Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (September 2016)

[chiefinillini7]

The one that baffles me is Paul Scruggs. I can't figure that one out.

Im with you on this one TC! Sorry to bring up old news, and even knowing what i know, I still wish we were in this race for PS somehow!

I know, I love Trent and would not want to upset or lose him in anyway, but how much of a power play would it be to Wilkes to be selling him on playing with is buddy?! hopefully in the end it doesnt matter anyway and he still ends up playing here, but you can only imagine the vantage point that could create!

But we have plenty of dynamic guards now.. I think. & more to come in '18. I hope

 

[Illiniguy13]

As an IU fan, I do not see Smith in any way scaring Wilkes away. If we get Wilkes he would easily slot in as the starting 3 with Juwan Morgan as the 4 and De'Ron Davis at the 5, assuming OG leaves after this year. If OG comes back, he'd take Morgan's spot at the 4. We just need to land a back-up 5 for Davis. Plus, in Crean's offense the 4 is a SF anyways. Look at Troy Williams, he would often bring the ball up the court as the 4 man. Also, if Collin Hartman can be successful playing the 4 in our system I don't see why Smith can't. I don't see Smith at the four hurting us on the boards as we often rely on guards to crash the boards for us and it hasn't really hurt us in the past.
Also, i apologize for any mistakes and if this post came off kinda hard to follow I just wanted to make a quick post in between classes. Not trying to troll in anyway, I legitimately would like to hear the opinion of another schools fanbase.

This makes sense, but as Obelix pointed out, it's hard to believe Smith was sold on playing the 4. Considering the timing w/ Wilkes and the recent comments about "being real" with his recruitment, something smells a little fishy. If there's any substance to the rumors, it just comes down to how much weight that holds with Wilkes & if he really wants to be a Hoosier under Crean.

 

[BillMo]

Im with you on this one TC! Sorry to bring up old news, and even knowing what i know, I still wish we were in this race for PS somehow!

I know, I love Trent and would not want to upset or lose him in anyway, but how much of a power play would it be to Wilkes to be selling him on playing with is buddy?! hopefully in the end it doesnt matter anyway and he still ends up playing here, but you can only imagine the vantage point that could create!

But we have plenty of dynamic guards now.. I think. & more to come in '18. I hope

I think you answered your own question on this one

 

[rtbritt]

Im with you on this one TC! Sorry to bring up old news, and even knowing what i know, I still wish we were in this race for PS somehow!

I know, I love Trent and would not want to upset or lose him in anyway, but how much of a power play would it be to Wilkes to be selling him on playing with is buddy?! hopefully in the end it doesnt matter anyway and he still ends up playing here, but you can only imagine the vantage point that could create!

But we have plenty of dynamic guards now.. I think. & more to come in '18. I hope

Talking about Paul Scruggs....didn't he announce he was going the prep route? Or did I dream that?

I know, we said no thanks before he announced that, but still, no chance to get him if he isn't going to college this year.

 

[Brass Cannon]

You try to rationalize as well from IU perspective but I do not buy your specific argument either. It is not what is better for IU, sure, having more athletes at a specific position is always better. It is also what is better for the athlete/recruit as well.

It is not just what Wilkes wants to do, whether he is scared of Smith etc., but also what are the implications for Smith. I doubt the subject of "What happens if Wilkes want to come to IU" has not been brought up by Smith and his family. And if the answer was "if Wilkes comes, then he gets the starting SF position, and you will move to PF," I really doubt that the response was "Oh, that is great, let me go ahead and commit!"

I do not know how many times you have seen Smith play, but playing PF is not to Smith's best career interest. Definitely not, and I made the same point for Malcolm Hill as well in the past. It may solve IU's problem and the logjam at SF, but not aligned with Smith's career prospects. So I really doubt that is the case here.

Full Disclosure I am also an IU fan here. But I think people are incorrectly assuming that Smith thinks he is starting his Freshman year. Even if IU doesn't get Wilkes its a long shot that Smith would be starting his freshmen year.

