Are we (BU) done with recruiting for 2019?
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (May-June 2018)
- Status
I sure hope you're right...but you gotta qualify or get invited to the meet before you can make a run......that's my hope for the 2019-2020 season
Deleted member 186590
D
Guest
I sure hope not for 2018. To state the obvious, the staff needs to find a big man transfer with experience. We can't go into the season this thin in the frontcourt - it's going to make for another long season like the one we just suffered through. It would be malpractice as a coaching staff to not fill one of the last two scholarships with a big man who can help now.
Rankings are used to predict the future, and that alone tells you they're going to miss often. Stephen Curry. Ranked around 250, was passed over by pretty much the entire ACC.
I've said this before, but I think you can look at whether a staff is missing frequently, and how deep they go in their plan A/B/C guys, to judge how they're recruiting. If they pick up a plan A guy or two in a class, they're doing pretty well. If they are digging deep frequently, then not so much. Plan A guys are going to have a lot of programs chasing them, so getting one in a class is a win. Two is great and likely means you identified them early and knew how to tailor the vision to them.
This was a decent class, but the turnover, roster holes, and change of style of play means it will take a while to get things going. I'm not impressed with our recruiting, but not disappointed either. We got an A-list guy in Ayo, and a couple intriguing prospects as well. But the class size, and difficulty in filling it out, downgraded it IMO. I'm hoping that recruiting gets better with time and improved play, but the evidence so far is mixed.
I've said this before, but I think you can look at whether a staff is missing frequently, and how deep they go in their plan A/B/C guys, to judge how they're recruiting. If they pick up a plan A guy or two in a class, they're doing pretty well. If they are digging deep frequently, then not so much. Plan A guys are going to have a lot of programs chasing them, so getting one in a class is a win. Two is great and likely means you identified them early and knew how to tailor the vision to them.
This was a decent class, but the turnover, roster holes, and change of style of play means it will take a while to get things going. I'm not impressed with our recruiting, but not disappointed either. We got an A-list guy in Ayo, and a couple intriguing prospects as well. But the class size, and difficulty in filling it out, downgraded it IMO. I'm hoping that recruiting gets better with time and improved play, but the evidence so far is mixed.
My memory tells me Finke would have been the lowest rated player in that class.
Seriously, Hoop Scoop had Nick Anderson in the top 10 and Larry Smith in the top 30. Other than that, Bob Gibbons probably did a top 100, but I don't have a record. In addition to Gill; Steve Bardo, Phil Kunz, and Ervin Small were part of that 1986 class. I am thinking Gill was kind of a late bloomer who played well in March Madness?
1986 IHSA Boys Basketball Class AA Championship Game: Chicago (King) vs. Olympia Fields (Rich C.) Liberty versus Gill
https://youtu.be/4H-DfsnLZYo
I agree, I just don’t think it will be very easy to find said big man. So much so I wouldn’t be surprised to see nothing happen, but obviously wouldn’t be surprised to see us fill a spot with a big also.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Got one in mind that will jump at the chance to come to Illinois without so much as an official visit to offer? Do you want experience or one that can help now? Probably a few of the former you might get, pickings on the latter are slim and getting slimmer. Both qualities? Name one that Illinois could land.
Big man recruiting now must be limited to someone who could realistically help us next year (maybe an overseas surprise-not every overseas big-man is a Matic) or someone who is guaranteed gone after next year (a grad transfer). I know that some don't think you ever run out of scholarships for guys who want to come, but I'm sure noone ever thought we'd run out of official visits either. I think we are in a precarious spot with scholarships for the 2019 class.
HoopCity
- Huntsville, AL
Did I see this name recently, Hassan Hussein ? How about Christian Mekowulu ? Sorry, see that yesterdeay Texas A&M received his commitment. Are we looking at these one year players ??
https://gradtransfertracker.com/
Last edited:
Got it. So, we're desperately trying to replace Vesel and Finke with an unknown project big man and a 5th year transfer with experience ...
Was it really impossible to keep those guys on for another year?
Seems like a miscalculation, especially if we're talking about leaving two scholarships open.
Was it really impossible to keep those guys on for another year?
Seems like a miscalculation, especially if we're talking about leaving two scholarships open.
