Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (November-December 2016)
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BirdDog9048
The Chief Lives
- Chicago, IL
Be careful comparing high school highlights to college games. The overall speed of the college game is much higher.
9 classes in Florida and Wellington is in top class, 9A.
Regardless of the competition, you can tell that Frazier is freaking fast. That's not really controversial. I'm actually more excited about him than any other 2017 kid we have coming in.
9 classes in basketball? That seems dumb. Super watered down.
sacraig
- The desert
I am checking my magic 8 ball...
My 8 ball tells me that I don't actually have any sources so I don't know.
ivwilsoniv
- Aurora, IL
Thanks for nothing.
They waited to hold the family meeting until this morning so Groce could join. He took them to a local pancake joint 
In all seriousness, hoping for some good news today!
In all seriousness, hoping for some good news today!
illinoisfan11
- Peoria, IL
I haven't seen anything confirming this, but I believe there was a tweet posted here yesterday saying that he would be there. I certainly hope he is.
BirdDog9048
The Chief Lives
- Chicago, IL
Between what we have now (JCL, AJ, TJL) and what we have coming (Frazier and Damonte), I don't think guard play is going to be an issue for us for the foreseeable future.
BirdDog9048
The Chief Lives
- Chicago, IL
I think that's why he's asking. He's looking for confirmation of it actually happening.
Man Frazier is legit. He is so smooth, his ranking does no justice for him. He is a top 75 player, I think only thing holding him back is maybe his height? Although listed around 6'2, just from videos, I dont see it. Or that he was a "late bloomer" Either way, the kid can play and boy am i excited. A sophomore Frazier and a senior JCL could be tasty!
sacraig
- The desert
Don't thank me; thank my 8 ball!
Not to hijack here, but someone explain to me why Tilmon would sign.
There is no chance whatsoever that Illinois would not take him in the spring. Barring something that would prevent him from playing college basketball anywhere (eligibility, career-ending injury, etc) he has a spot at Illinois in hand under any conceivable or inconceivable set of circumstances. We aren't going to fill up on scholarships and there's no chance he's not the best player we can get.
But if he signs, he's locked in, and cannot entertain other offers without obtaining Illinois' permission, most importantly in the not-whatsoever-unlikely scenario that John Groce, the coach with whom he has a close relationship and wants to play for, is fired. The Tilmons aren't stupid. They know Groce is on the hot seat and they know that if he is fired Illinois will ABSOLUTELY make some attempt to play hardball with that LOI.
So what does he gain by signing? Absolutely nothing, is my read on it. I have never understood why elite prospects sign in the fall. They give the schools leverage they wouldn't otherwise have for no reason.
There is no chance whatsoever that Illinois would not take him in the spring. Barring something that would prevent him from playing college basketball anywhere (eligibility, career-ending injury, etc) he has a spot at Illinois in hand under any conceivable or inconceivable set of circumstances. We aren't going to fill up on scholarships and there's no chance he's not the best player we can get.
But if he signs, he's locked in, and cannot entertain other offers without obtaining Illinois' permission, most importantly in the not-whatsoever-unlikely scenario that John Groce, the coach with whom he has a close relationship and wants to play for, is fired. The Tilmons aren't stupid. They know Groce is on the hot seat and they know that if he is fired Illinois will ABSOLUTELY make some attempt to play hardball with that LOI.
So what does he gain by signing? Absolutely nothing, is my read on it. I have never understood why elite prospects sign in the fall. They give the schools leverage they wouldn't otherwise have for no reason.
illinoisfan11
- Peoria, IL
He's got to understand that, by him signing, he gives Groce the ability to go out and continue to recruit the 2017 class with the ability to tell unsigned recruits that Tilmon will most definitely be a part of the team. Good players tend to like to play with good players. His signed NLOI should make it easier for Groce to get other, unsigned recruits to listen to his pitch.
No, Illinois wouldn't. It would be suicide for them to play hardball, it's a PR nightmare EVERY SINGLE TIME a school does that.
Well, if he is planning on picking Illinois then signing would greatly help his future team. Not only for helping his coach's job security and mental well-being during this critical make-or-break season but also preventing them from being hamstrung trying to find another big man.
I do agree on the perspective that the LOI may not be in his, or any other top level recruit's best interest, but there is a benefit to his signing now vs the spring. And that's because he committed to Illinois. Had he not done that, then it'd be less of a sticky situation and waiting until spring would be easier. But committing means he's including Illinois in the choice and possibly inflicting damage on the program with his actions today.
Hoping for good news on the Tilmon visit. Do we have any factual evidence that Groce is in fact in ESL or just a rumor? Odd he would be meeting with student on a school morning?
They usually don't win in the end, but even the threat carries weight.
The Worm
- CHICAGO, IL
Nothing but a tweet from a guy who was allegedly relaying premie info.
The Twitter seems to indicate that he was in Springfield this morning around 7:15. Maybe at least headed the right direction.
Sorry dont know how to quote the Twitter
https://twitter.com/jeremiahtilmon_/status/798939106990555137
https://twitter.com/jeremiahtilmon_/status/798939106990555137
To save those a click, he posted a picture oh his high school team.
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