Hes talked extensively about IUs plan to develop him which in this case looks to be similar to Juwan Morgan and OG take your time work on your game and when you are ready we will start you. Setting them up for success rather than failed starts that look bad to the fans.

I think what Crean sold Smith on was backing up Wilkes and Morgan for a year then taking over for Wilkes in 2018. Which is surely when Wilkes intends to be in the NBA by.

Will that happen who knows. I don't think Smith was ever under the assumption he would be a day 1 starter so Wilkes a player likely to only be at IU for 1 year isn't going to worry him.

 

[Obelix]

I think what Crean sold Smith on was backing up Wilkes and Morgan for a year then taking over for Wilkes in 2018. Which is surely when Wilkes intends to be in the NBA

I think your assumption that high level 4* recruits are OK playing second banana to other higher ranked recruits in the same class, until they move to the NBA, is faulty at best.

 

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Talking about Paul Scruggs....didn't he announce he was going the prep route? Or did I dream that?

I know, we said no thanks before he announced that, but still, no chance to get him if he isn't going to college this year.

He's going to prep school for his SR season, will still be a 2017 recruit.

Interesting to see this flood of IU 1st time posters.

 

[soupy17]

Talking about Paul Scruggs....didn't he announce he was going the prep route? Or did I dream that?

I know, we said no thanks before he announced that, but still, no chance to get him if he isn't going to college this year.

He announced he's transferring to a prep school rather than playing his senior year in Indiana. Is still a 2017 class kid.

 

[combes]

Full Disclosure I am also an IU fan here. But I think people are incorrectly assuming that Smith thinks he is starting his Freshman year. Even if IU doesn't get Wilkes its a long shot that Smith would be starting his freshmen year.

Hes talked extensively about IUs plan to develop him which in this case looks to be similar to Juwan Morgan and OG take your time work on your game and when you are ready we will start you. Setting them up for success rather than failed starts that look bad to the fans.

I think what Crean sold Smith on was backing up Wilkes and Morgan for a year then taking over for Wilkes in 2018. Which is surely when Wilkes intends to be in the NBA by.

Will that happen who knows. I don't think Smith was ever under the assumption he would be a day 1 starter so Wilkes a player likely to only be at IU for 1 year isn't going to worry him.

I don't see Wilkes as a one and done at this point. Very skinny. Has to work on his outside game in order to play at the next level at his size. He is a great talent, but one and dones are not usually ranked outside the top 15.

I think he is a likely two year player. Smith is a good, not great player.

IU will probably get him, but your coach is still a scumbag who will promise anything to get a player and then jettison others to make room for him. IU could do so much better.

 

[Adnarel]

I think your assumption that high level 4* recruits are OK playing second banana to other higher ranked recruits in the same class, until they move to the NBA, is faulty at best.

Surely JS can understand that he'd have to work hard to beat out a hypothetical Hoosier Wilkes for a starting spot, should they end up on the same squad. Do we even know for sure that's what Clappy floated to JS?

I mean, coaches can make promises, and stuff, but kids aren't that stupid. Surely they realize that everybody interviews for their spot on the team come practice.

 

[combes]

He announced he's transferring to a prep school rather than playing his senior year in Indiana. Is still a 2017 class kid.

Yes, he is still 2017 and the prep school is in California.

 

[Joel Goodson]

AkronHoosier... I, for one, appreciate your post bro! JS is gonna be a problem in IU's system, with Troy Williams type of athleticism (or just a notch below it) from a player who can score from the wing and attack the basket well in transition. probably most effective as an upperclassman so i think the Wilkes debate is mute anyway.

Debate by mimes?

 

[Epsilon]

He's going to prep school for his SR season, will still be a 2017 recruit.

Interesting to see this flood of IU 1st time posters.

I love seeing other fans post here. New blood and new thoughts. Plus, Hoosier fans can be a lot of fun. Some of my best memories are of doing upside down margaritas at the AK Psi house in Bloomington.

 

[Epsilon]

Debate by mimes?

Ooh ooh, can we do debate by memes?

 

[Joel Goodson]

Full Disclosure I am also an IU fan here. But I think people are incorrectly assuming that Smith thinks he is starting his Freshman year. Even if IU doesn't get Wilkes its a long shot that Smith would be starting his freshmen year.

