Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (October 2017)

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#3,776      
kuhl84
FiveStar said:
Only negative tht talk I’ve seen here is based on his willingness to play with Ayo. The only other negative I can think of is the true statement that he’s not super athletic but that is always countered by being very versatile and skilled.
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He’s plenty athletic for a 6’5” 16 year old kid. Too young to knock his athleticism. Any lack in athleticism is made up with his ridiculous length.




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#3,777      
Ubermensch
Illini Beer 4 All said:
Most of this talk is silly.
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#3,779      
SescIllini
kuhl84 said:
He’s plenty athletic for a 6’5” 16 year old kid. Too young to knock his athleticism. Any lack in athleticism is made up with his ridiculous length.




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THT should be a junior, what would his rank be if he was class of 19? I would gladly take this high motor kid with good passing skills.
 
#3,780      
pruman91
Illini Beer 4 All said:
It's probably because I had just read the scout board. Man that place is a mess.

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I've been on the scout board for over 12 years and saying it's a mess is an understatement......I very seldom go there anymore
 
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#3,781      
bigillinfan11
Just some info on 2019 recruits. PG jalen Lecque was on a unofficial visit to NC state yesterday I believe and EJ Liddell may have been on a unoffical to Missouri today
 
#3,782      
Dayman
What recruits from illinois need to realize is that if they choose any other school that fanbase will be glad to have them and remember them for a few years then they drift out of memory. If they choose the beloved the fanbase is way beyond glad. We are ecstatic, grateful, proud of them, and there isn’t one person who wouldn’t help them down the road if basketball fell apart for them for some reason. If a player commits and God forbid ever gets hurt and basketball is taken from them there would be thousands of people ready to offer them a job or help in some way. Plus when they do win it is that much sweeter with home state guys. I don’t begrudge anyone who goes out of state I just don’t know if they realize what it means for fans and alumni when they stay home
 
#3,783      
whatahack
bigillinfan11 said:
Just some info on 2019 recruits. PG jalen Lecque was on a unofficial visit to NC state yesterday I believe and EJ Liddell may have been on a unoffical to Missouri today
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Mizzery had mizzou madness after the football game today for the first time ever. Fully milking their new found basketball team. Tomorrow they are playing a scrimage game against KU for hurricane relief. This despite selfish claiming he would never play mizzery again.
 
#3,784      
Illininer
Some real groundbreaking stuff lol

He was a priority under the last staff and one of the first recruits Underwood visited once he took the job. Another big reason why it was important to keep Walker around. Wouldn't be surprised if Mark Smith is the key to the Liddell recruitment.
 
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#3,787      
Spoon House
Not in 100% agreement with that position, but I can definitely respect it.

In your estimation, what is the staff's next opportunity to prove their recruiting chops? Is it THT, or does he fall foul of the same sorts of things Ayo and Smith did? What about Okoro? Liddell?
 
#3,788      
TooHot4Tots
Ouch. Try to stay away but this was hilarious jrich. Ayo’s recruitment was solid and no overtures from Kansas was going to sway him. So go ahead and play it down, but when blue bloods start dirty that actually turns some away! Good stuff though, keep posting quality!
 
#3,789      
Deleted member 631370
Spoon House said:
Not in 100% agreement with that position, but I can definitely respect it.

In your estimation, what is the staff's next opportunity to prove their recruiting chops? Is it THT, or does he fall foul of the same sorts of things Ayo and Smith did? What about Okoro? Liddell?
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Yeah, I can understand the thinking that the staff hasn't really proven itself to be a great recruiting staff yet.

As I've said several times, Mark Smith was a favorable situation. Blew up late, downstate kid, grew up an Illinois fan. And as many said, Ayo was probably ours the moment we hired Chin Coleman. Chin was made to deliver Ayo, and that's what he did.

That said, Underwood deserves credit nonetheless. Smith had big time offers, and BU hired Chin in the first place -- probably at least in part with Ayo in mind. Getting the commitment is all that matters.

THT will be an interesting test -- he's not naturally inclined toward Illinois, and while he doesn't have blue bloods coming after him, he has plenty of respectable suitors. This isn't nearly as favorable as Smith or Ayo, but this is the sort of recruitment that a "great" recruiter probably should win. Simeon is Illinois friendly, after all. And we are the home state school. If BU nabs THT, then that ups my confidence in his recruiting pretty significantly.

2019 will be a great test as well.
 
#3,790      
skyIdub
jrichisamazing said:
I guess I'll be the debbie downer. Sorry in advance.

I'm not sold on this staff's ability to recruit yet. I think Ayo and Smith more or less fell in our lap. Smith was a downstate recruit and we all know there is more pride in going to UI for downstate kids, in general. Some big schools came in late, but it is no secret that Smith and his family grew up Illini fans.

As for Ayo, Obelix said it best. He is highly ranked but there is no reason UI should ever lose these types of in-state recruits. No blue bloods and our competition was another program with very little recent success. I think the staff would have really had to mess something up to lose Smith or Ayo. TBH, I think Groce would have gotten both players. But that is an impossible opinion to defend and that's not the point.

