Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (October 2016)

[FiveStar]

Does anyone have insight into what exactly goes on during a "home visit" How is it different than official visit? Like do they only talk about the program and selling it? Is there more/less interaction with the parent(s)?

I've been lucky to be around some open gym "in home" visits. From what I've been around, a coach or 2 will just come by to watch the player play. Talk to him during open gym when he takes a break, or after the session is over. It looked to be a lot of relationship building, just talking to the kid, letting him know you're still interested, inviting him to campus whenever. The last one I saw the coach also made sure to tell the player to let other coaches know this particular school was recruiting him.

They make sure to talk to coaches as well, stay friendly and appear trustworthy. They also want to build at least a minimal relationship with the coach so you don't tell your player you don't like that school because the coaches are a-holes.

As far as an in the actual house in home, those I've never been to, but should be an audience to over the next couple years.

 

[Illinidreamin]

I've been lucky to be around some open gym "in home" visits. From what I've been around, a coach or 2 will just come by to watch the player play. Talk to him during open gym when he takes a break, or after the session is over. It looked to be a lot of relationship building, just talking to the kid, letting him know you're still interested, inviting him to campus whenever. The last one I saw the coach also made sure to tell the player to let other coaches know this particular school was recruiting him.

They make sure to talk to coaches as well, stay friendly and appear trustworthy. They also want to build at least a minimal relationship with the coach so you don't tell your player you don't like that school because the coaches are a-holes.

As far as an in the actual house in home, those I've never been to, but should be an audience to over the next couple years.

Hoping to be an audience in a few years myself. Weird how the fine details seem so much more important to decipher now. Now i want to know the difference between Divisions in recruiting.

 

[OWWDig]

They make sure to talk to coaches as well, stay friendly and appear trustworthy. They also want to build at least a minimal relationship with the coach so you don't tell your player you don't like that school because the coaches are a-holes.

Groce definitely texts coaches...compliments them on their player development, recent games; invites them to his camps/clinics with their kids (if they have them), etc. Tries to get to know them personally so asks a lot of questions about them. I'm sure other coaches do the same in this day and age.

As for in-homes, I've only heard about one specific one that Groce and staff did, but it was complete with formal presentation, projection, video, etc. and it lasted close to 2 hours.

I've also seen big meetings happen at school with parents, coaches, players. Not sure if that is counted as an "in-home" or just part of a school visit.

Oh, and for the 2 hour presentation above, I know that Groce left feeling that it was in the bag. Didn't happen.

 

[WiscIllini]

Oh, and for the 2 hour presentation above, I know that Groce left feeling that it was in the bag. Didn't happen.

How did the family that he was pitching to feel about the presentation? That's really the most important.

 

[Lord Snow]

I thought it was 4 hours... Either way, lengthy presentation.

 

[User Name]

As for in-homes, I've only heard about one specific one that Groce and staff did, but it was complete with formal presentation, projection, video, etc. and it lasted close to 2 hours.

Carlton Bragg?

 

[StateFarmCenter]

I've heard the complete opposite about in homes. From what I have heard in a few cases, the coach will sit down and have dinner with the family and basically hang out afterwards. Infornal, not too much focus on sport but rather the family getting to know the coach on a personal level and vice versa. It's for the coach to sell himself as a person.

But yeah, that obviously varies greatly on coach and prospective athlete.

 

[TCTORNADO]

I've heard the complete opposite about in homes. From what I have heard in a few cases, the coach will sit down and have dinner with the family and basically hang out afterwards. Infornal, not too much focus on sport but rather the family getting to know the coach on a personal level and vice versa. It's for the coach to sell himself as a person.

But yeah, that obviously varies greatly on coach and prospective athlete.

Yup, the Nunn in home is legendary for Groce hitting it out of the park.:thumb:

 

[IlliniGuy87]

Do we have any indication of when Wilkes might make his decision? I imagine he will sign during the November period, so it would obviously need to be before then.

This is just my opinion, but I think he is waiting until signing period to make his decision. If he chooses a school other than IU, he can quickly get the paperwork signed and submitted. By doing this he doesn't have to wait two weeks to sign while constantly having clappy and IU fans in his ear about changing his mind.

