Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (November-December 2016)
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Offensively, there weren't many problems with Demetri. Defensively and effort level are a completely different story.
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ILL in IA
- Iowa City
So a late emerging guard we could get in on that doesn't have anything to do with the Irvin's...
That said the video looked good. Handles looks good. Body size and ability to use it to control his defender on his hip or beat contact reminded me of what made Rice so good here. If JFG (still use this for him) and the staff feel good and offer, I like it.
That said the video looked good. Handles looks good. Body size and ability to use it to control his defender on his hip or beat contact reminded me of what made Rice so good here. If JFG (still use this for him) and the staff feel good and offer, I like it.
The jumper looks smooth to me and appears to have a release that is quick enough. The body control on the drives to the basket was impressive.
Every year a couple of under the radar prospects blow up and have coaches and fans alike scrambling to gather info and make projections. Obviously Anthony Davis is the ultimate senior riser, but guys like Frank Kaminsky, Alec Peters, and Fred Van Vleet also started showing serious HM potential in their final years.
Every case is different: sometimes it's a growth spurt, sometimes a lack of AAU exposure, sometimes an injury. With our own Mike Davis, it was that everyone thought he was going to prep school for a year before college. He was still vastly underestimated, but he'd have been a 3-star type with a couple of HM offers. Instead, the 1-star we signed turned out to be a 6'9 rebounding machine with a silky mid-range game.
With Mark Smith, it's the fact that he was (is) an MLB prospect who didn't play much AAU because summer time is baseball season. He'd also already committed to Mizzou for baseball, so coaches weren't using resources to scout him. If he's decided to focus on basketball and his grades are in order, the staff needs to lock this up immediately. I've spent too many hours daydreaming about what the program would look like if we'd landed the names mentioned above (along with Jerome Randle, Jacob Pullen, et al). We've seen this one before. Offer Mark Smith today!
Every case is different: sometimes it's a growth spurt, sometimes a lack of AAU exposure, sometimes an injury. With our own Mike Davis, it was that everyone thought he was going to prep school for a year before college. He was still vastly underestimated, but he'd have been a 3-star type with a couple of HM offers. Instead, the 1-star we signed turned out to be a 6'9 rebounding machine with a silky mid-range game.
With Mark Smith, it's the fact that he was (is) an MLB prospect who didn't play much AAU because summer time is baseball season. He'd also already committed to Mizzou for baseball, so coaches weren't using resources to scout him. If he's decided to focus on basketball and his grades are in order, the staff needs to lock this up immediately. I've spent too many hours daydreaming about what the program would look like if we'd landed the names mentioned above (along with Jerome Randle, Jacob Pullen, et al). We've seen this one before. Offer Mark Smith today!
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
We don't need another guard in this class, That said, as Orange Fever would say, "When pie's a passing..." Smith is pound the table worthy, offer him now.
Let the guards settle the order at Ubben.
Let the guards settle the order at Ubben.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Mark Smith reminds me of DJax 2.0. Our program would be completely different if we'd landed him. I'm thinking the only hesitation from the staff is that they aren't pursuing more PG because they've already got 3 in the fold for the future (TJL, Frazier, and DMW). I say if we are still looking at a Verge (and I'm not sure if we really still are) then why not Smith? I'd take Smith 10 times out of 10 over him. Dude is a player with a bigger, college-ready body and won't have qualification question marks.
Have any of the staff members been down to watch him?
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
I know everyone like to toss out the redshirt, but with Williams ACL injury, will he need to redshirt, or will he be ready in time? IF he needs to sit the year, I don't think adding smith makes the class to guard heavy.
I think DMW will be a 2 guard most of his career. Though I consider him a combo guard right now, his status shouldn't be the reason we are hesitating. I think if Smith can play 1-3, we would have offered him already, but we have so many guards that eventually you gotta start looking down the line and realize that in 2018 youll probably need at least two scollys to go towards bigs.
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Bingo
6-9 months in generally an average timetable for full recovery from an acl tear. He would be ready for the beginning of next year, but I think a RS would be beneficial to him and to the team which is already deep. My guess is he doesn't, but I really think someone has to. I'd say Javon, but we aren't super deep at the 3. Maybe if Kipper comes in and heavily impresses, then JP could RS. I think that would be the best case scenario.
He is 100% in on basketball now.
I was reading some recaps of his game against Goodwin. Countless people essentially said he owned the night. I'm impressed they were able to beat Althoff, let alone seeing him put up almost a triple double. That's no fluke. I promise you that other high major colleges will offer him, we need to be the first!
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Won't know if Williams is ready for awhile (not saying you don't realize this). Whoever is at the bottom of the pecking order (assuming it'll be a frosh), would be very well served by a redshirt.
Dan
Admin
Illinois will be in today to see DePaul Prep (IL) guard Perry Cowan, per @wolves10
https://twitter.com/MitchellDeAnte/status/809789476381855746
https://twitter.com/MitchellDeAnte/status/809789476381855746
Lol, No they weren't.
Years ago on a different Illini fan forum somebody was pounding the table regarding Dwayne Wade, the top 5-6 instate player. He said this guy would be program changing good, many of us wanted the top 3 of Amari Sawyer, Darius Miles, and Andre Brown. We also thought we would get Reo Logan or a couple of other guys rated above Wade. This Edwardsville kid is starting to sound like one of those players that goes elsewhere and we hate ourselves for not offering. Yes we have too many guards, but so did the Flying Illini. I can live with a future of JCL, Trent, Damonte, TJL, and Smith.
It happens in Illinois about every year, where a player blows up. Sometimes it happens the summer before senior year, or during the year, or during the state playoffs. Some are extreme examples like Anthony Davis others are in the Myke Henry category. But I'm glad we have two schollys left, Epperson and Smith sound like a great way to end the class.
It happens in Illinois about every year, where a player blows up. Sometimes it happens the summer before senior year, or during the year, or during the state playoffs. Some are extreme examples like Anthony Davis others are in the Myke Henry category. But I'm glad we have two schollys left, Epperson and Smith sound like a great way to end the class.
Deleted member 10676
D
Guest
in regards to Smith. I've seen this game mentioned but not sure if this was posted when it was played or has been since. If not, this is the link to the Althoff-Edwardsville game from earlier in the year. Varsity game starts around 25 minutes in.
http://thecube.com/event/edwardsville-high-school-vs-althoff-catholic-high--691882
http://thecube.com/event/edwardsville-high-school-vs-althoff-catholic-high--691882
Per Bruninga' AAU coach-Gavin Sullivan-they were. Seriously no joke this time!!
AAU Coaches can say whatever they want.
As for smith, it's a matter of time. I dont think we need to be wringing our hands over it. As soon as groce gets to see him there's no way he doesn't offer.
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