Hes talked extensively about IUs plan to develop him which in this case looks to be similar to Juwan Morgan and OG take your time work on your game and when you are ready we will start you. Setting them up for success rather than failed starts that look bad to the fans.

I think what Crean sold Smith on was backing up Wilkes and Morgan for a year then taking over for Wilkes in 2018. Which is surely when Wilkes intends to be in the NBA by.

Will that happen who knows. I don't think Smith was ever under the assumption he would be a day 1 starter so Wilkes a player likely to only be at IU for 1 year isn't going to worry him.

Echoing Combes, there's little chance Wilkes will be a one and done. He'll have to have a monster freshman year and really build his body. Possible? Sure. Probable? No. Say 10% chance.

I highly doubt Smith is expecting to start from day 1. But being Wilkes caddy for 2 years? Think that may be no bueno from Smith's POV. Hopefully, a moot point.

 

[Illinoy]

Echoing Combes, there's little chance Wilkes will be a one and done. He'll have to have a monster freshman year and really build his body. Possible? Sure. Probable? No. Say 10% chance.

I highly doubt Smith is expecting to start from day 1. But being Wilkes caddy for 2 years? Think that may be no bueno from Smith's POV. Hopefully, a moot point.

Wilkes might not be on the big board come end of the 2018 year, but it won't be due to his size. There are virtually very few guys that have an NBA body at age 19. That's not many scouts concerns. That's the easiest thing to correct. Brandon Ingram weighed 185 lbs at 6'8". If he was a 5'10" wide WR at that weight you'd still say man that's a little guy.

If Wilkes doesn't come out it might be more of a strategic move due to the plethora of talent that could remain from even the 2016 h.s. class. Some of the better freshmen from this year could easily remain in college for an extra year as a strategic move.

 

[Bailey]

Wilkes might not be on the big board come end of the 2018 year, but it won't be due to his size. There are virtually very few guys that have an NBA body at age 19. That's not many scouts concerns. That's the easiest thing to correct. Brandon Ingram weighed 185 lbs at 6'8". If he was a 5'10" wide WR at that weight you'd still say man that's a little guy.

Well said. D'Angelo Russell. Zach Lavine. Andrew Wiggins. It doesn't matter that he's skinny. I could see him 1 and done. He is NBA athletic right now.

 

[Illiniguy13]

Well said. D'Angelo Russell. Zach Lavine. Andrew Wiggins. It doesn't matter that he's skinny. I could see him 1 and done. He is NBA athletic right now.

Wilkes is not in the same category as any of those players. He is an NBA talent in the making but may very well be a 2 year player.

 

[Epsilon]

For any IU fans still out there, how do you think Wilkes would feel about the talent around him (at other positions) in '17?

 

[Bailey]

Wilkes is not in the same category as any of those players. He is an NBA talent in the making but may very well be a 2 year player.

Lavine was a fringe top 50 player. Russell was around the same ranking.

 

[Newman]

Wilkes is not in the same category as any of those players. He is an NBA talent in the making but may very well be a 2 year player.

Could be, but trying to put a made up percentage on his chances of not being one and done is kind of silly. He will be drafted if he shows potential of being a future NBA wing, regardless of whether he's actually NBA ready. That could be after one year, it could be 3.

 

[Illiniguy13]

Lavine was a fringe top 50 player. Russell was around the same ranking.

Lavine also has a 46 inch vertical :thumb: And if Wilkes can put up 19, 5 and 5 his freshman year while shooting 41% from 3 and take the BIG10 freshman record then I'll eat my words. Until then, Wilkes is not quite in the same category IMO

 

[ChazzReinhold]

Lavine was a fringe top 50 player. Russell was around the same ranking.

Russell was RSCI #16.

 

[Bailey]

Lavine also has a 46 inch vertical :thumb:

https://twitter.com/kadw31/status/780529039031369730

 

[Bailey]

Russell was RSCI #16.

Sorry - that might have been unclear. Russell was around the same ranking as Wilkes is now.