Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (November-December 2016)

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#276      

IlliniCaboose

IlliniCaboose
IlliniCaboose
coryfor3 said:
Not signing is completely reasonable these days if a player is concerned about coaching changes or job security or just wants to make sure that something drastic doesn't happen after the player commits. However, it would make me feel much better to hear Tilmon say that rather than these blank statements that he just isn't signing and he's waiting. He could easily come out and say, "Hey- I'm waiting because I want to make sure nothing changes with Illinois but I'm still an Illini guy." He hasn't done that and that is what really concerns me.
Maybe he is staying loyal and just making sure that the rug doesn't get pulled out from under him. I would be shocked if a player had so little respect and loyalty after all these years of recruiting him that he would pull the rug out from under Groce at the last minute.
Maybe Groce knew this was happening all along...
I'm trying to find silver linings here. The last 12-24 hours of news have not brought me a lot of hope.
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The thing is though, nothing at Illinois HAS changed since July. Groce's seat is at the exact same temperature it was then (Though you could make the argument that, by committing, Tilmon himself made it cooler). So the question is why commit at all if you want to see how Illinois does this season? He'd have a spot regardless so it's not like he's trying to reserve his scholarship. All it can do is hurt us if he goes elsewhere.
So if nothing has changed on our end then something obviously has on his. Someone (Ford, Tate, Goodwin, whoever) has been in his ear giving him doubts. I haven't lost all hope but it certainly doesn't look good.
 
#277      

UrbanaIsTheShiz

U
UrbanaIsTheShiz
I obviously have no idea if $ is involved. If Illinois cant or wont compete for top tier recruits, for whatever reason, maybe we will need to start becoming comfortable that we are going to be a second tier program in terms of talent and achievement with good basketball players, who are going to try their best, surprise us a occasionally, while getting a decent education at UIUC. That wont be viscerally satisfying but it may have be enough.

Whatever happens with Tilmon, I am looking forward to seeing if Groce can coach his team into better play and a better record. With Hill, Black, JCL, Abrams, and an interesting supporting cast, you'd have to think that on paper has enough firepower to win games the way JFG's first ragtag Illini team did. Coffee is for closers and the season is about to start. Lets see what he can do in 2016-17.
 
#278      

SescIllini

SescIllini
SescIllini
I felt that with the last two scholarship we needed to pursue two more big men. My thoughts on this haven't changed(Kiir, Epperson, 5th year transfer, "the field").
 
#279      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
SescIllini said:
I felt that with the last two scholarship we needed to pursue two more big men. My thoughts on this haven't changed(Kiir, Epperson, 5th year transfer, "the field").
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Given that Thorne/Mav both graduate, the fact that we needed help in the frontcourt, specifically at C, has not changed. But IF Tilmon does not end up an Illini, there is a huge change in both our need and the quality of players we can realistically pursue/close at this point. There is also a huge change on the outlook of the team for next year.
 
#280      

DanvIllini

D
Super Lurker
Danville, IL
DanvIllini
Adnarel said:
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Glad to hear we at least have a letter from Da'monte! That's a big pick-up, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise! :D
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I saw 9000 and I instantly went looking for a dbz meme. Thank you for saving me the time and giving me a laugh. I could use one today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#282      

BillMo

B
BillMo
JT dint sign because he can not get in to UofI and odds are good he will not be able to. So till that gets cleared up it kind of is pointless, hopefully this will help us sell mins with Kiir and get him signed, then JT gets his stuff taken care of and commits in the spring
 
#283      

coltjames03

C
coltjames03
Not sure how it has become any surprise at this point. If you think about it, it's always been the staff has been loyal. If Groce is gone then you can take and mark it as Tillmon is gone as well. The future of the staff shouldn't shock anyone that top player is holding out to wait and see. It could be Ford is up to no good but if he was still planning on signing this period but not with Illinois then the fear would be worse. Let's enjoy those who are committed and signing now. Let the pens fall the way they do and if you want Tillmon that bad root this team on to where Groce has a future here.
 