Point is, I think BU walked into a lucky situation. And that's not a bad thing. Sometimes you need a little luck and that is something Groce didn't get one ounce of. I'm not saying this staff can't recruit, just that they haven't proven it yet.
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#3,792      
FC Illiniman
jrichisamazing said:
I think THT would be the best get yet, as far as recruiting prowess is concerned. Ayo and Smith were UI leans the whole time. THT doesn't seem as interested. Also, the backcourt is getting pretty crowded now. It will be very impressive if the staff can get THT despite the lack of interest and lack of immediate playing time.

As for 2019's, it's still early. We might be heading towards a head on collision course with Cuonzo for Liddell. And we will most likely be fighting with some big programs for Okoro. We'll know more in the Spring with them.
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I do respect your opinion, but they have proven 2 times already that they get the ones we should. Now getting the ones that don't have the desire to play for:illinois:, might be the ones we never want. We want young men to have a fire, the willingness to do whatever it takes to make a difference. This has what has been lost for so long.

Hopefully THT is one of those that wants to wear the :illinois: , be proud to be part of this legacy BU wants to build. This where it starts, and the only place we go is up. Get on the train, or get out of the way. We choose who wants to play here , BU is the coach and leader of this legacy. :thumb::illinois:
 
#3,794      
lstewart53x3
jrichisamazing said:
I guess I'll be the debbie downer. Sorry in advance.

I'm not sold on this staff's ability to recruit yet. I think Ayo and Smith more or less fell in our lap. Smith was a downstate recruit and we all know there is more pride in going to UI for downstate kids, in general. Some big schools came in late, but it is no secret that Smith and his family grew up Illini fans.

As for Ayo, Obelix said it best. He is highly ranked but there is no reason UI should ever lose these types of in-state recruits. No blue bloods and our competition was another program with very little recent success. I think the staff would have really had to mess something up to lose Smith or Ayo. TBH, I think Groce would have gotten both players. But that is an impossible opinion to defend and that's not the point.

Point is, I think BU walked into a lucky situation. And that's not a bad thing. Sometimes you need a little luck and that is something Groce didn't get one ounce of. I'm not saying this staff can't recruit, just that they haven't proven it yet.
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Landing back to back Illinois Mr. Basketballs is about as easy as all those rebounds Mike Davis used to get.
 
#3,795      
Deleted member 4723
jrichisamazing said:
I guess I'll be the debbie downer. Sorry in advance.

I'm not sold on this staff's ability to recruit yet. I think Ayo and Smith more or less fell in our lap. Smith was a downstate recruit and we all know there is more pride in going to UI for downstate kids, in general. Some big schools came in late, but it is no secret that Smith and his family grew up Illini fans.

As for Ayo, Obelix said it best. He is highly ranked but there is no reason UI should ever lose these types of in-state recruits. No blue bloods and our competition was another program with very little recent success. I think the staff would have really had to mess something up to lose Smith or Ayo. TBH, I think Groce would have gotten both players. But that is an impossible opinion to defend and that's not the point.

Point is, I think BU walked into a lucky situation. And that's not a bad thing. Sometimes you need a little luck and that is something Groce didn't get one ounce of. I'm not saying this staff can't recruit, just that they haven't proven it yet.
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Sometimes nothing is good enough :hand:
 
#3,796      
sacraig
lstewart53x3 said:
Landing back to back Illinois Mr. Basketballs is about as easy as all those rebounds Mike Davis used to get.
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Those were easy. All it took was yelling "Move Mike Davis!" loud and shrill enough.
 
#3,797      
sacraig
I wish news of this visit would hurry up and trickle out so we have something less dumb and semantic to argue about.
 
#3,798      
Tevo
drewillini89 said:
I want to live long enough to see THT and Ayo raise a banner at State Farm Center, so yes I went hiking.
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Well now we know who to blame if THT goes elsewhere. :mad: #outsider
 
#3,800      
bert1991
jrichisamazing said:
I think THT would be the best get yet, as far as recruiting prowess is concerned. Ayo and Smith were UI leans the whole time. THT doesn't seem as interested. Also, the backcourt is getting pretty crowded now. It will be very impressive if the staff can get THT despite the lack of interest and lack of immediate playing time.

As for 2019's, it's still early. We might be heading towards a head on collision course with Cuonzo for Liddell. And we will most likely be fighting with some big programs for Okoro. We'll know more in the Spring with them.
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Sorry, not picking on you in particular. I just have a big problem with the dialogue that's going on around the recruitment of Ayo and Mark. You either believe recruiting is fluid or you don't. But you cannot play both sides. The perception may have been that we were in a good spot with Ayo and Mark, but you still must close the deal. And Brad and his staff did that! Do not discount the amount of effort that it takes whether you're in a good spot or not. Everyone in here should know that by now. Let's give them the credit they deserve and maybe less of the nitpicking please. I swear there is no pleasing some people!
 
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