 

[HuskerIllini]

I've heard the complete opposite about in homes. From what I have heard in a few cases, the coach will sit down and have dinner with the family and basically hang out afterwards. Infornal, not too much focus on sport but rather the family getting to know the coach on a personal level and vice versa. It's for the coach to sell himself as a person.

But yeah, that obviously varies greatly on coach and prospective athlete.

Barry Switzer told a story one time, at a home visit. Before he went inside the house he checked the trash that was out at the curb, he say a few cans of some beer, like LoneStar Beer or something like that. He went in and chatted, ate dinner, hung out, talked about OU football and then the Dad said "Coach, is there anything I could get you to drink?"

Of course Barry smiled and said "You know what, sir, I would LOVE a LoneStar Beer if you have one"

The guy was a freaking charmer!

 

[Joel Goodson]

This is just my opinion, but I think he is waiting until signing period to make his decision. If he chooses a school other than IU, he can quickly get the paperwork signed and submitted. By doing this he doesn't have to wait two weeks to sign while constantly having clappy and IU fans in his ear about changing his mind.

Obviously, hope you're right. There's certainly a good degree of plausibility for the waiting scenario (crazy Hoosier fans, of which we all know are many). If Wilkes doesn't pull the trigger for IU this weekend, it doesn't bode well for them.

 

[Greensboro]

This is just my opinion, but I think he is waiting until signing period to make his decision. If he chooses a school other than IU, he can quickly get the paperwork signed and submitted. By doing this he doesn't have to wait two weeks to sign while constantly having clappy and IU fans in his ear about changing his mind.

2 problems... 1) that isn't really/usually how decisions happen, he may wait to tell anyone or make the announcement, but he has the information & has either decided & is waiting for the right time or is truly still deciding, in which case I'm not sure a plan to get up on signing day and deciding is really the best method. 2) Don't you think IU is already in his ear constantly telling why Indiana is the only choice, so it may change the topic from please, please come to IU, vs. anger/frustration of how could you do that to your home state school, but doubt the pressure level changes much.

 

[Greensboro]

Obviously, hope you're right. There's certainly a good degree of plausibility for the waiting scenario (crazy Hoosier fans, of which we all know are many). If Wilkes doesn't pull the trigger for IU this weekend, it doesn't bode well for them.

IMO at this point, with no announcement in sight...I think it is pretty easy to say IU is no longer the leader in the clubhouse...it may be dead even & they may still land Kris...but if it wasn't for there assistant AD's twitter follow & maybe one homer on 247 who almost always gets his CB pick right when he picks IU they would be out of the conversation. Although they still have some hope with an IU insider dreaming of candy stripes coming soon.

 

[Obelix]

Don't you think IU is already in his ear constantly telling why Indiana is the only choice, so it may change the topic from please, please come to IU, vs. anger/frustration of how could you do that to your home state school, but doubt the pressure level changes much.

I agree, actually believe there is more pressure on him from IU fans before he makes the decision. Once recruits make decisions, people eventually move one. Certainty less people in their ear... or in their twitter account.

 

[Obelix]

IMO at this point, with no announcement in sight...I think it is pretty easy to say IU is no longer the leader in the clubhouse...it may be dead even & they may still land Kris...but if it wasn't for there assistant AD's twitter follow & maybe one homer on 247 who almost always gets his CB pick right when he picks IU they would be out of the conversation. Although they still have some hope with an IU insider dreaming of candy stripes coming soon.

I don't know about that. There are definitely much stronger signs, and it is not as easy to dismiss IU IMO. Kris taking an unofficial to IU, not only to watch the football game but to watch the entire televised basketball practice is not as easy to ignore. His father and brother making statements that they will attend HH is also positive on them. I have no idea why a father would attend HH if his son was about to go elsewhere (although I'd wait to see who actually shows up at HH).

Not sure why IU would be out of it right now, and we would still be in. Let's be honest, it is not that we have seen major signs pointing to UI right now. UCLA is still holding to CB lead but most of those have been made more than a month ago, so it is not that they have last minute momentum pointing their way.

