Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (November-December 2017)

[jmilt7]

He says his father handles all of his recruitment. I wonder which relative was handed the $4,000 and if that relative expects to be paid twice.

This one makes me too nervous.

Not only this but apparently, according to this article, we still have to worry about the AAU drama affecting how BU recruits.

"Big Ten Basketball: Answering 5 questions from the preseason"

"4. How will the AAU drama affect Illinois’s recruiting?"

<https://bustingbrackets.com/2017/12/22/big-ten-basketball-answering-5-questions-from-the-preseason/>

 

[Joel Goodson]

Cherry: hard pass, even if his interest is more than lip service (which I sincerely doubt).

 

[SescIllini]

Big story in yesterday's L.A. Times about Cherry being one of the players involved in the FBI sting of USC assistant Tony Bland. To summarize, "a person with direct knowledge of the college basketball bribery case" (I'm guessing someone at USC who was tipped by FBI to back off on the recruitment) says that Cherry is "Player #8" in the indictment. The indictment alleges that an undercover agent attended a meeting with one of "Player 8's" relatives, where the relative was passed $4000. Family obviously denies that Cherry is Player 8.

Nothing will tear our program more than a scandal. Not saying to back off completely but would take the Bruce Weber approach on this one. Give him the facts, but don't put extra effort. There is playing time available at the big, team comes first, and no extra promises and benefits. He is a good player and likely improved from his summer videos. But would still take Liddell and Okoro over him. Just don't know that he will buy into a long-term development plan to benefit him and team.

 

[GranMastaFlex]

Moving the goalposts? lulz!, Grand Master.

Whitney doesn't have as clear of a path to significant early playing time as Liddell and Okoro do. That is a fact.

The idea that we are the leader for Whitney seems to be borne from hope, not evidence.

This bouncing all around would make Slackster proud.

1. Where did I call us the leader?

2. EJ and Okoro are the same tier of talent and thus we will face similar competition. If you want to wave the white flag on Whitney might as well do the same for all of them.

3. If you want to stick with the "3" having more competition that's fine but acting like we are a long shot simply isn't true.

 

[SescIllini]

Ayo mentioned in an interview that Miller was coming. Lots can change in 2 years but the kid is from Peoria and has played with Ayo and Damonte. Damonte was coached by the Irvins in the AAU circuit, the Irvins coach Miller now. Damonte and Miller trained together offseason with same coach.

With all this info other schools may not put a ton of effort in his recruitment.

 

[BananaShampoo]

Like programming skills? That's extremely valuable

Not many better computer science schools than UIUC! Maybe Marc Andreessen could be our lead recruiter on him. :thumb:

 

[Joel Goodson]

Ayo mentioned in an interview that Miller was coming. Lots can change in 2 years but the kid is from Peoria and has played with Ayo and Damonte. Damonte was coached by the Irvins in the AAU circuit, the Irvins coach Miller now. Damonte and Miller trained together offseason with same coach.

With all this info other schools may not put a ton of effort in his recruitment.

That might be true for a lot of schools, but it won't be a deterrent for elite programs. And there will be elite programs in the hunt. That said, I like where we stand with Miller.

 

[skyIdub]

LOL I do believe it was a sarcastic reference to Bane's monologue from Dark Knight Rises when he tells the story of how he climbed out of the pit.

It's very Dwight Schrute'ish!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYyZqlyDEL4

 

[Oldtoysrock]

Liddell and Okoro have a very clear path to significant minutes from the get go. Their table is set perfectly. I'm sure they're abundantly aware of that.



Yes, clearly, performance matters. Particularly with deep teams. Regardless of who's coaching.

That never seemed to be the case with Groce. Remember how we were all screaming for him to get Kipper and TJ L into the lineup?


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[americanoutlaw11]

LOL I do believe it was a sarcastic reference to Bane's monologue from Dark Knight Rises when he tells the story of how he climbed out of the pit.

Sarcasm and fun with quotes. Powerful agents, for the uninitiated. Be we are initiated, aren't we, BananaShampoo? Members of Illini Nation.

 

[Dan]

Adam Miller Highlights
http://www.courtsidefilms.com/news_article/show/870659?referrer_id=

 

[sdfidaho]

Classic episode. Schrute channels Hitler's speech giving style at the big sales conference.

Pretty sure it was a Mussolini speech

 

[Joel Goodson]

FYI your screenname is identical to the name of the largest fan club of the US Men's National Team, so some posters likely think you're a soccer fan.

