Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (September 2018)
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sacraig
- The desert
A&M is sure rolling in money and nee facilities, but almost literally no one gives half a crap about basketball there (I went to graduate school there and went to a whopping one super boring game). You might as well host a basketball game on the moon. I don't understand the allure.
Eh, it's pretty easy to pitch around. You play about 15 home games a year so you are in that environment for roughly 30 hours/year. Most athletes are using these brand new facilities over 30 hours/week. You can practically live in many of these newer facilities.
I don't agree with this. If we were the consensus leader for Liddell before the visits then yes, this line of thinking makes sense. But we weren't. At this point we can hope that our visit made things harder for him and he is now fighting a tough decision.
Agreed. Generally, a recruitment getting stretched out is bad for the leader. We haven't been the perceived leader for a long time. Arguable never have been.
Wouldn’t it make sense if lidell makes an announcement on signing day or close to that date? Probably in line for some coverage. Visited his favorites, probably has a leader, digest for 2 months, and target signing period. Anything changes with schools/ coach’s behavior, can revisit. Mizz and Ill will wait it seems. Osu probably pressuring with lack of scholarships available, but it’s on their coaches to decide to wait or move to next recruit, but who knows how close and how much farther down their board the next recruit is ready to commit. Appears they can wait for right fit as 2 high level recruits already committed. So, no rush for 3, can wait to signing day time if he wants.
3 point girl
- texas
From what we hear in Dallas the money rolls "out" of A&M too.
Imagine that's true. He's top-50 (going by 247) so I would expect they'll wait unless they have another player ready to commit. Even then, they'd probably try and give him notice. Lotta dominoes will fall in the next month and a half.
IllinoisFan733
- Chicago
Who else is OSU recruiting that would be competition for Liddell's spot since they only have 1 scholarship left?
Back in the Wild West days of the SWC they were known as Texas Autos & Money LOL
JJB
- Chicago, IL
Wonder if Chris Payton will ever fall into the Illini equation. Doesn't seem real high in our recruit board, but not sure he wouldn't be a quality player in the Big Ten. Reminds me of the players Nebraska has landed (Robey) the last couple of years that have been fairly effective.
sacraig
- The desert
Based on his offer list, it seems no coaches in major conferences agree with you.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Should we have to pursue our plan B/C guys, we could do a heck of a lot worse than Payton, IMO. Saw him play last season (HS ball) and was impressed (wasn't expecting to be). He's not Roby, but I think he can be a serviceable BIG player. And that's the floor. Thing is, he's more of a SF. If we get Shannon, I don't see the fit. Kid has a VG frame though.
Billy Kennedy has really focused locally developing very close ties/relationships with Texas HS and AAU programs. While many schools dream of national recruiting, their success has been built on local talent, pretty much the ability to successfully keep some talented kids from Texas close to home. They have really capitalized on their great class of 2015 (Hogg, Davis, Gilder - Elijah Thomas was part of that class) were most of their recruits were close friends (and I believe some were using the same training facilities, independent of AAU team). That has led to two S16 appearances.
For an out-of-state recruit, I think Texas A&M is a hard sell, but for state kids it is certainly more appealing, and I would guess most TX recruits have already gotten used to the fact (from living there) that in Texas, football is king, so it probably bothers them less. Timme is another TX kid, so it fits their focus and recruiting profile.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Perhaps there is a reason for that.......
t7nich
- Central IL
He could. He could have also visited other schools on his list. But he went in the other direction, to speed up the process.
Let's hope the reason for that is what you are teasing...
sacraig
- The desert
Dare to dream...
The Dave
- CA
Hey! I resemble that remark!
Strange that guys want to play at a football school.
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