Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (November-December 2018)

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#1,226      
Don't need no dadgum AC during hoops season!

The facility is used for more than basketball. No AC meant that it couldn't be used during the summer. Now there are concerts and other events during the summer that never had been booked before. The sound system, lighting, video board were also great enhancements. All in all it was a great investment.
 
#1,227      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
The facility is used for more than basketball. No AC meant that it couldn't be used during the summer. Now there are concerts and other events during the summer that never had been booked before. The sound system, lighting, video board were also great enhancements. All in all it was a great investment.

(y)
 
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In the year 2018 and going forward we need to make a choice work in the gray area where there is a chance it could explode or keep our hands clean and hope for the best. People !!!!! about coach Cal cheating he did but he does not have to anymore same with coach Self. I love the university of Illinois even though i have been away for over thirty years, and i have no trouble telling anyone i would work in the grayest of areas to bring us back to where we belong and that is at or near the top of the big ten
Long time lurker - first time poster... I would say that facilities like this one at Kansas https://www.kansascity.com/sports/c...asketball-photos-videos/article104314006.html, or what Oregon has put together helps as well. If I were a big time recruit, I would lean hard toward a University that "Took Care of Me and My Family"... Just sayin'
 
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#1,232      
Wherever he goes, Cockburn wants to find the right fit.
"I just want to go to a school where I'm going to be comfortable, be pushed and get better," he said. "And win a national championship."

:unsure: :cautious: :poop:

I'm guessing that helping bring a program that's halfway across the country, back into relevance, isn't much of a draw...
 
#1,233      

Deleted member 746094

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Wherever he goes, Cockburn wants to find the right fit.
"I just want to go to a school where I'm going to be comfortable, be pushed and get better," he said. "And win a national championship."

:unsure: :cautious: :poop:

I'm guessing that helping bring a program that's halfway across the country, back into relevance, isn't much of a draw...

You know who planted that NC seed...

This is another long shot, but I hope the team can play well over the next 2 months and give him something to seriously consider! OA getting us in the Top 5 for another elite recruit tells me we aren’t that far off. It only takes one of these guys to pull the trigger and it can open the gates.
 
#1,234      

Punesguy

Ft. Collins, CO
You know who planted that NC seed...

This is another long shot, but I hope the team can play well over the next 2 months and give him something to seriously consider! OA getting us in the Top 5 for another elite recruit tells me we aren’t that far off. It only takes one of these guys to pull the trigger and it can open the gates.
Based on the video, this kid is a beast. He literally looks like a man against boys. I think it would be scary to see what Fletch could do with him! :shield:
 
#1,235      
Wherever he goes, Cockburn wants to find the right fit.
"I just want to go to a school where I'm going to be comfortable, be pushed and get better," he said. "And win a national championship."

:unsure: :cautious: :poop:

I'm guessing that helping bring a program that's halfway across the country, back into relevance, isn't much of a draw...

You could say that but we’re in his top 5, so there’s a draw there somewhere. Maybe he sees the potential.
 
#1,236      
Which brings into question in todays climate and where Illinois currently sits recruiting wise, why not use to our advantage if we can...

Hey Deron wasn't sure about coming here, look what he made his decision into....Final Four, First Rd draft pick, long NBA career....etc etc

I am pretty sure we do, but Deron was recruited and played for coaching regimes that are 2-3 cycles removed, his Illini days happened long before most recruits can really remember now, and his NBA career ended. Most of the coaches who can use similar examples efficiently really have had more recent examples that they have coached themselves and/or are more prominent in the NBA right now.
 
#1,238      
Working with OA, a guy known in his community, who has got big men ready to play in the NBA, and who has proven with Giorgi and Black that he can help players maximize their skills. An opportunity to play with experienced top flight guards in Ayo, Frazier and Feliz, on a team that is deep except in his position. An offensive scheme where he will have the opportunity to expand his role from just a back to the basket player. These are draws.

