.

This is the best season we've had since 2005. We were lead by guys ranked 32 Ayo, 33 Miller, 46 Kofi, 46 Curbelo, 109 Frazier. That 2005 team was led by guys ranked (from memory) 24 Dee, 48 Deron, 66 Powell, 77 Augie, 110 Luther.

Guys like Goode and Melendez are great pieces, but stars win games. Stars win championships. Land them or get used to being middle of the pack.