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Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (September 2020)
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A great place to live!
This account is actually an Honorary account to my father who introduced me and taught me the great and wonderful history of Illini basketball, in full!
During his lifetime he was the most fierce and dedicated Illini fan I knew! He truly bled Orange & Blue thru & thru!!
He lived in Moline for a lot of years and used to take me back there often! What a wonderful place to live
Further back; Tom Parker and Dan Issel.
I
It is and Wharton Field House is a true treasure where the NBA played back in the day. I went to the Catholic school, Rock Island Alleman. Beautiful area on the Mighty Miss and the Rock River is even nicer. I bleed O&B too so great to hear about your dad. I'm Class of '81, the one that brought Illinois back with a Sweet 16. ILL....A great place to live!
This account is actually an Honorary account to my father who introduced me and taught me the great and wonderful history of Illini basketball, in full!
During his lifetime he was the most fierce and dedicated Illini fan I knew! He truly bled Orange & Blue thru & thru!!
He lived in Moline for a lot of years and used to take me back there often! What a wonderful place to live
Well, credit to everyone involved helping with this one. Jordan Nesbitt is one of those guys I look at and scratch my head when I see where they have him in the national rankings (only top-75?!?). He does a bit of everything and is one heck of a competitor. Love his highlights. Would be thrilled if we get him. Seems like he 'plays big' and has a very high ceiling.
I still don't understand why 247 has two rankings but one of them has him out of top 100??
One ranking is where 247 has him and one ranking is the composite ranking of all the major services.
Recent Rivals rankings moved Nesbitt up 12 places to #46.
Thanks for clearing this up. That means some are sleeping even more.
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
I like that comp, but Nesbitt is MUCH further along than Jimmy was at this point. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again-Nesbitt is the best wing prospect we’ve been after in this class by a long shot. Would make an impact from day 1. Things look good here
Mid 90’s Super Sectionals in Wharton were crazy.
Illini great Dike Eddleman played for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks at Wharton. Mannie Jackson also played there with the Globetrotters.
I like that comp, but Nesbitt is MUCH further along than Jimmy was at this point. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again-Nesbitt is the best wing prospect we’ve been after in this class by a long shot. Would make an impact from day 1. Things look good here
I almost expanded on that comparison. I was going to say that, actually. He could compare to Jimmy Butler now. Can shoot, pass, play D. Similar build maybe and seems to play with fire.
My Dads 3 favorite players of watching Illinois basketball since the 40’s & 50’s as he would say it...
#1) Mannie Jackson.
He changed everything in a dark time for Illinois basketball if I’m recalling things correctly from the stories of old... and is one of the most historic black athletes ever I think from the way my Dad admires him. Trailblazer. FEARLESS. A leader and I’m not talking about basketball but the person. Somebody correct me here but they words ‘slush fund’ come to mind? Did Mannie help pull us out of the dark time??? I’m only 33 so I’m too young to remember or even know lol....
pulled this from the Wiki:
“Mannie Jackson was the first African American with controlling ownership in an entertainment organization and international sports.“
WOW
#2) Doug Altenberger.
From the stories I heard about this guy, I’ve started to believe the term “get buckets” was birthed into existence long before it’s time with the way I was told this dude use to fill it up!
#3) Dee Brown.
My Dad said he had never seen an Illini player who brought me exuberance, more passion and more hope to the Illini fan base than that guy did! A true one of a kind poster boy, not just for our program... but for the entirety of college basketball during that time!
Great memories!
& sorry if I confused Mannie in with the slush fund or after, my time periods may be wrong lol.
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Wharton Fieldhouse is a great place to play, and some historic figures performed there. I believe Muhammad Ali fought there.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Mannie - first African American basketball player at Illinois; highly successful business executive; and presently a premiere supporter of the program (and university)My Dads 3 favorite players of watching Illinois basketball since the 40’s & 50’s as he would say it...
#1) Mannie Jackson.
He changed everything in a dark time for Illinois basketball if I’m recalling things correctly from the stories of old... and is one of the most historic black athletes ever I think from the way my Dad admires him. Trailblazer. FEARLESS. A leader and I’m not talking about basketball but the person. Somebody correct me here but they words ‘slush fund’ come to mind? Did Mannie help pull us out of the dark time??? I’m only 33 so I’m too young to remember or even know lol....
pulled this from the Wiki:
“Mannie Jackson was the first African American with controlling ownership in an entertainment organization and international sports.“
WOW
#2) Doug Altenberger.
From the stories I heard about this guy, I’ve started to believe the term “get buckets” was birthed into existence long before it’s time with the way I was told this dude use to fill it up!
#3) Dee Brown.
My Dad said he had never seen an Illini player who brought me exuberance, more passion and more hope to the Illini fan base than that guy did! A true one of a kind poster boy, not just for our program... but for the entirety of college basketball during that time!
Great memories!
& sorry if I confused Mannie in with the slush fund or after, my time periods may be wrong lol.
Doug - The first, (and one of the best-ever) 3-point shooters in Illinois basketball history. Shot nearly 50% from beyond the arc, and overall from the field. Today --- a pretty darned good color guy along with Deon Thomas on Illini broadcasts.
Dee - face of the program for nearly 20 years.
Your Dad chose very well!!!
Retro62
- North Bethesda, Maryland
Glad to hear we have strong representation from the QC’s, I from Moline. People out here on the East Coast think it’s funny I went to John Deere Jr. High. My daughters always want to visit to hit Whitey’s and Harris Pizza.
Well, back to BBall...let’s not forget Maroon great Steve Kuberski!
Well, back to BBall...let’s not forget Maroon great Steve Kuberski!
I just want to reiterate this point please...
This decision was made weeks ago!
Things got foggy when that decision made its way thru the coaches and AAU back-channels however, because at that time it was looking like no one would be able to compete with what SLU was offering...
Once the Nesbitt’s decided leaving home was an option, and that SLU was not the stage they wanted to be on... things shifted!!
but it still hadn’t made its way to these websites, Twitter, OR to the gurus yet..
Seeking opportunity, AAU money-hungry connectors and their friends tried to send in the troops late, which temporarily had the Nesbitt’s hit pause...
But ultimately (and very briefly), they decided against that route and stuck to what & where they trusted, which is undoubtedly Illinois!
This staff is doing what no other staff has been able to do since Self was here, like it or not, one of the greatest college basketball coaches of our era! And people around here and out of the state alike, are taking notice!
It’s just hilarious to me that these “guru’s“ are having so much trouble keeping up with the current!
They are literally weeks behind! As evidenced by Snow’s “confidence of 2” on his Flip!
what a joke!
I’ll say it again, Piper is one of the best in the business and Snow is following him on this pick because Brian knows nothing!
The funny thing is, Piper really might not know anything this time either... it appears to me that he is just following Sturdy, who when it comes to IL recruiting is the real G.O.A.T. around here!!
hearing a lot of the same. Not sure snow is being a follower here though. I think he has good info.
B-ILL
- Working From Home
SMH, staff shouldn't be settling like this. When are we going to set our sights a little bit higher?
Probably sounds strange, but hear me out: reminds me a bit of our very own Trent Frazier in how quick and fast-twitch he is. A lot of his highlights I've watched, he goes into traffic, figures out a move on the fly, and executes it FAST. Tough player.
DP is that you?
Lol jk Stu! But no you’re right, Snow just rubbed me the wrong way with the Jones thing, almost like he was toying with us! Something I’ve felt he’s done in the past before...
I believe it was the day Snow put his crystal ball pick in for The Beloved, that all the rumors started flyin in that Jones is headed to DePaul
but then again, who really even saw that coming?
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