Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (October 2017)

[Cratchelow]

Can't lose Ayo to WF

Manning has won 29% of his conference games at Wake and 45% overall in his three years.Wake has been much worse than we were under Groce and Weber,missing the tourney 8 out of last 10.Kid needs to be reminded of this when he visits.

 

[Gunner23]

considering it appears he committed during the OV and parents didn't accompany him....I think it's possible he could have impulsively picked GA without talking it through. You are right, none of it makes much sense.

I thought that he recorded his announcement before going to the UGA visit. I have been out of the loop the past couple of days, so I could be wrong.

 

[jrichisamazing]

For all those saying Ayo is the program changing recruit, I just want to remind you all the times we said that under Groce. DJax, Cliff, Brunson, Snider, Evans, Thomas, am I missing anyone else?

If we miss on Ayo there will still be plenty more "program changers" out there. If Groce gets just one of those guys, he might still be here.

 

[KrushCow31]

So I don't really look at rankings very often. With all this drama and intensity surrounding Landers Nolley's recruitment, I pegged him to be around low 40s, upper 30s. I am kind of shocked to see he is 96 on 247, barely sub Top 100...Granted his Rivals is 55, which is closer to what I estimated, but still.

I know rankings aren't the end all be all, but I was really surprised.

 

[frozenrope9190]

Haha, just a day in the life......

I read the news today....Oh, boy.

 

[Illiniguy13]

For all those saying Ayo is the program changing recruit, I just want to remind you all the times we said that under Groce. DJax, Cliff, Brunson, Snider, Evans, Thomas, am I missing anyone else?

If we miss on Ayo there will still be plenty more "program changers" out there. If Groce gets just one of those guys, he might still be here.

Well, they're not wrong. All those guys would have positively changed the program in some capacity. The major difference is Groce doesn't have the X's and O's to fall back on in the case of recruiting whiffs. You can pick any player you listed and add them to any of Groce's teams and I'm not so sure they'd come out on top against an Underwood led SFA team.

 

[ILLHangOut]

So, are you all trying to understand these recruitments or predict them? This board has a strong conversational focus on the minutia, almost to the point where the concensus, IMO, fails to see the forest for the trees.

WRT Nolley I’m pretty sure Illini coaches knew they were 2nd or 3rd. That’s why they sent the whole staff. I’m pretty sure UGA knew they were 1st otherwise they wouldn’t have wasted time and $$ on an OV. I have a hard time believing amongst all that his parents didn’t know. Maybe he wanted to surprise them? It wasn’t an impulse commitment because he stated himself he had known for weeks.

Chances obviously are it’s going to be either Illini or VT next choice, or he waits till spring.That final cut placing us “3rd” doesn’t matter since he had already selected UGA when we were eliminated. I just don’t understand hanging on every tweet and Crystal ball in the mean time.

I’m a long time lurker and appreciate all the great contributions from the more active posters. The prognosticating after every tweet I think detracts from some great OC (shout out to miketherevelator), and discussion. This goes back to BTFs “locks” and Lincoln’s Chiefs.

Dan, anyway we can get another thread going? Maybe one for prognosticators, one for discussing players,their abilities, roster and scheme fit, etc?

Anybody second that?

 

[Stevegarbs]

Manning has won 29% of his conference games at Wake and 45% overall in his three years.Wake has been much worse than we were under Groce and Weber,missing the tourney 8 out of last 10.Kid needs to be reminded of this when he visits.

As a way of us proving that We are the tallest midget?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GortTheRobot]

TIFWIW, but Ryan Evan on Twitter had a talk last night and said to his knowledge, the staff has NOT reached out again thus far in regards to Nolley.

I don't know about y'all, but I'm all in on this Finnish kid who will arrive on campus tomorrow. Part of the scouting report I read on him mentioned BU's philosophy saying that he would fit position less basketball. Lock him and Ayo up, then push hard for THT and one big.

BU said he doesn't have to beg anyone to come here. Now, if Nolley contacts us and says that we are still under consideration, you say "good, we'd be glad to have you," but I don't see us running to him.

Your scenario with Ayo, Valtonen, THT and a big, would be a fantastic class. Let's hope domino one falls this week with Valtonen, followed by Ayo on his visit.

 

[MrOizo]

I truly believe Ayo is the piece that we need to return to glory. With that said its just so hard to be positive with the amount of bad luck we have had with the 18' class. I do believe Wake is leading and after reading an article tonight where Ayo said his Wake visit was a 10/10 I will remain super cautious. Not expecting anything but one thing I know I will love my illini until the day Im buried. Go illini

This sums me up too

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[foby]

For all those saying Ayo is the program changing recruit, I just want to remind you all the times we said that under Groce. DJax, Cliff, Brunson, Snider, Evans, Thomas, am I missing anyone else?

