Imagine January next November.
With all this snow in STL, it already feels like January this November.
Imagine January next November.
Sorry, had to FTFY. I kept googling trying to figure out when he played at Kentucky.
Love the out-of-left-field scouting reports though.
That is the first time I have seen a list put out by a kid, and the response not dominated by Illinois fans giving the kid love for it.
Probably because beating out MTSU, Valpo, and SIUC for a recruit feels like Tim Beckman is doing our basketball recruiting.
Have we even offered Payton? Seems like a situation where he understand he isn't going to get many P6 offers, and is just putting us there because we've shown some interest. I would think the January commitment kinda backs us off him.
Have we even offered Payton? Seems like a situation where he understand he isn't going to get many P6 offers, and is just putting us there because we've shown some interest. I would think the January commitment kinda backs us off him.
If Giorgi and Feliz are any kind of indication of this staff's ability to see ability and talent within this system, I'm 100% on board and really excited for next year.
Imagine Kipper with Ayo, Trent, Giorgi or Feliz's motor.
Imagine Kane taking the same strides as Giorgi in 2-3 months.
Imagine January next November.
Imagine a rotation at the 5 that allows Giorgi to move to the 4 and go big or small.
Imagine Ayo, Feliz, and Monte after a year of games and practice.
Imagine.
I don't think Self would have even seen Deron Williams if he hadn't been on the same team as Bracey Wright. Deron wasn't even Plan A on that recruiting trip!
I definitely think this year's team may be more fun to watch than any Illini team going back several years. They have some talent and athletic ability and I think I see some pretty good character that should make them fun to cheer for and follow. The only Plan A guy on the roster is Ayo I think, but I think the cast around him can become a pretty good team by the end of the season.
Thinking back to our last National Championship contender team (2005), how many of those guys were Plan A guys? Roger, Luther, Augie were not 1st choice recruits. Dee Brown was definitely a Plan A guy and Deron may have fit into that category, but remember that we were not even Deron's Plan A school. We kind of picked him up by default. Kenny Battle wasn't a Plan A guy for Illinois. Neither was Kendall Gill. Nick Anderson and Lowell Hamilton were. Marcus Liberty was a Plan A guy. Dion Thomas, Richard Keene and the Manual trio were Plan A guys. Corey Bradford, Lucas Johnson, Damir Krupalija, not Plan A guys.
Point is, it has been a long, long, long time since Illinois could go out and pick up more than 1 Plan A guy in a given recruiting class. Illinois has had the most success with a couple of Plan A guys in different classes and bunch of lunch pail guys around them. I am perfectly fine with that. I think Illinois needs a guy like Underwood that will reward hard working, unselfish, team first guys and promote a culture that embodies those characteristics and play with high basketball IQ. Every now and then we will get a Plan A guy and maybe a Plan B guy or two and some Plan C guys like Roger, Luther and Augie. That is our formula for winning at Illinois.
Roger luther and augie were all plan a guys. Not sure what you're thinking. Bradford as well.
Both Roger and Augie were top 100 recruits, Roger was #62 RSCI and Augie was #78. Luther was 1st Team All-State and very highly regarded. Bradford was just outside the top 100. All Plan A guys, just that Plan A back then also included some other highly regarded players.
I'll take Payton. Get him Underwood!
IN terms of plan B, Verbal commits shows offers to Josaphat Bilau 6'11" PF 2 star from France with a impressive offer list. Also to Tristan Enaruna 6'7" SF 2 star from the Netherlands with a less impressive offer list. Have not seen these guys mentioned.
I would take the Juco kid first....Kayne Henry, go get him Walker/Coleman/Antigua, whoever!
Honestly, Illinois will take anyone at this point. Would love to see Payton come here.
Really think the Enaruna kid will be a player. He and Jones at the 3 in a couple years would be a tough matchup. Still think Tevian will explode between this year and next and become a all-B10 caliber player.
Honestly, Illinois will take anyone at this point. Would love to see Payton come here.
This is just wrong. The January commitment lowers our urgency level substantially. Even without that, you don't return to the top of the B1G by taking just anyone.
IN terms of plan B, Verbal commits shows offers to Josaphat Bilau 6'11" PF 2 star from France with a impressive offer list. Also to Tristan Enaruna 6'7" SF 2 star from the Netherlands with a less impressive offer list. Have not seen these guys mentioned.
Do we not want to "Pay a Ton"?Illinois aint taking Payton anymore.
Not true, I believe Payton is an ultimate fall back spring guy, would be shocked if he announced or ILLINI accepted him before then if even then. Payton has SIU type school written all over him imo.