Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (Week of April 5th, 2021)

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#1,051      
I hope he comes back, but at least as employment is concerned once an employee is out the door, it doesn't matter if the business gives them a decent counter-offer. Once they have made the decision to leave they're usually gone within 1 year. In his situation this could be different if he made the decision because of outside pressures and has decided to make his own decisions in coming back.
It's about the circumstances. Have they changed? The outside voices will still be there and whatever assurances you get from the young Miller, it's really hard think you've got a guarantee that the same problem doesn't rear it's head.

It would be a tough call for BU and difficult to execute smoothly over the course of his career.
 
#1,052      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
So much talk about Baby Hitler, but nobody ever suggests using a time machine to take out Baby Dick Bennett.
lol. He was a good man, and single-handedly built Wisconsin's program from veritable ashes, but set college basketball back decades in the process!
 
#1,053      

Tacomallini

Washington State
Count me in the camp to try and convince Miller to stay. To draw a personal comparison that is very, very different, in high school I ran on a relay team in track that was good. One of my teammates decided to forgo his senior year to focus on partying. I tried to convince him to come back. Ultimately, he did not. We were still good enough to make it to the state track meet, but would've been a much better team with him because he was faster than the runner who replaced him. Didn't work out, but it didn't cost me anything to try and get him to rethink his decision. I think the "screw Miller if he doesn't want to be an Illini" takes are a bunch of rubbish.
 
#1,054      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
#1,055      
I hope he comes back, but at least as employment is concerned once an employee is out the door, it doesn't matter if the business gives them a decent counter-offer. Once they have made the decision to leave they're usually gone within 1 year. In his situation this could be different if he made the decision because of outside pressures and has decided to make his own decisions in coming back.
Right, except here the “employee” doesn’t appear to have voluntarily left the “company.”
 
#1,056      
I hope he comes back, but at least as employment is concerned once an employee is out the door, it doesn't matter if the business gives them a decent counter-offer. Once they have made the decision to leave they're usually gone within 1 year. In his situation this could be different if he made the decision because of outside pressures and has decided to make his own decisions in coming back.
If the concern is that he might choose to leave again after this season, I'd still be 100% for him coming back. We need him this season, and that gives us extra time. We will have time to recruit a replacement, will have Bass and Storr coming in, and if Podz does choose us, we will know what we have there as well.
 
#1,057      

GrayGhost77

Centennial, CO
Miller coming back is 100% a win for us if it happens. I think another year of development and not being overshadowed by Ayo will greatly help his exposure, and having a talented player who is a lock down defender and knows the system helps a lot from a mentoring and continuity perspective. Plus, I think him taking a substantial soph leap puts him ahead of 90% of guys we'd be likely to have a chance at in the portal. Really hope he decides to stick around.
 
#1,058      
Just as remote as Miller and Curbelo being key contributors on a top 5 team as freshmen a year ago. Pretty remote.....

Comparing Goode and Melendez to Miller and Curbelo is laughable in its own right.

Then let's not forget that Miller and Curbelo got to be the 4th and 5th options offensively, behind two All-Americans.
 
#1,059      
Just as remote as Miller and Curbelo being key contributors on a top 5 team as freshmen a year ago. Pretty remote.....
Miller and Curbelo came into a situation with two Senior starters, an All American Junior starter and an All American Sophomore starter. That is a SIGNIFICANTLY different situation than these two freshmen, who aren't as highly regarded as Curbelo and Miller were.

If Kofi doesn't come back, this is a full rebuild. If he does, looking at a middle of the pack Big Ten team.

Illinois was universally regarded as a top 10 team before the year started. They were a proven commodity.

Let's see what Kofi does.
 
#1,062      
I just hope Miller ends up where he really wants to be. I know some will say he’s old enough to make his own decisions and all that, but if his family is really pressuring him to leave that can be hard to ignore at that age. Especially if the family is pretty tight knit
I was entirely incapable of making my own decision when I was his age.
 
#1,063      
I won't speculate what is going to happen, because I don't know. But at this point I would lean towards him coming back.......
I hope you’re right, but that’s not what I’m hearing.
 
#1,064      
He's one player. He's not the difference between a Top 5 team and a team that misses the tourney. I'd rather win 10 games next year than go begging anybody unless that person makes us a national title contender.
The good thing is both sides understand perfectly what is expected. Assuming Illinois can meet his , it seems simple. There won’t be any groveling going on.
 
#1,065      
leaving GIF

How awesome would it be if Miller posted the "Im not leaving" video :ROFLMAO:
He filmed it on the Vegas strip last month.
 
#1,067      
But, the fact that he IS a savant may be scaring off some of the guys who The Beloved have targeted lately. A common narrative is that, “Who wouldn’t want to play with a guy like Curbelo?”. Well, apparently someone who wants the ball in his own hands and doesn’t want to compete with a savant for the ball and for attention.
I really want Kofi back obviously (major duh) but it'd be interesting to see how Belo's playing style shifts without an absolutely dominant man in the middle (with Payne instead, for instance). I bet he'd be a lot more fun for those wing/guards that want more touches, given that he'd be less inclined to always search out the mammoth in the middle.
 
#1,068      
PASSING! Next step is finding open shooter for the easiest 3 when he is triple teamed, at least enough to keep the defense honest.
I forgot about that. The ball never comes out when thrown to him. I remember one of the analyst saying he had 5 assists the whole year.
 
#1,070      

whatahack

St. Peters MO
any insight on what Kofi is going to do? He seems to be a key piece of everything.....
 
#1,072      
I like Miller and thought he would take a significant jump next year. However if it is going to be dependent on negotiating his role, it is a loser. Role will be dependent on his performance not prenegotiated by his camp (whoever that is). Ratings and ability can be greatly impacted by their fit in the system as well as their dedication to the team and their work ethic. Coaches have a difficult time evaluating this and we who are not part of practices or in person viewing are certainly not accurate.
Believe we have alternates at Miller’s position but need a big to replace Kofi and a backup to Belo. Higher priorities in balance and chemistry in my viewpoint (certainly undervalued in compensation terms).
 
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