Schools will have a scholarship ready, actually more scholarships available in the Spring than late fall (now) for someone like Tilmon. Not only will the available options include all schools that will carry a scholarship into Spring, but you will add all NBA defections, transfers, and spots that will open due to coaches having the input/experience of the current seasons. Schools will make scholarship available for Tilmon, so not an issue.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (November-December 2016)
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Schools will have a scholarship ready, actually more scholarships available in the Spring than late fall (now) for someone like Tilmon. Not only will the available options include all schools that will carry a scholarship into Spring, but you will add all NBA defections, transfers, and spots that will open due to coaches having the input/experience of the current seasons. Schools will make scholarship available for Tilmon, so not an issue.
Schools like Kansas will always have scholarships for Tilmon. Not only because of probable NBA defections, but will always make scholarships available versus a lower player, and actually going through the season will just make the landscape clearer for them.
The question is whether they want Tilmon and whether Tilmon wants them? If the answer is yes, he will sign this week, or can verbal to KU at any time even after the signing period.
It is different if Tilmon had verballed to KU and was not signing with Kansas, or Kentucky, or Duke. Then he would be possibly jeopardizing his relationship with Self, Cal, Coach K. But he has verballed to Illinois and we have zero leverage. If he does not sign, his list of pursuers will expand way beyond current set. There is no doubt about that.
Waiting until Spring (to sign, he can verbal anytime) has nothing to do with Groce' job. That is not what is happening here.
Groce never stops recruiting, so I hope we get traction on the few remaining bigs regardless what happens with JT. I think we will have a very talented team this year and next, but we need bigs.
I don't think you followed my main point. Most schools likely would be willing to Crean someone to make room for JT after the signing period, but now is the best time for JT to explore his options, not at the last minute after a hypothetical firing of HCJG. Space available? Yes. Fully thought out? No.
DanvIllini
Super Lurker
- Danville, IL
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
Today we get to find out if Indy orange will be staying with us longer.
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Today we get to find out if Indy orange will be staying with us longer.
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The best time to explore options has been for the last 1-2 years, especially the last 5-6 months. The best time to explore options is not 2-3 days away from the signing deadline. That is actually NOT the best time to explore options. The vast majority of schools/recruits know what will happen in the next 2-3 days, there are not a lot of surprises in the last few days, especially recruits who may be threats to Tilmon. Most recruits have signed, and the ones who have not already know that they want to wait until Spring or have planned national announcements. But coaches/schools already know, even in those planned announcements. It is not that Tilmon is afraid that there will be much unexpected movement in the next couple of days. Unless of course you are Illinois and this is the second time it has happened (i.e., negative surprise on signing day for a committed recruit).
Groce's status is totally irrelevant in this situation, no matter what Tilmon and family may say in the future. Nothing has changed in Groce's status, if nothing else, his not signing is very negatively affecting Groce. IF Tilmon does not sign (and that is a big IF IMO, I think there are chances he may still sign with UI), it is because things have changed. If Tilmon does not sign with any school, it is not that he will wait until the last minute to see what happens with Groce and then start his recruitment again, thus risk running out of options. If he does not sign, Tilmon's recruitment starts right there and then... heck, many believe this process has started already.
IbleedOandB2014
In BU we trust
- Chattanooga
Aren't Kiir and Wilkes announcing soon?
Wilkes was scheduled for today but his car broke down.
Classic
Actually Wilkes, Kir both will announce for orange and blue today and JT faxes in his NLI tomorrow. 
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Is Kir a foregone conclusion for VCU?
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Has there been any smoke on the Kiir front? That one seems like anyone's guess, although I see VCU leading in crystal balls at the moment.
Crystal balls USUALLY are right if there is a known commitment date. I'd say that if they are pointing towards VCU that is where he is going.
If you see a flip to us in the next 12 hours, get excited.
DanvIllini
Super Lurker
- Danville, IL
Best Hoosier board to go enjoy the show?
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Wilkes seems like a great kid. Wish him all the best at UCLA
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They've known for a while, so most of that venom has already been spent. Plus they are still (rightfully) giddy about beating KU.
chiefinillini7
- Champaign, IL
Do we have any La Lumiere juice left in us?
Agreed. They may have missed on Wilkes and Scruggs, but they are a top ten team who just beat Kansas. We aren't in any position to laugh at their program (right now)
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
B1G recruiting is really down for 2017. It's pretty shocking. Even if Tilmon goes elsewhere, we'll likely have a top 5 class in the league.
Deleted member 10676
D
Guest
Using 247's class calculator, if we lose Tilmon, we'd be 3rd in the B1G and 27th overall. Pac-12 is cleaning up this year. 4 teams in the top 10, including 1-2-3.
http://247sports.com/Season/2017-Ba...edium=ExternalEmbed&utm_campaign=TeamRankings
http://247sports.com/Season/2017-Ba...edium=ExternalEmbed&utm_campaign=TeamRankings
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Rick Barnes looks at Lorenzo Romar's record and wonders "why am I the one who always gets made fun of?"
He's only made the tournament 6 times in 14 years, never past the S16. That absolutely boggles the mind given how much talent has come through there.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
If you watch them play it's pretty shocking. I get annoyed by how disorganized Groce's offenses looks at times, but UW plays like an AAU team. Romar hasn't been canned because every time his seat gets toasty he reels in another 5-star recruit.
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