Dren1
- Glenview, IL
My understanding was that it was most likely Finke's call to move on, so I would not lump him and Matic together as players who would have stayed around if we wanted them to. As far as Matic goes, I would think that the staff felt/feels like they can fill his spot with someone who might be able to contribute a bit more.
Dren1
- Glenview, IL
Ha, I like it! Actually, I meant either a high school big (which obviously did not come to fruition) or a 5th year (which still may).
MainelyIllini
- uh, Maine
Deleted member 186590
D
Guest
That is literally what we pay the coaching staff to do. What I don't want is for BU to say "we're good with the team we have" like last year and leave open scholarships only to find out during the season we were far from "good with what we have"
Mis-evaluating your own talent is one of the worst qualities in a coach so I don't want BU to make that mistake twice. Maybe they can't find anybody that will come here as you suggest, but that is hard to believe. Finding a 5th year transfer that is ready physically for Big Ten play even if it's just for 10 min a game is better than letting the ride sit empty
You didnt address any of the points I raised. Not even close. Went on a self serving rant instead.
Please provide a list of viable candidates. You seem to think there are legions of them just waiting for an invitation and the coaching staff is too ignorant or lazy to follow up on them.
I've been waiting for someone to suggest Josh Cunningham from Dayton. Its unknown if he'll finish up his coursework over the summer and graduate, also unknown if he even wants to grad transfer, much less to Illinois. Hes only listed at 6-7 but hes a solid rebounder. He could probably play the 4 for stretches without as much scoring as Leron but better rebounding and maybe better defense (I love Leron but his defense was shall we say, spotty).
He was a Top 100 player on some boards coming out of high school at Morgan Park. Hes got a history with Chin from Bradley and Morgan Park. Since he left Bradley for Dayton I dont know if the history is a positive one. Lots of unknowns but one of the last viable names out there.
He was a Top 100 player on some boards coming out of high school at Morgan Park. Hes got a history with Chin from Bradley and Morgan Park. Since he left Bradley for Dayton I dont know if the history is a positive one. Lots of unknowns but one of the last viable names out there.
Last edited by a moderator:
I don't like the idea of bringing in someone that takes minutes from Kipper or Tevian Jones. We are not in a position to turn a good player down, either. I would guess we would play a lot of small lineups to get the best players on the floor if he were to come. Ideally any addition would be a a true big that can play minutes at center as a rim protector and rebounder which will likely be our biggest weakness.
Dren1
- Glenview, IL
Cunningham was discussed for a little while back in March and, from what I recall, the consensus was that he was unlikely to qualify as a grad transfer. I found the attached link in a previous thread:
BlindLoyalty
Location: OX1 2JD
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kajagoogoo
I think Smith, Black, Lucas, and Vesel are the four defections. Underwood landed Griffin, but he needs Jones as a replacement for Smith. He needs Trice or Manuel to replace Vesel, and Cunningham would be his ideal replacement for Black. I'm not sold that will happen.
This article in the Dayton Daily News today states that a Cunningham grad transfer is not going to happen.
Monday, March 05, 2018
"Dayton Flyers forward Josh Cunningham would be a senior this season if he had stayed at Bradley. He won’t graduate until next year, he said Saturday, so fans worrying he might take advantage of the grad transfer rule can breathe easy."
Cunningham was discussed for a little while back in March and, from what I recall, the consensus was that he was unlikely to qualify as a grad transfer. I found the attached link in a previous thread:
BlindLoyalty
Location: OX1 2JD
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kajagoogoo
I think Smith, Black, Lucas, and Vesel are the four defections. Underwood landed Griffin, but he needs Jones as a replacement for Smith. He needs Trice or Manuel to replace Vesel, and Cunningham would be his ideal replacement for Black. I'm not sold that will happen.
This article in the Dayton Daily News today states that a Cunningham grad transfer is not going to happen.
Monday, March 05, 2018
"Dayton Flyers forward Josh Cunningham would be a senior this season if he had stayed at Bradley. He won’t graduate until next year, he said Saturday, so fans worrying he might take advantage of the grad transfer rule can breathe easy."
Yes , I do remember that discussion but I've since seen unconfirmed reports (dont remember where) that he was taking classes this summer with the intention of graduating in August. True or not, who knows. If it's not true of course the point is moot. If true, he could be a possibility however remote.
- Status