Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (Week of April 12th, 2021)

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#977      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
BU in discussing Melendez said he had no role for him other than make him a better player. Too much talk about roles, how about more discussion about skill development.
I thought BU was talking about Payne when he said that stuff. But, I agree, it was refreshing to hear him talk about skills development rather than discussing roles. Nice paradigm shift.
 
#978      
Has anyone had the chance to ask Underwood if we’ve seen what he was so happy about a couple of months ago? Would be interesting if there’s more to come.
 
#979      
Miller is never going to be devoted whether or not he returns. Rumors swirled whether he would decommit as he was an incoming freshman, and then he puts his name in the portal because his camp thinks he should be there instead of Belo, yikes. I'm sure we'll be happy if he returns, but who's to say he won't explode if one of our incoming freshman come in and beat him out for a spot?
My thoughts exactly. I feel like the damage has been done multiple times. Why are people so hung up on bringing him back? Refused to sign in the fall so he could look at more options *cough cough Fichigan* and then waited to sign until almost the last minute in the spring. Everyone is saying “well he was engaged with the team” yeah, when they’re winning the Big Ten Tournament. He’s celebrating winning. What do you expect the kid to do? Pout after a win? LOL. There have been multiple instances where he just doesn’t seem to want to be here. When things aren’t going well for him he always has this sour puss look on his face. It reminds me of the face a kid makes when they want to blow out the candles on another kid’s birthday cake but then get told they can’t. So you’re not THE GUY your freshman year on a team with two All-Americans? PROVE YOURSELF DUDE. You can’t just dribble and take a step back 3. You can’t just stand in the corner, guarded or unguarded, and chuck up a 3. You want to be the primary ball handler on the team? Well how about actually dribbling BY someone. He does two little dribble moves and when he doesn’t get past the defender, he either passes to the closest guy, or chucks up a prayer. Is he a great defender? Sure. But if he is wanting to be THE GUY, then do it. Be better than Belo. Be better than everyone. People need to stop coddling this kid. This isn’t high school anymore.
 
#980      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
My thoughts exactly. I feel like the damage has been done multiple times. Why are people so hung up on bringing him back? Refused to sign in the fall so he could look at more options *cough cough Fichigan* and then waited to sign until almost the last minute in the spring. Everyone is saying “well he was engaged with the team” yeah, when they’re winning the Big Ten Tournament. He’s celebrating winning. What do you expect the kid to do? Pout after a win? LOL. There have been multiple instances where he just doesn’t seem to want to be here. When things aren’t going well for him he always has this sour puss look on his face. It reminds me of the face a kid makes when they want to blow out the candles on another kid’s birthday cake but then get told they can’t. So you’re not THE GUY your freshman year on a team with two All-Americans? PROVE YOURSELF DUDE. You can’t just dribble and take a step back 3. You can’t just stand in the corner, guarded or unguarded, and chuck up a 3. You want to be the primary ball handler on the team? Well how about actually dribbling BY someone. He does two little dribble moves and when he doesn’t get past the defender, he either passes to the closest guy, or chucks up a prayer. Is he a great defender? Sure. But if he is wanting to be THE GUY, then do it. Be better than Belo. Be better than everyone. People need to stop coddling this kid. This isn’t high school anymore.
Don't hold back.

Kidding aside, there are more than a few nuggets of truth in there.

Problems aren't gonna arise when things are going swell. But what if they aren't? And Miller's definition of swell is a pretty darn high bar.
 
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#982      

altenberger22

South Carolina
For those keeping track.......first use of the word "elite" came at 3:02 in the BU presser. ;)


Edit: Followed closely by a double "elite".
Great call-out! I recall first hearing its use in year 1 --- pertaining to Mark Smith.

I now know it to actually mean, "average skills, if he (fill in the name of any player) works hard in the off-season".
 
#983      
I thought BU was talking about Payne when he said that stuff. But, I agree, it was refreshing to hear him talk about skills development rather than discussing roles. Nice paradigm shift.
Agreed...much rather grow big pieces to the puzzle and struggle to put them together.
 
#984      

Ubermensch

BOOM! Feed my ego.
Why are insiders continuing to push that Kofi is more likely to return than to leave? That just seems opposite of common sense. He hasn't even officially declared yet. I'm sure that will happen shortly. He declared last year as an extremely raw player, and was probably 50/50 or worse on returning. This year he showed polish and flashed a big man game rarely seen at the college level. I think its like 90/10 he's gone. That doesn't mean 1st round NBA grade, just means he'd go play professionally somewhere if he goes undrafted. He turns 22 this year, is a powerful inside force that isn't miraculously going to change into a stretch 5, and his best friend, roommate, fellow international player is not returning.
Your first mistake is assuming there are "insiders."
 