If we miss on Ayo there will still be plenty more "program changers" out there. If Groce gets just one of those guys, he might still be here.

I think you just proved the point of how important it is to get that "program changing recruit" early in your tenure.

 

[Magoo222]

I read the news today....Oh, boy.

We didn't notice that the lights had changed......

 

[Calvin]

Ayo was leaning WF, but then changed his mind and let Nolley know, hence the swift de-commit.

Sound good? Let's go with that.

I like your optimism. The board's been a roller coaster the past few weeks, so nothing wrong with some (potentially false) hope. Gives me reason to keep checking.

 

[Illini Beer 4 All]

TIFWIW, but Ryan Evan on Twitter had a talk last night and said to his knowledge, the staff has NOT reached out again thus far in regards to Nolley.

I don't know about y'all, but I'm all in on this Finnish kid who will arrive on campus tomorrow. Part of the scouting report I read on him mentioned BU's philosophy saying that he would fit position less basketball. Lock him and Ayo up, then push hard for THT and one big.

I doubt it will happen, but if we land Ayo and THT, I won't care about much else. Those have been the top 2 wants by a lot of people the whole time.

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[Joel Goodson]

Dan, anyway we can get another thread going? Maybe one for prognosticators, one for discussing players,their abilities, roster and scheme fit, etc?

Anybody second that?

Agree w/your previous points. OTOH, this suggestion will never work. Akin to herding cats.

 

[NBB1979]

2005 was an epic recruiting failure. Absolutely epic. When you combine with the 2006 class and consider that those classes came in the midst of our 2005 run, it's incredible to see that we winded up with 2 classes consisting of Jamar Smith, Chester Frazier, Charles Jackson, Richard Semrau, and Brian Carlwell.

While I agree with the sentiment that Bruce Weber COMPLETELY failed to capitalize on the 2005 championship run, i think you are looking more at results than rankings here. I don't remember what any of these kids ranked - but I do think Brian Carlwell was a high level recruit, at least, if my memory serves me correctly. Jamar Smith, maybe i have bias having seen him in high school - i don't know what his ranking was exactly - but he was a good player. I would have liked to see these two progress without making bad decisions off the court.

 

[Deleted member 631370]

While I agree with the sentiment that Bruce Weber COMPLETELY failed to capitalize on the 2005 championship run, i think you are looking more at results than rankings here. I don't remember what any of these kids ranked - but I do think Brian Carlwell was a high level recruit, at least, if my memory serves me correctly. Jamar Smith, maybe i have bias having seen him in high school - i don't know what his ranking was exactly - but he was a good player. I would have liked to see these two progress without making bad decisions off the court.

Yes, Brian Carlwell was top-50, and I believe he had an offer from Michigan State. Though they were also going after Tom Herzog who was their top big option.

Jamar was a 3-star kid outside of the top-100. Chester was a 3-star with offers from Binghamton, College of Charleston, and a few others. I believe Charles Jackson had offers from Auburn and UGA, but mostly because they wanted him to play football as well.

And yes, Jamar would have been a very good 4-year player for us. It's a shame what happened with him.

Nonetheless that 2005-2006 combo was an unmitigated disaster. Perhaps the single worst recruiting performance I've seen when you consider how high Illinois was as a program when those classes were recruited. 2007 rebounded slightly when you consider McCamey, Tisdale, Mike Davis, etc., but even that was a disappointment considering who we were targeting -- IDKWTI, Evan Turner, Moore, etc. Not even going to mention Rose, because that was never going to happen.

Follow that up with the 2008 0-fer (missing Shumpert, Liggins, Darius Miller, Michael Dunigan, Matt Humphrey, etc.), and that 4-year stretch should go in the dictionary under "recruiting disaster".

 

[EfremWinters84]

We didn't notice that the lights had changed......

Woke up. Fell out of bed. And started reading IL.

Agree with Finn, Ayo, THT, and a late Big. If Nolley comes knocking, we then listen. (Ryan Evan's info has been accurate the past month or two.)

 

[TownieMatt]

Find it interesting that some are ready to jump ship on Nolley. Without knowing anything behind the scenes, I'm willing to give a 17 year old the benefit of the doubt and guess that he probably enjoyed his UGA visit and committed too quickly. Guessing VT is the likely destination, but I wouldn't rule us out. I don't think the whole staff would have made the trip last week if they didn't think they had a real solid chance.

