Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (November-December 2016)

[FatGreg]

Dosunmo with 51????

I'll take a 2018 class of him and Finke please

Yes! Ideal world:

2017: Tilmon, Frazier, DM Williams, Pickett, Epperson, 5th year contributor
2018: Finke and Dosunmu (or Ramey - I'm 50/50 on those two)
2019: Okoro, Marquise Walker, and then we'll wait to see how it shakes out with the remaining 3-4 rides

Those classes are unlikely but plausible, and they'd put us at the talent level necessary to compete for Big Ten championships. Hopefully Groce or his successor can really nail it on the recruiting trail over the next few years, because the state of Illinois and the St Louis metro area are stacked!

 

[Kathy]

If we have a terrible year, which seems likely, will we be able to sign any 4 or 5 star recruits?

 

[Greensboro]

If we have a terrible year, which seems likely, will we be able to sign any 4 or 5 star recruits?

It will certainly make it tougher and much less likely, but all depends on the kid. We will certainly try, but it will take a kid that really wants to play for us & probably a belief that 2017 class is good enough to build something. Personally I expect Finke we still have a very good chance with.

 

[SescIllini]

We need to sign the kids who are multi-faceted, looks like Damonte, Frazier, and Tilmon can be that at the next level against top 25 teams. I saw Finke block a shot off the backboard to half court and get tough rebounds. He also went up for an alley oop slam but the pass was off. His shot was off yesterday but the kid can shoot.

 

[Obelix]

We need to sign the kids who are multi-faceted...

Who are the top-100 kids in 2018 who are not multi-faceted? You keep on bringing this up, so please list them so we can avoid them.

 

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

@Illinois_Irish
Illinois is the latest to inquire about 2017 F 6'8 @tbruninga32 after big start to season averaging 38pts & 15rebs thru 5 games
#IrishFam

 

[TCTORNADO]

^^^^^^^^^^
We are reaching.

 

[Hoppy2105]

Epperson interest must be low. I bet he didn't enjoy the Winthrop game...

 

[combes]

We need to sign the kids who are multi-faceted, looks like Damonte, Frazier, and Tilmon can be that at the next level against top 25 teams. I saw Finke block a shot off the backboard to half court and get tough rebounds. He also went up for an alley oop slam but the pass was off. His shot was off yesterday but the kid can shoot.

Not sure why Pickett is overlooked by some. If you want a multi-faceted player, Pickett fits that description maybe more than any of the other recruits. Doesn't mean he is the best of the four, but he is pretty darn good.

 

[Illiniguy13]

Not sure why Pickett is overlooked by some. If you want a multi-faceted player, Pickett fits that description maybe more than any of the other recruits. Doesn't mean he is the best of the four, but he is pretty darn good.

I think most pay attention to his scoring prowess. We shouldn't forget he projects to be a plus defender with length & solid athleticism.

 

[illinoisfan11]

^^^^^^^^^^
We are reaching.

Reaching so far we're going to pull a muscle. Yikes. Pass. Pass. Pass.

 

[SescIllini]

Not sure why Pickett is overlooked by some. If you want a multi-faceted player, Pickett fits that description maybe more than any of the other recruits. Doesn't mean he is the best of the four, but he is pretty darn good.

I'm glad you said that, I value your opinion. I just haven't seen enough video of him. What I know is he produces, fills the stats. Was also First team for Illinois largest class last year.

 

[BillMo]

Not sure why Pickett is overlooked by some. If you want a multi-faceted player, Pickett fits that description maybe more than any of the other recruits. Doesn't mean he is the best of the four, but he is pretty darn good.

I agree I said it before and I still believe he will end up with the best numbers out of the 4 when its all said and done, yes it might help that he is a 4 or 5 year guy

 

[BillMo]

Reaching so far we're going to pull a muscle. Yikes. Pass. Pass. Pass.

whats so bad about the kid ? looks to me like a slightly less athletic Finke with way better ball handeling skills, he sure isn't a Power Forward yet but who knows how much more he will grow and fill out. Personally I think we can afford to take a reach on at least one kid with what we have already commited. I would rather we take a kid like this RS him and see what happens over a 5th year guy

 

[illinoisfan11]

whats so bad about the kid ? looks to me like a slightly less athletic Finke with way better ball handeling skills, he sure isn't a Power Forward yet but who knows how much more he will grow and fill out. Personally I think we can afford to take a reach on at least one kid with what we have already commited. I would rather we take a kid like this RS him and see what happens over a 5th year guy

Way more than slightly. Not athletic enough to play the wing at this level and not big enough to play in the post. Seems like a Bradley recruit.

 

[BillMo]

Way more than slightly. Not athletic enough to play the wing at this level and not big enough to play in the post. Seems like a Bradley recruit.

well from what little I saw he is every bit as athletic as Hill, and much much better handle then Hill so not going to agree with you on this. do I think it would be a reach, of course it would be but, we need to try something new what we have done for the last 4 years, well last 8 for that matter don't seem to be working. Whos to say a kid like this wouldn't come in and play his !!! off, something you cant say we have had a lot of lately

 

[WestIllini]

^^^^^^^^^^
We are reaching.