Not to mention the 11, which is how many players a team fields.

 

[Illini Beer 4 All]

Adam Miller Highlights
http://www.courtsidefilms.com/news_article/show/870659?referrer_id=

Kids a stud. Very advanced game for someone so young. Strong build already too. This kid will play in the NBA.

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[GranMastaFlex]

Pretty sure it was a Mussolini speech

Pretty sure he uses excerpts from multiple dictator speeches. Not positive though.

 

[Dan]

On Friday night, the junior big man was the best player on the court. Okoro, who was named tournament MVP, scored a game high 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as Normal West beat Lanphier 52-48
Video: http://www.channel1450.com/2017/12/...llini-priority-francis-okoro-and-normal-west/

 

[skyIdub]

Pretty sure he uses excerpts from multiple dictator speeches. Not positive though.

Correct....Lenin, Mussolini, and some from Marx's Communist Manifesto book.

 

[SescIllini]

Keep forgetting Okoro is just a junior. How does he compare to Mr. Hat trick? Size, skill, athleticism?

 

[SescIllini]

Kids a stud. Very advanced game for someone so young. Strong build already too. This kid will play in the NBA.

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I think it has become harder to predict who will be an NBA player especially early in high school. Too many players who did well in college and high school who just lacked something. A PG with great skills and size does project well.

 

[FiveStar]

I think it has become harder to predict who will be an NBA player especially early in high school. Too many players who did well in college and high school who just lacked something. A PG with great skills and size does project well.

Yeah. Big guys kinda have to be taller versions of Draymond Green nowadays to project if they’ll be successful or not. The selling point is that our offense requires all players to have guard skills, so we can develop an Okoro into a guy like that.

 

[Illini Beer 4 All]

Yeah. Big guys kinda have to be taller versions of Draymond Green nowadays to project if they’ll be successful or not. The selling point is that our offense requires all players to have guard skills, so we can develop an Okoro into a guy like that.

Whether Underwood and Antigua had anything to do with Black's development or not, it will be a huge selling point to recruits.

Leron has gone from frustrating because you could see his potential but he wasn't making the most of it to a stud. I'm selling the heck out of that you both Liddell and Okoro, Whitney too.

Same thing goes for Aaron Jordan. He went from can we politely ask this kid to transfer to a legit player. Underwood needs to sell it.

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[coryfor3]

Same thing goes for Aaron Jordan. He went from can we politely ask this kid to transfer to a legit player. Underwood needs to sell it.

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Nope. Always was a player and Groce just never really gave him a chance.

 

[Obelix]

Whether Underwood and Antigua had anything to do with Black's development or not, it will be a huge selling point to recruits.

Leron has gone from frustrating because you could see his potential but he wasn't making the most of it to a stud. I'm selling the heck out of that you both Liddell and Okoro, Whitney too.

Same thing goes for Aaron Jordan. He went from can we politely ask this kid to transfer to a legit player. Underwood needs to sell it.

Unless some recruits are diehard Illini fans, a lot of these Illini "success stories" do not really register on the national level recruiting. National recruits want to see a prominent team, a contender, or players making it into the NBA, etc. Improvement of some players who are not big names on the national scene or do not make it to the NBA become less visible/important to them, especially when the team itself is not making some noise.

That is why Illini coaches need to be strong recruiters, because we simply do not have many selling points, so much of what we are selling is "promise" of success. Playing time and Ayo are probably the two biggest selling points right now. JMO.

 

[yeahyeahyeah]

Whether Underwood and Antigua had anything to do with Black's development or not, it will be a huge selling point to recruits.

Leron has gone from frustrating because you could see his potential but he wasn't making the most of it to a stud. I'm selling the heck out of that you both Liddell and Okoro, Whitney too.

Same thing goes for Aaron Jordan. He went from can we politely ask this kid to transfer to a legit player. Underwood needs to sell it.

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Bill Self would sell that in a heartbeat. I mean, he would say that he's the reason Leron's progressing right now.

 

[Dan]

#Illini hoops is hosting 5-star 2019 center Francis Okoro (@chibestfrank88) for an unofficial visit today. Peoria Richwoods freshman Isaiah Donnell (@iDemon309) will also be in attendance. Promising guard in the 2021 class.
https://twitter.com/DPiper247/status/947154734397509632