As for winning a 'ship, UConn may have planted that idea, but they have not indicated that they can even compete with their current and rather experienced (4 seniors in the rotation) roster. They are 1-3 against decent teams this year, including a loss to Iowa by 19 on a neutral court. Any team is going to have to sell that idea, which means that BU needs to show him that UI can win basketball games if he is going to have a chance.
 
#1,241      
Wherever he goes, Cockburn wants to find the right fit.
"I just want to go to a school where I'm going to be comfortable, be pushed and get better," he said. "And win a national championship."

:unsure: :cautious: :poop:

I'm guessing that helping bring a program that's halfway across the country, back into relevance, isn't much of a draw...

So ya thinkin' that bring a program back that had to fire it's coach for recruiting violations is the draw?
 
#1,242      
Sure, theres always going to be people who aren't happy with the current team makeup, or how the HC acts, or how recruiting is going, but winning cures all. Those people will be rightfully chastised if BU starts fielding legit contender teams, with legit talent.

Enlighten me the last time a team filled with 3 stars (who actually played meaningful minutes) won the ship. It's a chicken and egg comparison when talking about recruiting and winning, but the fact is to win at the highest level, you have to have the highest talent. UConn is probably you're best comparison (at least the Ollie win), but Boatwright and Nappier were at least 4 star guys, and I would assume they had a couple more highly touted recruits. There's a reason teams like Duke and Kentucky win ships. Sure, cinderellas appear, but at a high major, getting to the E8/S16 once every 5 or 6 years isn't gonna cut it.

Admittedly, we need to walk before we run (perhaps crawl at this point). As the wins grow, so should the recruiting. I don't expect to pull top talent now, but it's going to have to happen, and it appears BU isn't a good enough recruiter to pull talent before winning, so that's gotta happen too.

At the end of the day, what Whitman has preached about our football program holds true for basketball. There needs to be clear, continuous growth. BU is going to have to take the wins route to that, rather than the recruiting.

Great points made here. I think Illinois, under Brad Underwood, may need some of both to get things rolling (a few impact recruits and win more consistently). The current team is going to get better as they mature. It might not be rapid enough growth to make much noise this year, but there are some great pieces in place in my opinion and a sound culture that is being raised.

An aggressive and dominant big man or two would be a big boost for them and more confidence and experience on the defensive end of the court. Our greatest teams were very good defensive teams. They would take a lot of pride in stopping the other team from scoring and if they did get scored on it motivated them even more to get stops. This young team doesn't yet look like they get pissed off at the other team for scoring. Their mentality right now is to just get the ball and try to score more times than the other team (kind of an AAU mentality). I think Underwood can develop that defensive intensity with time and that should be his focus. That and teaching a few kids to value each possession a little more and consistently find high percentage shots whenever possible.
 
#1,244      

Deleted member 500209

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I hope this is not false optimism , but I get giddy just thinking about Kofi signing with the Illini!
Don’t do it to yourself. Been there done that. Never again.

It is much less frustrating being ignorant to how much talent we have missed on in the last 10+ years. I either watch video assuming they will wear a different uniform or just ignore video until they sign with the Illini. Far fewer heartbreaking moments. Then once they sign, assume an injury. Far more upside surprises since I’ve taken this approach.
 
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Deleted member 746094

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Confused? Hope someone can bring me up to speed ie. Antwan January status.

Have tried to find box scores and stats for him, but can’t find anything other than his name on Hillcrest Prep’s roster. Just watched their highlights from the game today on YouTube and #52 was never on the court from what I saw. Any idea what is going on?
 
#1,247      

eMitch

Quincy, IL
So ya thinkin' that bring a program back that had to fire it's coach for recruiting violations is the draw?
Wherever he goes, Cockburn wants to find the right fit.
"I just want to go to a school where I'm going to be comfortable, be pushed and get better," he said. "And win a national championship."

:unsure: :cautious: :poop:

I'm guessing that helping bring a program that's halfway across the country, back into relevance, isn't much of a draw...

You bolded the wrong part. He wants a coach that yells and screams at him. We're gold!
 
#1,248      

Dan

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