No kidding. I've been a lurker forever but after seeing this I had to sign up. My brother who is a senior in high school is definitely a hell of a player. He will be playing at a very good Juco next year and is a very bouncy 6'3 SG but is nowhere near a D1 player and made Bruninga look like a JV player over the summer even dunking on him once. I didn't make this post to bash Groce or Bruninga but I cannot believe they are even considering this guy. He would be decent at a low D1 school or a good D2, but is nowhere near the caliber of player we should be looking at unless he wants to walk on. Not taking shots at the kid but come on we can do better and my brother (also a big Illini fan) is definitely going to get a kick out of this.

 

[illinoisfan11]

well from what little I saw he is every bit as athletic as Hill, and much much better handle then Hill so not going to agree with you on this. do I think it would be a reach, of course it would be but, we need to try something new what we have done for the last 4 years, well last 8 for that matter don't seem to be working. Whos to say a kid like this wouldn't come in and play his !!! off, something you cant say we have had a lot of lately

I agree that what we've been doing the last 8 years hasn't yielded results on the floor, but going after recruits who should be happy to land a Bradley or Indiana State offer isn't the change I'm looking for.

 

[TCTORNADO]

No kidding. I've been a lurker forever but after seeing this I had to sign up. My brother who is a senior in high school is definitely a hell of a player. He will be playing at a very good Juco next year and is a very bouncy 6'3 SG but is nowhere near a D1 player and made Bruninga look like a JV player over the summer even dunking on him once. I didn't make this post to bash Groce or Bruninga but I cannot believe they are even considering this guy. He would be decent at a low D1 school or a good D2, but is nowhere near the caliber of player we should be looking at unless he wants to walk on. Not taking shots at the kid but come on we can do better and my brother (also a big Illini fan) is definitely going to get a kick out of this.

Now that I dig into it a little bit, it is probably just a Gavin Sullivan (his AAU coach) PR tweet to generate interest in the kid. This is an old AAU ploy that the Irvin's and others have used. After all, hype is part of the recruiting game. False offers galore exist out there.

 

[TEYPAY]

Now that I dig into it a little bit, it is probably just a Gavin Sullivan (his AAU coach) PR tweet to generate interest in the kid. This is an old AAU ploy that the Irvin's and others have used. After all, hype is part of the recruiting game. False offers galore exist out there.

Winner winner, chicken dinner.... If someone is putting up 38 points a game, doesn't it seem sensible to at least inquire about them. Level of inquiry... totally different question.

 

[ILLINIFAN2]

No kidding. I've been a lurker forever but after seeing this I had to sign up. My brother who is a senior in high school is definitely a hell of a player. He will be playing at a very good Juco next year and is a very bouncy 6'3 SG but is nowhere near a D1 player and made Bruninga look like a JV player over the summer even dunking on him once. I didn't make this post to bash Groce or Bruninga but I cannot believe they are even considering this guy. He would be decent at a low D1 school or a good D2, but is nowhere near the caliber of player we should be looking at unless he wants to walk on. Not taking shots at the kid but come on we can do better and my brother (also a big Illini fan) is definitely going to get a kick out of this.

Some folks on this board talk about a time when Rennie Clemons dunked on Shaq, as we all know, Shaq went on to have a decent career in the NBA

In all seriousness, thanks for the input...

 

[BillMo]

That's like saying 3 > 2. While you're technically correct, just not a wide enough gap to accept the risk.

again I really don't think this kid is what we want or need, I guess my point is more everything we have been doing for 8 years isn't been working out to well, so I am all for takeing flyers on kids thre is sure a lot of good players on these teams beating us that weren't 4 and 5 star recruits. All that said I still believe Groce is here for at least another year. I would have to believe that JW is talking to people though trying to see what he could do

 

[combes]

well from what little I saw he is every bit as athletic as Hill, and much much better handle then Hill so not going to agree with you on this. do I think it would be a reach, of course it would be but, we need to try something new what we have done for the last 4 years, well last 8 for that matter don't seem to be working. Whos to say a kid like this wouldn't come in and play his !!! off, something you cant say we have had a lot of lately

Is this kid the new Matt Chastain?

Did you see Hill in high school. Big difference between handling the ball at the high school level and the college level. And Hill played much tougher competition in high school, too.

Speaking of Chastain, he tore his ACL in the third game of the season for Loyola. Too bad. Really good kid.

 

[Newman]

Is this kid the new Matt Chastain?

Did you see Hill in high school. Big difference between handling the ball at the high school level and the college level. And Hill played much tougher competition in high school, too.

Speaking of Chastain, he tore his ACL in the third game of the season for Loyola. Too bad. Really good kid.

Hopefully that injury is a blessing in disguise. That kid will be pretty good with a year off to watch the game. Definitely a huge leap to go from 1A Illinois basketball to D1.

 

[Lake Camelot]

Is this kid the new Matt Chastain?

Did you see Hill in high school. Big difference between handling the ball at the high school level and the college level. And Hill played much tougher competition in high school, too.

Speaking of Chastain, he tore his ACL in the third game of the season for Loyola. Too bad. Really good kid.

My son played basketball with Taylor Bruninga (Biddy and 6th,7th,8th grade). I think he is a great kid and I hope he gets a scholarship where he wants. A Big 10 school should not be offering him. Maybe MVC if it is the right style offense. (Northern Iowa)

I know Illinois hasn't offered. But that would be a big overreach. I have been watching him for 10 years.

He can shoot great, handles the ball well for his size. But he is not athletic or strong enough for the Big 10.