illini80
- Forgottonia
Was there a fan presence like we have seen for several recent OV's?
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (October 2018)
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At this point in time, I think it is more critical how this team performs this year.
illini80
- Forgottonia
Good point, but I was more optimistic about the state of both programs a year ago. The freshman football class and Mark Smith and Alstork gave reasons for a lot of optimism for the future even though they didn't pan out as the season progressed.Last year?
Well, i didnt think OT would come. I think IL had a good recruiting class last year. At this point, however, my confidence in this staffs ability to recruit is low. And if winning games is the key 8 newcomers doesn't bode well, although i'm always optimistic.
Recruiting and performance are not unrelated though. So given that this team is not expected to make the tournament, recruiting is extremely important because it will affect ability to perform better in future years.
Decent. Nothing crazy. 35-40 people. This was my first workout I’ve gone to so nothing to compare.
Most noteworthy thing I saw was late in practice Kipper driving middle and dropping down an absolute hammer and 1 jam.
That would be true in most normal situations. Considering we have not even got a Walker to commit, the situation seems to demand a skewed response: rely more on on-court performance to attract recruits. And then of course hope for the best.
Just because we may rely on it, it does not mean that recruits will buy it. Our current recruiting problems seem deeper than a few wins could fix. Furthermore, when we are actually projected low in the B1G means that the chances of actually winning enough to make the tournament are not that great. We can surely hope, but chances are not good.
I agree this year is the most frustrating for me in a lot of ways.
I'm normally a very patient and loyal Fan but have grown more Frustrated than I ever thought possible.
It's supposed too be fun and entertaining and for "ILLINI FANS" everywhere it's been a very Forgettable couple years. I can't wait to get back at least (mid pack & challenge every 3rd year) that we all deserve as Fans and having fun cheering are ILLINI to victory & being competitive in every game GO ILLINI....
Oldtoysrock
- Sarasota, Florida
Or do it much, i.e. at all.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Although this may be true for everyone else, Weber would beg to differ.
At least we can't say we lost him because BU is too hard on his players.
Unfortunately, although most on here laugh, reply with sarcasm, or even scoff at the idea....we will HAVE to find the diamonds in the rough much like I think BU and the staff may have done this year with recruits before we may win again on that front with HIGH star players. Players 1-50 are much more separated talent wise from the 50-100, than the 50-100 are from the 100 + kids.
There are athletes and studs in the latter, just few and far between and we WILL have to secure them in order to get the others. A few years have now proven that strategy to probably be the only one we may have moving forward in the short term.
Nationally: 2018 per 24/7
Ayo #32
Jones #119
Griffin #185
Kane #281
Giorgi #370
Higgs #390
Feliz #11 Juco
REALISTIC class: 2019
Shannon #81 (60% to us on 24/7 now)
Jitobah #240 (recruited not CB to us though-not a diamond in the rough)
Payton #328 ( not CB to us, recruited?, not a diamond either)
Walker #381 ( 100% to us as of now)
With the exception of Shannon meteoric rise, none are studs, and Jitobah would be a 1 and done imo...as in Creaned.
There are athletes and studs in the latter, just few and far between and we WILL have to secure them in order to get the others. A few years have now proven that strategy to probably be the only one we may have moving forward in the short term.
Nationally: 2018 per 24/7
Ayo #32
Jones #119
Griffin #185
Kane #281
Giorgi #370
Higgs #390
Feliz #11 Juco
REALISTIC class: 2019
Shannon #81 (60% to us on 24/7 now)
Jitobah #240 (recruited not CB to us though-not a diamond in the rough)
Payton #328 ( not CB to us, recruited?, not a diamond either)
Walker #381 ( 100% to us as of now)
With the exception of Shannon meteoric rise, none are studs, and Jitobah would be a 1 and done imo...as in Creaned.
Oldtoysrock
- Sarasota, Florida
Actually, I’m inclined to think there are several things going against us. A couple I ponder over; (Outside of the most obvious; recent lack of Tournament appearances and sending players to the NBA).
Both BU and OA were uncomfortably close to recruiting violations at their former schools when their assistants got popped by the NCAA w/in the last 2 years. Consequently I think they are recruiting by the book, and maybe a bit Overly cautious. I’m convinced most coaches are living on the edge. Some, Undoubtedly Are cheating, they just haven’t gotten caught. Others are in the murky area where the shoe companies are offering inducements to family members. Boosters are hiring family members for lucrative jobs The further you get from the coaches making Inducements to the player, the murkier it is, and harder for the NCAA to follow.
I have a close friend is a money manager for professional athletes. He was recently contacted by an agent with the proposition; If he would pay the player $5000 a month through a cousin, the player would sign with him NOW and play for his college alma mater. He’s projected to be a one and done and first round/possible lottery pick. Both the cousin and my friend Are outside the NCAA’s radar and unlikely to ever be exposed. Through various degrees of separation, I’m sure many of the best players are still getting paid, It’s just less likely to ever be exposed.
Secondly I’m not sure that many of today’s H.S. kids take too well to the treadmill/tough love that is BU’s style. Personally, I love it, but I’m not playing for him. Those that buy in, are likely the exceptions, and it doesn’t seem to happen right away (Kipper). Many don’t, and be it this, or another reason, they sign elsewhere. Others are never comfortable and they leave the program after a year.
I’m very concerned that we keep missing out on players that could put us over the top and have zero 2019 signees as this point. I hope that after they lose Another prized recruit the coaches are able to sit down and do a postmortem, and see what, if anything, they could’ve done differently.
Other than Ayo, the Fire connection doesn’t seem like what it was made out to be.
Oldtoysrock
- Sarasota, Florida
You can now take #381 off the list,
Pretty sure he meant marquise walker
Our problem is what we are selling is that we have great guards who will get the ball spread out so that players can make plays. Unfortunately, no one has seen our guards play together in a real game against power 5 competition. We all think this will work, practices have reportedly been seen to be better than last year as far as ball movement, but we have not seen a game yet. This is going to take patience.
We have all the pieces we need right now, but the pieces are too young. We'll be okay whether we land someone in this class or not. Grant it, Timme (or anyone elite) coming in next year would be a huge step forward. It's the difference between being in the top five in the Big Ten next year or in two years.
No we don't, and you seriously underestimate the importance of recruiting if you think that we'll be OK whether we land someone in this class or not.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Both of you are right, and both of you are wrong. That's the magic of college basketball. None of us have any idea what the current pieces will grow into.
I don't think anyone that peruses this board seriously underestimates the importance of recruiting.
Deleted member 8213
D
Guest
Saying we have all the pieces we need regardless of recruiting is beyond silly homer talk. It reminds me of the mizzou fan who came here a couple weeks ago talking about how great their backcourt would be because the coach said so. Objectively speaking, Illinois has huge holes in the frontcourt and even though we are all rooting like hell for them, expecting Giorgi or Kane to miraculously fill those is pretty naive.
I am as optimistic as anybody and can see some creative ways to make our offense work this year, but in no way do we have all the pieces we need right now.
We are a society that always want immediate gratification. I am sure BU and coaches are trying their hearts out in recruiting. Last year at this time the sky was falling and the recruiting class we ended up with were an upgrade to what we had to many components on the court. I am confident when all is said and done we will again have a decent recruiting class that will point the arrow up. The objective is to win games and there a number of ways to get that done besides having top 50 recruits. Once that is accomplished, in making the tournament, I think you will see more top 50 player seeing us in a better light. I don't think that is that far off.
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