#986      
My thoughts exactly. I feel like the damage has been done multiple times. Why are people so hung up on bringing him back? Refused to sign in the fall so he could look at more options *cough cough Fichigan* and then waited to sign until almost the last minute in the spring. Everyone is saying “well he was engaged with the team” yeah, when they’re winning the Big Ten Tournament. He’s celebrating winning. What do you expect the kid to do? Pout after a win? LOL. There have been multiple instances where he just doesn’t seem to want to be here. When things aren’t going well for him he always has this sour puss look on his face. It reminds me of the face a kid makes when they want to blow out the candles on another kid’s birthday cake but then get told they can’t. So you’re not THE GUY your freshman year on a team with two All-Americans? PROVE YOURSELF DUDE. You can’t just dribble and take a step back 3. You can’t just stand in the corner, guarded or unguarded, and chuck up a 3. You want to be the primary ball handler on the team? Well how about actually dribbling BY someone. He does two little dribble moves and when he doesn’t get past the defender, he either passes to the closest guy, or chucks up a prayer. Is he a great defender? Sure. But if he is wanting to be THE GUY, then do it. Be better than Belo. Be better than everyone. People need to stop coddling this kid. This isn’t high school anymore.
Chill
 
#988      
It really wasn’t DMW who stole minutes from AM, it was Curbelo. Often had AC playing with Ayo and TF for long stretches in second half, with DMW pulling minutes from Grandison during same timeframe.
True, it was a little of both. The-Grandy-man also was left out of the rotation. I only brought up Monte because when the 3 and D guy was needed he filled that role and Ace was suited for that role in late games also. Not as strong as Monte of course. Bello took everybody's minutes, not that I'm complaining.
 
#992      
Today's FWIW (from FightingIllini.com): Podziemski played point guard during his senior season after playing shooting guard as a sophomore (22.5 ppg) and junior (27.6 ppg). A three-time Division 3 all-state selection, he finished his SJNA career with 2,154 points, becoming the first player in Wisconsin state history to eclipse 2,000 points despite never playing on varsity as a freshman. He is ranked No. 72 by 247Sports Composite.

Thus, Podz could slide over and play a few minutes at PG if needed.
 
#994      
I continue to be more comfortable with taking Plummer and letting AceWolf walk the more I think about it.

I think if Plummer can give you 80% of what you were hoping from Ace, you jump on him. If you were hoping for 15 from Ace (quite the jump), I think Plummer can easily give you 12. He got over 13 last year playing in the PAC-12. 12 drama free points >15 points +drama and headaches IMO.

The biggest issue is defense, adding a third smaller guard. But if we only have 2 out of AC, AP and TF on the floor at the 1-2 and then some combination of Hutch/Grandison/DMW(hopefully)/Coleman/one of the freshmen at the 3-4 I think that can work. Plummer only has one year of eligibility so he is a stopgap and provides you with some competence while the Freshmen get their feet wet. Then you go into the following year with 3 sophomores and 2 freshmen at wing, none smaller than 6’4.

Plummer looks to be a better shooter, and if he’s drama free that more than makes up for anything you give up on defense IMO.

Lets get Plummer and, if anyone else leaves, scoop up Ntambwe and I think we are in good shape!
 
#997      

BBIQ

Texas
Fun Fact: I played against that assclown in College. He was a complete !!!!!!!. Talented though.
We got the last laugh. He's playing in Korea cause his college and pro career never went anywhere.
 
#999      
Today's FWIW (from FightingIllini.com): Podziemski played point guard during his senior season after playing shooting guard as a sophomore (22.5 ppg) and junior (27.6 ppg). A three-time Division 3 all-state selection, he finished his SJNA career with 2,154 points, becoming the first player in Wisconsin state history to eclipse 2,000 points despite never playing on varsity as a freshman. He is ranked No. 72 by 247Sports Composite.

Thus, Podz could slide over and play a few minutes at PG if needed.
I don't know if I would want that from him right away, but down the road both he and Goode have had point guard responsibilities in high school. I don't think they are natural combo guards, but more of can initiate the offense as needed. The better part is having players that should be multi versatile.
 
#1,000      
I don't know if I would want that from him right away, but down the road both he and Goode have had point guard responsibilities in high school. I don't think they are natural combo guards, but more of can initiate the offense as needed. The better part is having players that should be multi versatile.
Gives me Da'Monte vibes. Was it Da'Monte's job to run the point? No. Is he more than capable of initiating the offense? Totally. More ball handlers on the floor the better. Something something elite elite positionless positionless.
 
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