Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (October 2017)

[Peoria Illini]

He said in an interview last week that the recruiting class is a factor.

I thought he said that who his teammates are is a factor. If he has a good class ahead and behind him, that's all that matters.

No inside info, but I say Ayo is coming to Illinois. Whether that lands Nolley as well as Monte West predicts, that would be great.

 

[aluma]

One thing I've noticed in our short time of Underwood as our coach is that he is not necessarily very charismatic or naturally likable. I'm incredibly impressed by his knowledge of the game and his past coaching ability. But hearing him in interviews and even listening to him at a coaching clinic, I didn't walk away thinking "I'd want to play for that guy." Hopefully his teams success on the court will sell the program better than his personality does.

 

[foby]

no now he is ""gone with the finn"", same thing we should use for the rest of the recruits we dont get lol

:thumb:

 

[Illini Resurgence]

At this point Ayo is critical. If BU comes away completely empty handed this fall it will be a disaster. No need to comment further until we have the decision from Ayo.

 

[PlayAZ]

It's very possible that Underwood is not a good recruiter. But winning can change a lot. Maybe Underwood will never be a good recruiter even if we win. Or maybe Underwood's weakness is that he can't sell a dream, but he can sell a reality. Only time (and winning) will tell on that.

Underwood has stated the weeks up to the season and coaching/instilling the concept etc is his favorite part of the game. Recruiting isn't I believe, thus the importance of Antigua and his connections, Chin and his and Walker and his. Our recruiting success' will depend on WINS and our assistants more so than our head coach moving forward I believe.

 

[RedRocksIllini]

Does Jack Krapp still have eligibility left?

I think he "burned" all of his eligibility.

 

[illinifan87]

Btw...public scrimmage for Ayo at Ubben...9am tomorrow.

 

[Orphans]

Does Jack Krapp still have eligibility left?

No, but I think we have a shot at signing Jack Skwat

 

[greger]

At this point Ayo is critical. If BU comes away completely empty handed this fall it will be a disaster. No need to comment further until we have the decision from Ayo.

Completely spot on....

 

[SescIllini]

elias wasn't going to fit underwoods offensive scheme anyway

Actually he looked like the poster boy for it.

 

[blmillini]

We don't have a coach with a dynamic personality. Therefore, for him to truly get interest from high level recruits, he is going to have to show that he can win. I see recruiting being difficult for the next few years. We are banking on tremendous coaching ability.

 

[SescIllini]

I suggested a few weeks ago that the FBI investigation will probably halter this class, and people attacked me. I said that Valtonen wouldn't be a big miss, and that he likely would not be an Illini, I got attacked. I mentioned that Nolley is more likely to come to U of I than a lot of you think, no one agreed. Ayo will be an Illini, along with Nolley plus whatever big we can fish in. A week from now, the mood on this thread will be a lot different

So what is it? You said that the FBI investigation will halter (alter or halt) but you also say that we will get Ayo and Nolley + big. Getting those 2 and big would not halter(?) this class. I'm not sure if I agree or disagree, just confused.

 

[TheGMan]

Underwood has stated the weeks up to the season and coaching/instilling the concept etc is his favorite part of the game. Recruiting isn't I believe, thus the importance of Antigua and his connections, Chin and his and Walker and his. Our recruiting success' will depend on WINS and our assistants more so than our head coach moving forward I believe.

I completely agree. However, to expound on that, no matter how good of recruiters the assistants are, the head coach's ability to recruit is always going to be incredibly important.

It's too early to say whether Underwood will cut it as a recruiter or not. Even if we completely whiff on everyone this year. One recruiting class is not enough of a sample size.

 

[illinitiger]

We don't have a coach with a dynamic personality. Therefore, for him to truly get interest from high level recruits, he is going to have to show that he can win. I see recruiting being difficult for the next few years. We are banking on tremendous coaching ability.

personality is overrated....unless you're talking bobby knight Im really glad we have a coach!

Sent from my VS500 using Tapatalk

 

[Deleted member 3875]

I thought these assistants were supposed to be recruiting rockstars?

 

[foby]

The four ton reason with three letters white-washed on it's side is standing right in the middle of the floor at the SFC. No need to look over, under or around it for clues.

 

[LuckyLefty8]

happy friday guys......just checkin in over here.....did want to say that the recent scandal has really thrown a lot of recruits/recruitments out of whack....as i eluded to earlier (i think in a different thread) the news likely impacted a recruit Michigan was also after....very very easy for schools to pitch (1) Underwood's past has some shade by extension, and (2) Underwood is a relatively unknown at this point (to recruits)


i will say....i think the ILL are in tremendous hands...most know what i/we though about Groce....he just couldn't get it all together....but Underwood can coach circles around his opponents....his product will sell itself....I'm guessing any recruiting shortcomings this year will be more than made up for once he shows out....


cheers...

 

[Illwinsagain]

At this point Ayo is critical. If BU comes away completely empty handed this fall it will be a disaster. No need to comment further until we have the decision from Ayo.

I think Ayo will be a great get and a great statement recruit! At the same time, we have a big class of guards ahead of him, we will lose 1 player next year, who some predict will be our top scorer. Disaster is strong word, I would say very disappointing. If we have success this year, get a kid or two in the spring and sign 3 studs in 19, it will be a big blip.

