Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (Week of April 19th, 2021)

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#351      

Muskie2368

M
Muskie2368
Haha said:
yes. yes. yes. yes.
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Did you ever think it might be a players decision to leave. Maybe you think coach should tell them they might play when they wont. Let them rot on the bench. Joel you"re a lot more patient than I am. What are they thinking. Everybody likes sitting for 4 years good gawd.
 
#355      

MDchicago

MDchicago
Lake Norman NC
MDchicago
TheDudeAbides said:
It’s funny to me how many people on here say Kofi can’t develop his game any more at the college level. How long has he been playing ball?? I bet all of us had the game down pat after playing for 5 years with nothing left to learn. Such a stupid take. If he had nothing left to develop or learn he would be a lock for the NBA instead of not showing up on any draft boards. Payne is a backup. I don’t believe for a second that Brad plans on starting him. Kofi will be back in orange and blue next season
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Not sure about the last part, but agree Kofi's game has plenty of room to develop, particularly given how early (relative to peers) he is in the learning curve.

Different player, but I never would have guessed that Julius Randle's game would develop the way it has (averaging 23.7 mpg, 10.5 rebounds and most surprisingly over 2 3FGs and 6 assists a game for the Knicks this year) after playing bullyball much of the time in college.

Looking back at pre-draft analysis of Randle, see notes like "Overall his game right now is based almost entirely on overpowering weaker opponents … he will have to develop a consistent solid jumpshot to replicate the success of Zach Randolph and Michael Beasley when facing the basket …, his future will likely hinge more heavily than most prospects on landing in the right system, where a team has a vision of how to utilize him and makes sure he stays focused and works hard on the right skill development …… A bad team or loss of focus could pose a huge risk to his NBA career …".

Not saying that Kofi is on the same track as Randle, but still has plenty of room to expand his game, including areas where significant progress could be achieved with a year of focused development (e.g., passing out of the post, which would be a win-win for the Illini and Kofi). Not sure whether a NBA team (and if so, the right one with at least a medium term mindset) will be willing to invest at this point; if there is, Kofi will have to make a similar decision to the one Ayo faced last summer weighing the here and now vs. potential to address identified weaknesses and increase upside significantly if successful.
 
#359      

Illinoise

Illinoise
Illinoise
When we do it it’s ok but when someone else does it they are destroying the sanctity of the pact between the school and the student athlete.
I think it all come down to whether the kid really wants to leave. If a kid is told, you have a lot of talent ahead of you and it’s going to be difficult for you to earn minutes, and wants to stay, he should have that right. If a kid is told to move on I have a problem with that. These are all competitive kids. When told you’re not likely to play here I am sure almost all voluntarily leave. True “creaning” is a rare event I would say.
 
#361      

orangem

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orangem
skyIdub said:
Because you/we have no idea if his scholarship was pulled from him. That's Creaning.

A kid putting his name in todays transfer portal is not even close to being "Creaned". It's just yet another example in a long line of posters creating their own narrative to suit their idea of what is happening when no one actually knows.
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We actually do know his scholarship was not pulled from him:

"The Big Ten announced Wednesday that all of its institutions will grant athletic scholarships for the entire term of an athlete's enrollment and allow some athletes who leave school to return and finish their degrees on scholarship. Scholarships will be "neither reduced nor cancelled" as long as athletes maintain good standing in school."

www.espn.com

Big Ten guarantees four-year scholarships

The Big Ten announced Wednesday that all of its institutions will grant athletic scholarships for the entire term of an athlete's enrollment and allow some athletes who leave school to return and finish their degrees on scholarship.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
#363      

Oldskoolkoach

O
Oldskoolkoach
CV Illini said:
There is some buzz on tigerboard about them wanting Cuonzo to pursue Hamlin. That team is going to be a train wreck for the foreseeable future. All is right in the world.
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I'm sure with his amazing big man coaching skills that Hamlin would be an AA within 2 years, if not next year.
 
#364      

Deleted member 746826

D
Guest
Deleted member 746826
Central IL Illini said:
I think it is more the things that he needs to be become a better NBA prospect cant be developed, a la quick feet, a three point shot, and longer arms. Kofi improved vastly from his freshman to sophomore year, and what did that do for his draft prospects? I agree with another poster who said the only way he could really develop into a meaningful NBA contributor would be start practicing against NBA big men every day.

If he did come back he would probably end up being a slightly better version of what he was this year. A dominant inside force with a game that doesn't really translate to the modern NBA, but is an unbelievable college player. What's best for Kofi and what's best for Illinois aren't really congruent, even if he stays. I still think there is a spot for him on an NBA roster as a rim runner/rim protector coming off the bench.
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this
 
#368      

Whitewaterr

W
Whitewaterr
AnnoyedWithGarza said:
If we needed a PG over a 4 you would. Being that we are good at G and need a 4 I agree.
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If we had equal need at each position I'm still taking Mitchell 10/10. Carr plays hero ball and shoots under 40%. Also there are tons of talented guards left in the portal (Mitchell is the only remaining non-guard in the top 10). Few big men.
 
#372      

Kenny67

Kenny67
Kenny67
haasi said:
In light of the ncaa’s change of policy allowing transfers to play immediately I think even “true” Creaning is a lot less problematic than it used to be. It used to be that the player kind of got screwed because he’d have to burn a year sitting out after transferring. And if the player already redshirted, he’d lose a year of eligibility entirely.

Illini took Hamlin as a very late flyer when he had no high major offers and was heading to prep school. He got two years here being part of winning teams at the highest level of college ball, got some playing time, got tons of practice time against an elite center and coaching from an elite big man coach. At this point, I assume he would rather go somewhere he can get a lot of playing time immediately and for two years as an upperclassman. If his preference is riding pine, it does stink a little that he’s being encouraged to transfer (I would assume that’s all that’s happened and the coaching staff did not tell him “we’re not renewing your scholarship”). But with the way the transfer portal now works, that’s life in high major basketball. People transfer freely, there is major upside to many players in that they get to go play wherever they want immediately, and the downside to players who don’t want to leave is limited by the fact that they can also go play elsewhere immediately.

I have mixed feelings on the transfer portal. I think it’s fair to players, but I don’t love the impact it has on the sport. As a spectator, I enjoy roster continuity and watching players develop and teams come together. But with the changes to the portal and the proliferation of transfers, schools can’t be expected to just sit back and let other schools position themselves well while others don’t. There are tons of top notch transfers available, and we lost one in Miller. We’d be idiotic not to try to take advantage of the portal, which every other team is doing.
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Exactly. But college coaches do prioritize playing minutes distribition and the coaches do sit down with their players and explain/tell them where they fit and how much time the player can expect. This is nothing new. Somewhat similar to the small HS all everything bball player has to decide at 18 yrs old to play at a mid major college or sit on the bench at a power 5 school.
 
#375      

Kenny67

Kenny67
Kenny67
Pennsy said:
What I held against Cuonzo was that he poached players and coaches off other teams' rosters where those individuals were already committed. That is why Tilmon and Smith and Cuonzo were booed in StL at the game. And don't forget the Porter twins and their father. Justice was served when neither Porter twin played much, Smith was a dud, and Tilmon never fulfilled his potential. Now they are all gone and Cuonzo has to recruit.
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And can we ever forget coach Sampsom meddling in the Gordon recruit process or coach Pearl meddling with Elphonso Elliss process?
 
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