 

[Joel Goodson]

While I agree with the sentiment that Bruce Weber COMPLETELY failed to capitalize on the 2005 championship run, i think you are looking more at results than rankings here. I don't remember what any of these kids ranked - but I do think Brian Carlwell was a high level recruit, at least, if my memory serves me correctly. Jamar Smith, maybe i have bias having seen him in high school - i don't know what his ranking was exactly - but he was a good player. I would have liked to see these two progress without making bad decisions off the court.

Carlwell was a stiff at Proviso East. He was pretty highly ranked (~70, IIRC), because he was 6' 11" and had a good frame. I definitely don't fault Weber for recruiting him, but the idea that he was a "high level recruit," other than an inflated ranking, is revisionist history.

 

[Deleted member 631370]

For all those saying Ayo is the program changing recruit, I just want to remind you all the times we said that under Groce. DJax, Cliff, Brunson, Snider, Evans, Thomas, am I missing anyone else?

If we miss on Ayo there will still be plenty more "program changers" out there. If Groce gets just one of those guys, he might still be here.

Any class with Ayo is a success, IMO.

He would be the most talented kid on our roster from day 1, and would probably start right away. Heck, he'd probably be the most talented recruit since Richmond (at a minimum).

Program changing? Eh, I don't know. With or without him, our backcourt is in very good hands going forward. For once, we're loaded at PG/combo guard, so he doesn't really fill a position of dire need the way Jawun Evans or Brunson would have done a few years back.

However, Ayo helps us for a few additional reasons: (1) one would think he'd help us with Adam Miller and other elite recruits in future classes, (2) he immediately gives the staff that top-tier Chicago victory which we've lacked for years, and (3) he probably helps us attract a quality player or two in the 2018 class.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Any class with Ayo is a success, IMO.

He would be the most talented kid on our roster from day 1, and would probably start right away. Heck, he'd probably be the most talented recruit since Richmond (at a minimum).

Program changing? Eh, I don't know. With or without him, our backcourt is in very good hands going forward. For once, we're loaded at PG/combo guard, so he doesn't really fill a position of dire need the way Jawun Evans or Brunson would have done a few years back.

However, Ayo helps us for a few additional reasons: (1) one would think he'd help us with Adam Miller and other elite recruits in future classes, (2) he immediately gives the staff that top-tier Chicago victory which we've lacked for years, and (3) he probably helps us attract a quality player or two in the 2018 class.

+1 to all your points.

 

[Deleted member 10676]

Bossi article includes latest on Ayo and Nolley, among others.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/starting-five-five-star-ayo-dosunmu-down-to-a-pair

 

[Calvin]

Yes, Brian Carlwell was top-50, and I believe he had an offer from Michigan State. Though they were also going after Tom Herzog who was their top big option.

Jamar was a 3-star kid outside of the top-100. Chester was a 3-star with offers from Binghamton, College of Charleston, and a few others. I believe Charles Jackson had offers from Auburn and UGA, but mostly because they wanted him to play football as well.

And yes, Jamar would have been a very good 4-year player for us. It's a shame what happened with him.

Nonetheless that 2005-2006 combo was an unmitigated disaster. Perhaps the single worst recruiting performance I've seen when you consider how high Illinois was as a program when those classes were recruited. 2007 rebounded slightly when you consider McCamey, Tisdale, Mike Davis, etc., but even that was a disappointment considering who we were targeting -- IDKWTI, Evan Turner, Moore, etc. Not even going to mention Rose, because that was never going to happen.

Follow that up with the 2008 0-fer (missing Shumpert, Liggins, Darius Miller, Michael Dunigan, Matt Humphrey, etc.), and that 4-year stretch should go in the dictionary under "recruiting disaster".

Agree with most of this, but would add that Jamar was a steal. He was an impact freshman, shot over 48% from 3, and was on the All-BIG freshman team. His high ankle sprain and subsequent drinking ruined his career here, but he definitely showed he was a player. Definitely better than a 3 star IMHO.

 

[Calvin]

Find it interesting that some are ready to jump ship on Nolley. Without knowing anything behind the scenes, I'm willing to give a 17 year old the benefit of the doubt and guess that he probably enjoyed his UGA visit and committed too quickly. Guessing VT is the likely destination, but I wouldn't rule us out. I don't think the whole staff would have made the trip last week if they didn't think they had a real solid chance.

Just curious why you wouldn't rule us out? Seems like everything was pointing to VT. Is it the rumored Ayo connection?