Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (September 2018)

[TeamWilliams]

We need to do more than pitch recruits. The atmosphere must be a place they can see themselves having fun. The education, facilities, basketball, etc is part of it but the campus visits must be on part with as big party/concert. We need to get entertainers to come. Just to show you what we're up against:

Memphis Madness attendees next week, according to
@JasonSmith929
: Drake, Justin Timberlake, Yo Gotti, Moneybagg Yo, and Blocboy JB. #OhMyLord

 

[TheGMan]

We need to do more than pitch recruits. The atmosphere must be a place they can see themselves having fun. The education, facilities, basketball, etc is part of it but the campus visits must be on part with as big party/concert. We need to get entertainers to come. Just to show you what we're up against:

Memphis Madness attendees next week, according to
@JasonSmith929
: Drake, Justin Timberlake, Yo Gotti, Moneybagg Yo, and Blocboy JB. #OhMyLord

Chance the Rapper and REO Speedwagon co-headliners?

 

[TeamWilliams]

Chance the Rapper and REO Speedwagon co-headliners?

Yes on the first, no on the second.

Kanye is from Chicago. Ludacris has Chambana ties. Need to get modern rappers, comedians, etc to come. That's how you get people to show up and recruits and national guys to take notice, create buzz

 

[BirdDog9048]

Yes on the first, no on the second.

Kanye is from Chicago. Ludacris has Chambana ties. Need to get modern rappers, comedians, etc to come. That's how you get people to show up and recruits and national guys to take notice, create buzz

I'm pretty sure he was joking...

 

[Tacomallini]

I would guess that those kids would want to go to Walter Payton now.

Could be - Payton Prep is a great school, but if I'm a baller and want a good team and (almost as good) academics, I'm bussing/CTA-ing to Whitney Young.

 

[PlayAZ]

Yes on the first, no on the second.

Kanye is from Chicago. Ludacris has Chambana ties. Need to get modern rappers, comedians, etc to come. That's how you get people to show up and recruits and national guys to take notice, create buzz

We could get White Guy Fred (from nearby Rising-Hear he is an up and comer), or Word...from Bondville, take him for it. Then there is always the infamous Patch from Prospect...all good rappers from around the hood...

 

[IllFanInMi]

Eric Bossi/Rivals predict Ohio State for EJ Liddell.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/making-the-case-e-j-liddell

Maddening how in state kids more often run from playing for their state school!

MSU generally gets all the top in state kids THEY choose to offer

 

[TeamWilliams]

I'm pretty sure he was joking...

Pretty sure I know he was but thanks for your words of wisdom.

 

[Obelix]

They will want EJ to show 3-like offensive ability in terms of ballhandling and shooting, but the ability to guard 4's as well as wing players .

EJ Liddell can certainly guard 4s in college, although he may have more of a challenge with bigger athletic 4s in the NBA. Yet, that is not the biggest current concern of the scouts. Their biggest concern is ballhandling and consistent shooting at the 3 position. He has to improve and prove himself in college for the next level, not college.

I have said many times that independent of pro-career, I have been extremely impressed by Liddell. He is IMO a difference maker in college, and even at his current ranking I honestly think Liddell is underrated. JMO but I think Liddell is a top-10 (definitely top-15) kind of player. He is that good and would take him over higher ranked players.

 

[TeamWilliams]

It's been over 96 hours since our visitors came and went without any commitment announcements.

Oscar was always going on more visits.

TSJ could have set up an announcement by now but looks like he may take more visits.

EJ is done and it's between us, OSU and Mizz.

Given the time elasped from the visits, I would say our chances with any are slim.

I hope we get Guerrier if not TSJ. I think Jitiboh it another big is who we have a good chance with.

 

[ChiefIllini]

Given the time elasped from the visits, I would say our chances with any are slim.

I mean, obviously our chances are worse than when they were on the visit or if they set a commitment immediately after, but by how much? Probably not a ton.

