Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (October 2017)

[FollowTisdale]

I feel bad for THT if he genuinely wants to go to Illinois. That would suck to know where you want to go and get your heart set on that and then have a rug pulled out from under you. Just MO, but those that say this isn't a big deal are wrong. There's no way to spin this as anything less than a huge blow.

but... it's not really a big deal. The Illinois stock went up to $100 after Ayo committed, went up a few bucks when it looked like THT was going to come, and is probably back down to $100 if he doesn't commit tonight.

Nothings actually changed from a week or so ago.

 

[IlliniJim20]

This could have been one of two ways: Irvins pushed UI because the big dogs weren't involved, or else the big dogs weren't involved because it was always going to be UI. I don't know which happened.

What I do know is that the Irvins will push Wake Forest for the next Ayo if you opening dump on them in this instance. We may not get all their burger boys, but we likely aren't getting any of them under this coaching staff if we openly give them the finger.

...and they coach a lot of burger boys.

Sorry, I am cynical enough to say we aren't winning the battle for burger boys if the Blue bloods are involved. Or at least MIF isn't going to advocate for Illinois over a Duke or a Ky in the near future.

 

[illinihawk16]

Jerry Meyer now went from foggy to ISU

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

Meyer just switched from Foggy to Iowa St.

It's basically over.

 

[illinihawk16]

can someone recap why the rug seems to be pulled out on us getting THT? I tried to go back through the posts...looking for us pulling a scholarship offer or something crazy like that...pls enlighten me on news (no rumors pls)?

Sent from my VS500 using Tapatalk

You're gonna have a hard time with that...

 

[Original jay z]

Sounds like Ayo and Finke and find a big in the spring....all is well and the train keeps on rolling with BU at the helm..I am good, enthusiastic about the future and ready to kick some tail...GO ILLINI

 

[Deleted member 3875]

lol @ this entire recruitment :wave:

And all the other swing & misses this fall.

 

[Deleted member 236589]

In continuing to follow the "crystal balls", Meyer officially flipped it to Iowa State. It is what it is. If that's the way it goes, my opinion is that there was misinformation out there that swayed the needle in our direction, but the facts are now out there that confirmed what we all thought to be true last week.

 

[Deleted member 3875]

It costs a lot of money to recruit a kid.
Think of how much money they blew on him.
Then he commits and then they tell him sorry we can't take you.
wtf ... if I were Whitman I'd be pissed.

Keystone Cops come to mind.

 

[greger]

Chicago basketball politics....Just sad that these young men are controlled by a bunch of glory hound pompous egotysical coaches and AAU coaches that in the end only care about their reputation and not the overall success of the players.....

 

[Takeittothehoop]

If THT picks the Illini , we have added another quality player that would be a great addition to the team. If not, the Illini landed their number one target with AYO. The need now is more for a quality big and the Illini can land a big and a good quality wing in or before Spring. So breathe easy everyone, if AYO is our only signee in the first round of the signing period. We will have some really good tall guards with some length to fill the 1,2, and 3 spots in next year's lineup along with some great depth at those positions even if they don't land another wing.

 

[mdonsbach]

Welcome to your dream job Coach.

 

[Original jay z]

I think it was said best when it was said “we are not going to beg anyone to come to Illinois“. Screw the politics and let’s play some basketball

 

[mhuml32]

Can someone tell me what happened? lol

No one knows, but lots of people will give you theories.

 

[Peoria Illini]

Wasn't there quite a few posters on this board that were okay this spring with the new staff going more into the "grey" areas of recruiting and especially to do what we have to do in Chicago to start getting top recruits?

Well, here it is. This is the part that Weber and Groce wouldn't get into, and everyone was tired of their approach.

You've got to break a few eggs to make an omelette, and I'll let Coach U and the staff continue to go the direction they think they need to go in order to get the program where they want it to be.

I'm assuming THT doesn't choose the Illini tonight. If so, I hope he goes to ISU over Xavier, and best of luck to him in his future.

Let's hope Ayo is the player we think he is and does well at U of I next season.

 

[Blackhawks215]

I think it was said best when it was said “we are not going to beg anyone to come to Illinois“. Screw the politics and let’s play some basketball

But if this info is true (and I've seen that it basically is confirmed), THT didn't do anything wrong here. It's caving to Ayo's camp when THT became a real possibility, which would kinda be like begging Ayo to remain with Illinois.

 

[Deleted member 631370]

But if this info is true (and I've seen that it basically is confirmed), THT didn't do anything wrong here. It's caving to Ayo's camp when THT became a real possibility, which would kinda be like begging Ayo to remain with Illinois.

Agreed.

If anything, we're knee deep in politics. We hitched our cart to the MIF horse, and doing so apparently comes with a cost. This is Chicago recruiting at its most stereotypical.

 

[FC Illiniman]

Chicago people with a grudge against Horton-Tucker got Illinois to pull the plug on his commitment this morning.

We don't know that as fact, do we?

 

[pruman91]

With the foggy crystal balls, something tells me there is some serious brokering going on right now. Phones blowing up.

my thoughts exactly.......

 

[Peoria Illini]

We should all step back from the ledge, obviously THT is a pretty darn good player and it would of been nice to have him. However, this is BIG boy recruiting now. Sure rather go through all this BS than be chatting about Groce landing Jaylon Tate. As long as we can hang on to Ayo, other 4/5 Star studs will follow suit. Ayo is obviously very tight with the Irvins, keep all them all happy and the pipeline will keep flowing.

Yep. that's it in a nutshell. :thumb:

 

[IlliniDent]

I hope this is BS. Frankly, I would rather Groce be our coach than have one that would do this to a recruit on the day he announces his commitment. If it is not true, I think it would be appropriate for Underwood to come out before the commitment and make that clear on the record. Just me, but character means more to me than W-L record.

he cant

 

[Deleted member 10676]

I get it, but can someone just let me know whose rule this is? Is it Loyalty's rule so it doesn't get in trouble with Scout? Is it Scout's rule against its users, where they could revoke access? Just please tell me that so I know whats going on in the future.

both.

 

[NunnBetter]

Chicago people with a grudge against Horton-Tucker got Illinois to pull the plug on his commitment this morning.

I'm not so bummed about loosing THT. Hell, two weeks ago he didn't even appear on our radar. What bums me is if what has gone down today is true it really makes the University and our staff look bad, imo.

 

[IlliniDent]

How does Chin not get this settled?

 

[Deleted member 10676]

I hope this is BS. Frankly, I would rather Groce be our coach than have one that would do this to a recruit on the day he announces his commitment. If it is not true, I think it would be appropriate for Underwood to come out before the commitment and make that clear on the record. Just me, but character means more to me than W-L record.

this is pretty much where I'm at. Lost a lot of enthusiasm for the future today. And I'd feel that way if the two kids' position were reversed.
I'm out for a while. This is pathetic.