What if his dad's car breaks down on the way to HH?
Good one!
What if his dad's car breaks down on the way to HH?
Agree with point 3...just think IUs chances have went from likely to even with the field (which is mostly UCLA).
While IU's chances may have gone down, I personally still believe that IU is in the lead. My guess was that Wilkes would commit before HH, so while there are reports/tweeets of all sort, I am still cautiously waiting to see what happens in the next 50+ hours and who actually shows up (or not) at the IU event.
It has been hinted that it will be the first week in November when Wilkes commits.
It has been hinted that it will be the first week in November when Wilkes commits.
If that's the case, it bodes well for us (and UCLA) and does not for IU. Note that am NOT saying it would be a death blow to IU.
As to the twitter "tells," haven't seen anything remotely convincing yet. Doesn't mean Wilkes hasn't decided yet, just that he and his family are keeping the decision (if there is one) very, very close to the vest.
Not sure about that. I thought that was the case, and therefore HH was an inflection point. Yet, I did not expect that Wilkes would take another unofficial visit to IU and his father/brother would attend HH. Why would they do that? If Wilkes had an inclination towards a different school (UCLA or UI), why would he visit IU again and attend the practice (he has been to IU hundreds of times over the years)? And for crying out loud, why would his father/brother go to HH where they would be bombarded with "We want Wilkes" chants? Why?
I can understand if it was another regular recruit who did not care for the IU home fans. Or a person who does not care about the home school (we had plenty of those in the State of Illinois). But for a kid who has grown up an IU fan and has religiously attended all HH since freshman year that would be too cruel. Wilkes does not strike me as this kind of kid.
As I said, I am cautiously waiting to see what happens in the next 48 hours, and who actually shows up or not.
Maybe the kid is torn. Clearly, loves IU, loves IU hoops. Doesn't love Clappy. Tick tock...
@WojVerticalNBA
Among items that will be in final CBA agreement: NBA's "one-and-done" college draft rule will remain in place, sources tell @TheVertical.
As expected...
[URL="https://twitter.com/BSnowScout"]Brian Snow @BSnowScout [/URL] 1h1 hour ago Brian Snow Retweeted Adrian Wojnarowski
Dirty secret, owners like the system and so do the players. Neither wants it to change
I'd say it's far from a secret and is rather obvious since it's happened over and over.
I think you're right, and this is the reason that Wilkes' recruitment has been so drawn out. In the end, I think he'll succumb to the state school with hopes of leading them to an NCAA title and becoming a legend in Indiana hoops lore. He wants to play for Steve Alford and he wants to be a part of the Illini family, but he'll most likely end up at IU.
Fingers crossed that he chooses to play for Groce and join the Illini family. I have tempered my expectations a bit.
Maybe if OG and Bryant were staying, you could convince me Wilkes would be the piece to push them over the edge. Think all the other top prospects passing gives him a free pass. I think UCLA is the first choice. Partially because it will be the most understandable to the locals. I'm starting to suspect he wants to chose Illinois, but doesn't want to deal with any backlash.
I've talked myself into this narrative and I'll stand by it. Less than three weeks to go. Here's to hoping he picks us. Would be the cherry on top of a well deserved sundae for Illini fans.
Also, I'm trying to remember how the JCL recruitment ended. I know leading up to the announcement most expected it to be ND. But was there a rush of crystal balls right before? Or was it quiet the whole time?
Also, I'm trying to remember how the JCL recruitment ended. I know leading up to the announcement most expected it to be ND. But was there a rush of crystal balls right before? Or was it quiet the whole time?
Michigan was the clear leader for JCL early on. IU offered him before his Freshman year at Cathedral.
The problem with this line of thinking is that it is contradictory to his actions. If he really cares about backlash, why create more pressure on himself by taking additional unofficial visits to UI or sending your whole family to HH. That will create more expectations and backlash, no matter whether he chooses UCLA or UI. If he does not care about backlash, why not choose the school he really likes then (UI in your example)?
I'm assuming you meant "IU" and no one has been to HH yet.
Also, I'm trying to remember how the JCL recruitment ended. I know leading up to the announcement most expected it to be ND. But was there a rush of crystal balls right before? Or was it quiet the whole time?
Remember when we were comparing Wilkes' recruitment to JCL's. How they were both quiet, family oriented, no handlers, etc.
Well the past week or so it seems like a hell of a lot of people know what's going on. We've heard that he wants to go to UCLA, Illinois, and IU all by different posters. I personally don't think much has changed. People are just grasping at straws IMO.