The longer it drags, especially if this goes much longer, it would not be in IU's favor, but I would certainly not say that IU's chances right now (or even UCLA's) are not good. That is not because of the IU analyst or IU assistant AD though, I dismiss those.

 

[IlliniBrave75]

Brian Snow‏@BSnowScout 2m2 minutes ago
Xavier will host five-star PG Ayo Dosunmu this weekend http://www.scout.com/player/207517-ayo-dosunmu?s=75 …

 

[RedRocksIllini]

What is wrong with Hotdog vendors? Sometimes they are full of useful information

Sometimes they have a very complex world view. (Please read A Confederacy of Dunces if this comment makes no sense to you. Most hilarious book ever written, imo.)

 

[coryfor3]

IMO at this point, with no announcement in sight...I think it is pretty easy to say IU is no longer the leader in the clubhouse...it may be dead even & they may still land Kris...but if it wasn't for there assistant AD's twitter follow & maybe one homer on 247 who almost always gets his CB pick right when he picks IU they would be out of the conversation. Although they still have some hope with an IU insider dreaming of candy stripes coming soon.

All I know is that there are a lot of little signs that it is NOT us. Assistant AD follows, random visits to Indiana, family attending HH, another meeting with UCLA...but silence on the Illini front. No more visits, no more known contact, no positive Twitter action.

 

[TCTORNADO]

I thought he wasn't going to be at HH?

Correct.

 

[Greensboro]

I don't know about that. There are definitely much stronger signs, and it is not as easy to dismiss IU IMO. Kris taking an unofficial to IU, not only to watch the football game but to watch the entire televised basketball practice is not as easy to ignore. His father and brother making statements that they will attend HH is also positive on them. I have no idea why a father would attend HH if his son was about to go elsewhere (although I'd wait to see who actually shows up at HH).

Not sure why IU would be out of it right now, and we would still be in. Let's be honest, it is not that we have seen major signs pointing to UI right now. UCLA is still holding to CB lead but most of those have been made more than a month ago, so it is not that they have last minute momentum pointing their way.

The longer it drags, especially if this goes much longer, it would not be in IU's favor, but I would certainly not say that IU's chances right now (or even UCLA's) are not good. That is not because of the IU analyst or IU assistant AD though, I dismiss those.

+ 1, I agree with all of this & think we are saying basically the same thing.

I agree, the asst. AD, homer CB pick were tongue in cheek as IU seems to be reaching quite a bit to make something positive out of a recruitment that looked very likely to a dogfight at best.

I don't think IU is out by any means, but I think there chances are likely back to even with the field, which still isn't bad, just not what I thought it was a week ago. No reason to like our chances other than the lack of solid information that he has made a decision between UCLA/IU & if you consider this is a free lottery ticket you take anything above 0%.

Agree with point 3...just think IUs chances have went from likely to even with the field (which is mostly UCLA).

 

[icengineer]

Isn't this fun! I sure hope somebody does a "Here's how this went down!" briefing after Wilkes commits.

 

[UCantHideYer]

I'm still holding out some hope for us. IU is where he's "obligated" to go. That feeling of obligation never sits right with youth. Then being a another cog in the UCLA (I pronounce it "ucklah") system...wouldn't want that. I know I'm blinded by the cool-aid, but here's to hoping!

 

[Adnarel]

Isn't this fun! I sure hope somebody does a "Here's how this went down!" briefing after Wilkes commits.

I'm still waiting for something like that on Goodwin.

I'm not sure we'll ever get it.

 

[illini8507]

What if his dad's car breaks down on the way to HH?

 

[icengineer]

I'm still waiting for something like that on Goodwin.

I'm not sure we'll ever get it.

Oh yeah, there were quite a few posters who seemed to know something. Maybe some of the reasons he went to SLU were as shady as some hinted at and aren't PC enough to get into on a public board? Wilkes recruitment seems to be totally on the up and up so perhaps someone with knowledge will be able to elaborate after the fact.