#286      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
coltjames03 said:
Not sure how it has become any surprise at this point. If you think about it, it's always been the staff has been loyal. If Groce is gone then you can take and mark it as Tillmon is gone as well. The future of the staff shouldn't shock anyone that top player is holding out to wait and see. It could be Ford is up to no good but if he was still planning on signing this period but not with Illinois then the fear would be worse. Let's enjoy those who are committed and signing now. Let the pens fall the way they do and if you want Tillmon that bad root this team on to where Groce has a future here.
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Oh c'mon... it is a surprise. Tilmon could have waited to verbal until later, or could have verballed and explicitly say that he will not sign in November to make sure Groce is at Illinois, at the time when he did verbal. But rather he waited till the last minute, and has not made any explicit statements, at a time when there are multiple rumors that SLU is involved. He has done nothing to really quelch those rumors thus far.
 
#288      

sacraig

sacraig
The desert
sacraig
Honestly, if I go ahead and put on my "optimistic realist" hat today, this news very well may just be Tilmon doing his due diligence with regard to Groce's future. It's no secret that his seat is warm. Recruits know this. Tilmon knows this. It seems entirely plausible that Tilmon still wants to play for Groce but will look elsewhere if it looks like Groce will be gone. Honestly, I am not sure I can entirely blame him for that.

Of course my pessimistic realist hat would give me different readings, but I am trying to stay positive today.

Happy thoughts, all!
 
#290      

Idkhti37

I
Idkhti37
It's possible that JT just wants to wait until he's sure that JFG will be back next year before he commits. It's possible that someone is whispering in his ear that this might not be the case and that he should keep his options open (SLUdge) until he's sure.

It's possible that I am in deep denial and that everything is as awful and obviously slimy as it seems. :eek::tsk:
 
#294      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
Captain Bubbles said:
Tilmon isn't going anywhere else. He'll sign with Illinois when the time is right.
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Given that the signing period is not over, he can still sign during the November signing period. It can still happen. The statements, however, of not signing during the early signing period can't be viewed as positive or something that was expected.
 
#295      

coltjames03

C
coltjames03
sacraig said:
Honestly, if I go ahead and put on my "optimistic realist" hat today, this news very well may just be Tilmon doing his due diligence with regard to Groce's future. It's no secret that his seat is warm. Recruits know this. Tilmon knows this. It seems entirely plausible that Tilmon still wants to play for Groce but will look elsewhere if it looks like Groce will be gone. Honestly, I am not sure I can entirely blame him for that.

Of course my pessimistic realist hat would give me different readings, but I am trying to stay positive today.

Happy thoughts, all!
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This is what I was saying. Maybe he thought with him announcing and the rest of the class he was joining would make it where he would no doubt play for Groce and that they would make in known he wasn't going anywhere. That hasn't happened yet so he is holding back. Of course it's a young kid so who really knows what's going on in his mind
 
#296      

SescIllini

SescIllini
SescIllini
Folks as a fandom or forum we have a tremendous ability to accelerate our negative emotions. So lets take the advise of one of the recruits and chill, regardless of the decision. Some of this may be out of the recruits hands, who knows.
 
#299      

aluma

A
aluma
One thing to watch is whether or not the staff start scouting/offering 2/3 star centers all of a sudden. If that happens, it's 100% over. I'm guessing if we miss on Tilmon that the Juco/ transfer route is the next viable option.
 
#300      

dweebs19

dweebs19
dweebs19
coltjames03 said:
This is what I was saying. Maybe he thought with him announcing and the rest of the class he was joining would make it where he would no doubt play for Groce and that they would make in known he wasn't going anywhere. That hasn't happened yet so he is holding back. Of course it's a young kid so who really knows what's going on in his mind
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Yea...maybe he verballed to get the ball rolling to get that dream class at Illinois. Goodwin went elsewhere, Wilkes doesn't look like he will sign with Illinois. So maybe JT just not sure he wants to play on a team with no other "big stars"
 
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