 

[IndyILL]

I see the problem as 3-fold.

1) Underwood's recruiting style. More substance over flash. No bull!!!!. Kinda like Weber, but probably more personable.

I think by now we all understand he's pitching his system, player development, etc. I don't think he's one to walk in a home or a visit and blow the doors off a recruit with a fancy, flashy pitch.

2) University prestige...Illinois isn't where it was 10 years ago in terms of perception and that IMO matters. Weber and Groce tanked this thing.

3) The FBI Investigation. We can spin it until the cows come home but this matters....a lot. It's a dark cloud that might never bring rain, but it's there.

Guilt by association may not work in the judicial system, but recruiting isn't law. Opposing coaches are likely planting this seed and I don't blame them.

Do I think Underwood did something shady? No, I don't. I think Evans went rogue. But...if you're a parent...or recruit...and you or your kid is being recruited by a coach whose former assistant coach is part of one of the biggest college basketball investigations in recent memory...wouldn't you be skeptical?

4) BU has already retained and / or landed a very good trio of combo type guards. Add in Te'Jon who is certainly no slouch, kipper and DJ and the competition for playing time is going to be an issue. Also, factor in the possibility that Ayo commits and many of the recruits that we "missed" would have a hard time cracking the line-up.

5) In most new coaching situations, the cupboard is bare and immediate playing time is NOT a hard sell. I frankly think that at least some of the reason we are "whiffing" is that the competition for PT is solid!!

Nearly every miss that we have had of late I see as partly an issue of the recruit knowing early PT is going to be a real challenge.

 

[BananaShampoo]

What I know so far: Nolley wanted to be an Illini, but his parents want him close to home, hence his decision to go to UGA. Nolley, like Ayo, did not want to be the first to commit to a class that has so many question marks. It is NOT a coincidence that Nolley decommitted literally less than 24 hours before he Ayo released a top 2 of WF and UI. Nolley and Ayo want to play together, and Nolley will be waiting on a decision from Ayo I'd guess that will be coming within the next week or two. If Ayo is on board, I fully expect Nolley to follow. Valltonen was never coming to U of I. Let this play out, we have 6 more months of recruiting for this class to find a big.

I like what you're saying. I just hope you're right.

 

[IlliniJim20]

Clearly, Valtonen did not fit Underwood's scheme.

Besides that, his growth plates are closed

Have to admit though, I don't have a peaceful Ayo feeling

 

[Illwinsagain]

happy friday guys......just checkin in over here.....did want to say that the recent scandal has really thrown a lot of recruits/recruitments out of whack....as i eluded to earlier (i think in a different thread) the news likely impacted a recruit Michigan was also after....very very easy for schools to pitch (1) Underwood's past has some shade by extension, and (2) Underwood is a relatively unknown at this point (to recruits)


i will say....i think the ILL are in tremendous hands...most know what i/we though about Groce....he just couldn't get it all together....but Underwood can coach circles around his opponents....his product will sell itself....I'm guessing any recruiting shortcomings this year will be more than made up for once he shows out....


cheers...

Thanks for your kind words, it helps me to not hate UM as much. I need to get there, as there is a decent chance my daughter goes there for college.

 

[illinistar]

I read somewhere that Ayo is feeling pressured to come to Illinois. I interpret this that his heart is elsewhere and is simply doing this courtesy OV before announcing for WF. He knows that he is the final piece to WF's prized '18 class. Ayo has no one else committed to this Illini '18 class.

A dream that BU & staff is selling to Ayo is wrecked with so many uncertainties. The FBI dark cloud over the Illini will not go away for a good while. I worry about the Antigua-Kentucky connection here even though he has been cleared in previous investigations while he was in FL.

 

[IlliniJim20]

What I know so far: Nolley wanted to be an Illini, but his parents want him close to home, hence his decision to go to UGA. Nolley, like Ayo, did not want to be the first to commit to a class that has so many question marks. It is NOT a coincidence that Nolley decommitted literally less than 24 hours before he Ayo released a top 2 of WF and UI. Nolley and Ayo want to play together, and Nolley will be waiting on a decision from Ayo I'd guess that will be coming within the next week or two. If Ayo is on board, I fully expect Nolley to follow. Valltonen was never coming to U of I. Let this play out, we have 6 more months of recruiting for this class to find a big.

Well then, here's the part I don't get. If they TRULY want to play together, then why not commit? Only one school in common. Arrange to visit the same day, then commit. Ayo already had his USC visit done, Nolley his VT.

To me, it sounds great they may want to play together, but the evidence states otherwise.

 

[t7nich]

What I know so far: Nolley wanted to be an Illini, but his parents want him close to home, hence his decision to go to UGA. Nolley, like Ayo, did not want to be the first to commit to a class that has so many question marks. It is NOT a coincidence that Nolley decommitted literally less than 24 hours before he Ayo released a top 2 of WF and UI. Nolley and Ayo want to play together, and Nolley will be waiting on a decision from Ayo I'd guess that will be coming within the next week or two. If Ayo is on board, I fully expect Nolley to follow. Valltonen was never coming to U of I. Let this play out, we have 6 more months of recruiting for this class to find a big.

Not sure where you're hearing this, but the bold is false.