Until his success at Michigan, a criticism of Beilein was that he didn't always get the best out of his talent. It only takes a few good seasons to turn that perception around.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (September 2016)
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Until his success at Michigan, a criticism of Beilein was that he didn't always get the best out of his talent. It only takes a few good seasons to turn that perception around.
Deleted member 380722
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I went to high school with Jordan Poole's sister, (and JP Tokoto.) Wishing him nothing but the best at Michigan. Really wanted him to be an Illini.
Two things.
1. Kiir Reminds me of Roger Powell.
2. where are we getting two scholarships. We are trying to fill them this year.
I agree, but those few good seasons include two B1G titles, an Elite 8, and a FF (runner up), something that no Illini coach has done in the modern era of basketball. So it is not that easy, and even Beilein will have to sustain it.
In the B1G, I see 3 programs that continue to recruit at a very high level (MSU, Indiana, Maryland), a program that has been very consistent (Wisconsin), and then Michigan (Beilein has done well). IMO these are the current top 5. I think Wisconsin and Michigan still have some questions to be answered in the future, but competing in the B1G will remain a big challenge. We need to take a huge step forward.
HoopCity
- Huntsville, AL
Two scholarships right now available for the next two years. I look for someone to jump soon, maybe this weekend ?? If this happens only one opening will be left for a big.
Might Ramey and Gordon be the two ? Looks like a chess match....
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I would think that Groce would over-sign (commit) by 1 for 2018 in the case above. That is 2 years for something to change. In other words, he would accept Ramey and Gordon for instance and still try to get a big for 2017.
Sconnie is starting to show that it can recruit big time kids. Kobe King is terrific.
Of course, Weber won two BT titles and had a national runnerup. He was a tenth of a second from three BT titles, too. McBride's split second late jumper that would have meant a tie for the title if it had counted. Did not get the Elite Eight, though.
I think the perspective we need to maintain is that finishing 2017 with, say, Epperson and Kigab (far from a given) would be great, but relative to the top half of the B1G it represents par for the course. Following it up next year with one of Garland, Ramey, and Dosunmu, along with possibly Finke (depending on attrition) would be wonderful, but again, par for the course. That's how we need to recruit every year to stay competitive with MSU, UW, IU, tOSU, Maryland, et al. Even Purdue and Penn St are killing the recruiting game right now (relative to their history/expectations). We're looking good, but so is the rest of the league.
Jared Berggren (sp?) was also a McDAA and if Sam Dekker wasn't, he was close. Wisconsin has definitely brought in some talent over the years.
Can I just say this? I am so excited for all the recruiting momentum and rooting so hard for Groce right now. I agree that he may not ultimately be the guy to lead the program and he's got a lot left to prove. But he just seems to have so much class and integrity. I'm not naïve enough that he doesn't play in the gray area like everyone else. But when I look at Groce, I would want to send my son to play for him, whereas other coaches make my skin crawl. No one has worked harder than Groce and he's had more than his fair share of bad luck. I hope he catches a few breaks now. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out, but I am really, really rooting hard for the man to succeed.
ChazzReinhold
Mom! The Meatloaf!
Ayo is the real deal and I would love to see him at Illinois. Unfortunately I just see this one as another situation where the local kid keeps Illinois in his top two or three throughout the recruitment and then decides to go elsewhere.
#139 in the 247 composite rankings is "big time"? :huh:
I always compare this stuff to our previous recruiting classes just to rub everyone's nose in the way they perpetuate the cycle of undeserved hype to undeserved criticism and disappointment, but this is an excellent point as well and probably the more probative way to look at it. :thumb:
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Bo Ryan always recruited well. Brian Butch was a five star. Krabbenhoft was a high four star. For years his pipeline in Minnesota and the Dakotas killed the Gophers. Gard is gonna keep it going too. Brad Davison is a four star guard who's commited for 2017. (I live in Madison btw)
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I'll start really caring when Mac Irvin Fire kids start a pipeline to CU.
I am OK with you calling that your current B1G Mount Rushmore, but let's not make that out to be more than it is. You can find some really stinky cheese seasons recently in all but MSU and Wisky and Wisky has been a consistent overachiever.
Your Mount Rushmore is made of clay and not of stone.
My benchmark, and I know not everyone agrees with it, is pro talent. If you want to compete for BT titles or final fours, you need a couple guys who will make it the next level. It doesn't need to be a sure-fire pro, for example Luther head I think was ranked around 70. He developed, and was a great shooter before he left, as well as a guy with a terrific first step so he could play inside/out. Good defender, and took the ball away. Undersized by NBA standards, he still made it to the first round on skill and motor and winning.
The optimist in me says we've recruited well in that tier --getting guys who aren't sure-fire pros, but have potential. But...I could be wrong. Need to see some guys make the league, and not just create hype about how good they may be. Last pro was Meyers I believe. Think he was ranked in the mid 20s. We need a few guys on the roster with that kind of ceiling, and a couple who actually get there.
Trouble is, that's a measurement you can only make post-hoc
If we had a few guys with that kind of ceiling, we be a final four contender. Hell, if we had a few guys that had legit chances of getting invited to summer league, we'd be much better off than we are now.
Haha, I agree making the dance and being in the top 4 in the B1G for 15 straight years is classic overachieving.
Is Old Greg also Fat?
It has nothing about the Mount Rushmore of B1G. It is the current state of the B1G and the top 5 programs. You need to take your own advice, we have a good recruiting class, but let's not that out to be more than it is. It remains a big challenge to compete for B1G titles, let alone have multi-year consistency in that respect.
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