Yeah...its sad to realize what could have been with Colbert. Player development will be key with next one.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (May-June 2017)
- Status
The more games I watch of GE, the more I like of what I see. For a young man who has only played for 3-4 years, he has decent handle , he has nice touch even on FTs, He plays D all over the court(most times guarding guys we would call 3s) He can get up and down the court very well and is pretty athletic. No he wont be a world beater as a Fr. but as he gets older I do think he will just keep improving.
p.s. for those of you who want to run the kid down cause of his stars and rank, you might want to take the time to watch a couple of his games. Then compare him for yourself to JT if you have taken the time to watch anything of him. I for one think you will be pleasantly surprised
p.s. for those of you who want to run the kid down cause of his stars and rank, you might want to take the time to watch a couple of his games. Then compare him for yourself to JT if you have taken the time to watch anything of him. I for one think you will be pleasantly surprised
But soccer players have terrible hands
Sorry, just a joke I use on my students when they drop things.
Just got a note that the RSCI rankings were posted. Not sure if it's new info or just some update, but it's there:
https://sites.google.com/site/rscihoops/2017-final
Smith at 88, but that's with 2 services not ranking him at all.
https://sites.google.com/site/rscihoops/2017-final
Smith at 88, but that's with 2 services not ranking him at all.
That's just lazy. How do you miss a state's Mr. BB?
Deleted member 186590
D
Guest
I think you meant to say only 2 services ranked him, the other 3 did not. Keep in mind most recruiting services don't bother to do anymore thorough evaluations of players after the Nov signing period. Scout and Rivals at least updated their rankings and included him, but the others just don't spend the effort to properly rank late risers like Smith clearly was.
Just look at who was recruiting him and that is all you need to know. Smith's ranking doesn't bother me one bit.
Deleted member 186590
D
Guest
Thanks for the videos, I agree, he definitely has potential and upside and has some touch from the outside to go with his length. He's clearly a project and will need development time, but he will be fun to watch develop.
Ike Eke is going to Marquette and was recruited by Pitt and Xavier and others, so he is clearly the better of the two players.
I watched 5 or 6 games this morning and not in 1 of them would I said Ike was better, I would say he is more polished on offence but other then that I would said GE played better, Of course that was only 5 or 6 games so cant really say, I don't know what grade number 25 was in , but if he is a fr or soph might be someone to keep an eye on
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Not sure if anyone else listened to Derek Piper's new podcast with Annice McEwan (who is apparently on WCIA3): https://twitter.com/DPiperScout/status/870098172714115076
Anywho, Derek mentioned that Ebo has taken other visits and may take more. Mentioned that other P5s have shown interest according to Ebo's camp. Still seems confident that he'll be an Illini though. Sounds like he's only been granted a conditional release, so he can be recruited. Hasn't received the full release that would allow him to sign scholarship docs or enroll.
Anywho, Derek mentioned that Ebo has taken other visits and may take more. Mentioned that other P5s have shown interest according to Ebo's camp. Still seems confident that he'll be an Illini though. Sounds like he's only been granted a conditional release, so he can be recruited. Hasn't received the full release that would allow him to sign scholarship docs or enroll.
Deleted member 10676
D
Guest
New Ayo article in USA Today. http://usatodayhss.com/?p=101222618
For anyone who doubted his ability, the guy has a camp now.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Figure of speech. I think Piper talked to his HS coach, who was along on his visit.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Check your sarcasm meter....
Sorry Calvin, when it comes to this board my sarcasm meter is permanently broken.
GE seems great to me at this point. May only be an emergency player this year but a year with Fletch and skills training could be a factor in another year. Looking at the type of players BU is recruiting seems much more like fighting Illini type players than Brown/Williams/Head era. In football they would call it a center and 4 athletes or maybe 5 position less players as long as one can guard a center.
So, is it possible UIC could block Ebo from coming to UI?
Illiini
- In the land of the Nittany Lion
But soccer players have terrible hands
Yeah, but they can really get their head into the game!
They let him out of his NLI. They can't block anything.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Ebo fits because we need a big that can play defense and rebound. This scheme isn't going to ask much of him offensively. If he can be mobile on offense, pass the ball, and grab some offensive boards, he'll get playing time.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Latest solid info is that UIC has given him a conditional release, which allows him to be recruited. However, he has not been given a full release to sign/enroll at a new school. It's hard to see UIC not granting a full release to it's parent university though, even if it requires a little power-playing behind the scenes.
Here's my take on Ebo. Yes he's a project big. Under Groce's lead, he would probably play sparingly three years and then maybe have an alright senior season. But Groce's player development was awful. Under Underwood and Antigua, he may become a top tier BIG10 player. We have yet to see how well they can develop players. 
That's what I surmised, thanks.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Despite his lower ranking, I don't see much comparison between Ebo and Tate. For one, Ebo is a big who does have the physical attributes. Second, he has not been playing long and has a long way to go until he reaches his ceiling, whereas that was not the case with Tate. Ebo has already shown significant improvement over just a year and a half. Tate was already pretty close to his ceiling and was still considered a reach when he was taken. Under BU and OA there aren't many guys better to develop a relatively raw big man and help him reach his potential.
What makes you say that? This late in the cycle, I'm shocked we have 3 or 4 better options.
He looks reasonably athletic and has some nice defensive highlights. I'd be happy if we added him.
- Status