The option you're exploring here is that we blew away our pitch. Thats going to be hard for any team to do. factoring in this is still the fall period and committing isn't all that important to many of these kids. Personally, UI was my dream school, I applied to 3/4 other schools, but visited none cause I knew where I wanted to be (and was lucky enough to be accepted). If I wasn't, I'd like to think I would've taken my time to decide the right place. Considering what college these kids attend is probably more important than my decision, I don't find it abnormal or all that harmful to our chances that no commitments have happened.

In all honesty, I think our chances with Liddell and Oscar increased between before the visit and right now. No clue about TSJ but as it stands now, I think we have a good shot at him.

 

[TeamWilliams]

I mean, obviously our chances are worse than when they were on the visit or if they set a commitment immediately after

The option you're exploring here is that we blew away our pitch. .

The option I'm exploring with respect to Liddell is that he is done with his visits and has not make any indication or announcement. That could certainly be taken a variety of ways but having the last visit and not yet hearing anything is concerning on our end.

 

[ChiefIllini]

The option I'm exploring with respect to Liddell is that he is done with his visits and has not make any indication or announcement. That could certainly be taken a variety of ways but having the last visit and not yet hearing anything is concerning on our end.

How is it any worse for us than the other schools? It's not necessarily good/bad for any of them. If you're going to argue he hasn't chosen us yet, you can say the exact same thing about the other schools.

Sure it would've been nice for him commit while he was here, but prolonging a commitment at this point is just as good/bad for all schools involved.

 

[TeamWilliams]

How is it any worse for us than the other schools? It's not necessarily good/bad for any of them. If you're going to argue he hasn't chosen us yet, you can say the exact same thing about the other schools.

Sure it would've been nice for him commit while he was here, but prolonging a commitment at this point is just as good/bad for all schools involved.

I would argue that being the last planned school visit (with the athlete actually making out to the visit) and being the home state school with said last visit makes it all the more important to build upon the momentum and presumed positive sentiment. The longer this goes, the more he is pushed away from us and towards the others. That's my humble estimation.

 

[FeelYourPaign]

I would argue that being the last planned school visit (with the athlete actually making out to the visit) and being the home state school with said last visit makes it all the more important to build upon the momentum and presumed positive sentiment. The longer this goes, the more he is pushed away from us and towards the others. That's my humble estimation.

WELL YOU'RE WRONG !!


Er, at least, I hope so

 

[t7nich]

Do you think Shannon might be waiting for EJ to commit? Especially since EJ’s date is so close. I know we’ve talked about how good players don’t fear competition but we do have a lot of wings, right? So maybe he figures if EJ comes to Illinois that is one too many but if he doesn’t then Shannon may feel more comfortable coming to Illinois

Don’t think so. Pencil Shannon in. Independent of what EJ decides.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Pencil Shannon in.

I'm smart enough not to do that to myself

 

[Deleted member 2050]

WELL YOU'RE WRONG !!


Er, at least, I hope so

 

[Deleted member 2050]

Pencil Shannon in.

I truly believe that one day we will be able to say things like that

 

[Ramrod2010]

I truly believe that one day we will be able to say things like that

One day we'll be using Sharpies

 

[doowink]

Chance the Rapper and REO Speedwagon co-headliners?

Have Bill Murray as MC and taking requests

 

[mdonsbach]

Timme with a Crystal Ball to Texas A&M from Meyer.

 

[Deleted member 2050]

Have Bill Murray as MC and taking requests

I feel like this is semi-appropriate

Bill Murray to Homeless Guy - I DON'T GIVE CASH TO UNC FANS(Just Kidding, Here's $10)

 

[coryfor3]

Yes on the first, no on the second.

Kanye is from Chicago. Ludacris has Chambana ties. Need to get modern rappers, comedians, etc to come. That's how you get people to show up and recruits and national guys to take notice, create buzz

Um..Kanye isn’t a great idea. Who knows what could happen with that dude. And Ludacris is an Atlanta guy. What ties to C-U does he have?

edit: Luda born in Champaign eh?

 

[TwoElevenEastDaniel]

Um..Kanye isn’t a great idea. Who knows what could happen with that dude. And Ludacris is an Atlanta guy. What ties to C-U does he have?

edit: Luda born in Champaign eh?

It's disappointing that he didn't reference 217 in "Area Codes."