Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#176      
You don't have to look too far...


see will ferrell GIF
I guess I don't see it the same way. I agree that Orlando or not, Kentucky recruits at the highest level. I don't think that makes him overrated.

I think the difference with Antigua is as a coach. There's a pretty clear delineation between Cal with Orlando and without.

OA is the entire package.
 
#178      
A crowd of straw men
I've seen multiple comments about how this staff > prior staff and specifically about how Antigua's success at Kentucky was not that impressive because anyone can recruit there. And if you don't believe me just look a few comments above yours for those same sentiments again. I'm sorry to have offended so many by joking about the existence of a line of thinking which definitely does exist, and to have derailed the discussion by doing so. To the extent my comments are not germane to this thread @Dan please go ahead and move or delete them.
 
#181      
I've seen multiple comments about how this staff > prior staff and specifically about how Antigua's success at Kentucky was not that impressive because anyone can recruit there. And if you don't believe me just look a few comments above yours for those same sentiments again. I'm sorry to have offended so many by joking about the existence of a line of thinking which definitely does exist, and to have derailed the discussion by doing so. To the extent my comments are not germane to this thread @Dan please go ahead and move or delete them.
I always took those staff v staff comments as whole vs whole. We might have more recruiting firepower as a full staff now. But between all 6 assistants Im not sure who wouldn’t recognize Antigua as the top dog.
 
#182      
Kentucky highest rated recruit by class (classes with Antigua recruiting are bolded):

2010: 5
2011: 1
2012: 1
2013: 2
2014: 5

2015: 2
2016: 6
2017: 10
2018: 9
2019: 10
2020: 5
2021: 14
2022: 1
WTF - I don't think we've had a top 10 player (or even top 20) since the 80s. What Kentucky, Duke, UNC do is insane (and Mich is now also).
 
#184      
This staff hasn't had much time together, so it's going to take time to draw meaningful conclusions. We know OA was an ace recruiter and excellent with our bigs. He set the bar about as high as it can go, but it's only been a few months with the latest additions. Didn't they close on a couple important recruits?
 
#185      
Antigua was awesome. Wish him well and he wishes us well. Chet al. have not had a full cycle together and have a top 100 pg and sg already committed. Presumably more are on the way and certainly WAY ahead of where previous recruiting classes were in terms of having commitments before the Fall. I cannot wait to see what they do as they continue to gel. I think we forget that our entire crew of assistants was poached and we STILL ended up in about as good a spot as possible under the circumstances. That says everything about Underwood in my book. We also cannot discount the transfer portal factor, which in my opinion is a facsimile of the current NBA setup with obvious benefits—i.e., you can immediately add game-eligible talent that has already been tested in collegiate waters. In that regard, I don’t care if they don’t have a top 100 big committed nearly as much as previous years.

I think another big year with a high seed, deep tourney run, and Kofi and Curbelo getting drafted will set the table for this program for as long as Coach wants to be here.
 
#188      
I've seen multiple comments about how this staff > prior staff and specifically about how Antigua's success at Kentucky was not that impressive because anyone can recruit there. And if you don't believe me just look a few comments above yours for those same sentiments again. I'm sorry to have offended so many by joking about the existence of a line of thinking which definitely does exist, and to have derailed the discussion by doing so. To the extent my comments are not germane to this thread @Dan please go ahead and move or delete them.
1. Anyone can recruit at Kentucky != Antigua is overrated.
2. This staff could be better than the prior staff because that's tbd and isn't a shot at the prior staff just a general love for Chester Frazier.
3. No one is offended by your comments, they are also playfully joking that this is an Illini recruiting board.
4. Have yet to meet anyone (both on this board and IRL) who thinks Antigua was nothing but fantastic at UofI. I could have missed the crowd though.
 
#189      
I guess I don't see it the same way. I agree that Orlando or not, Kentucky recruits at the highest level. I don't think that makes him overrated.

I think the difference with Antigua is as a coach. There's a pretty clear delineation between Cal with Orlando and without.

OA is the entire package.

Agreed!!
 
#191      
1. Anyone can recruit at Kentucky != Antigua is overrated.
2. This staff could be better than the prior staff because that's tbd and isn't a shot at the prior staff just a general love for Chester Frazier.
3. No one is offended by your comments, they are also playfully joking that this is an Illini recruiting board.
4. Have yet to meet anyone (both on this board and IRL) who thinks Antigua was nothing but fantastic at UofI. I could have missed the crowd though.
Wait this isn’t In Real Life wow really
 
#192      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
I’m not saying Antigua is overrated but Kentucky would of been just fine without him. The craziest stat I’ve seen is they finished 1st or 2nd in national recruiting rankings every year since 2007 except this years class.

When bball recruiting rankings are heavily weighted by number of commits, it's easy for UK to finish at the top because they bring in 4-6 guys every year.
 
#194      
When bball recruiting rankings are heavily weighted by number of commits, it's easy for UK to finish at the top because they bring in 4-6 guys every year.
I think you are using that as a way to downplay how good their classes are. What is the reason they need 4-6 every year? Because guys are getting to the NBA.
Obviously, some teams may be better, because college experience and cohesion counts for a lot, but their model is pretty good still.
Also, by your logic, all you have to do is get 4-6 players in a class, then you’ll have a top 10 class….not true for most teams, because it is really hard to get top 10 or top 25 players to commit.
 
#196      
I think you are using that as a way to downplay how good their classes are. What is the reason they need 4-6 every year? Because guys are getting to the NBA.
Obviously, some teams may be better, because college experience and cohesion counts for a lot, but their model is pretty good still.
Also, by your logic, all you have to do is get 4-6 players in a class, then you’ll have a top 10 class….not true for most teams, because it is really hard to get top 10 or top 25 players to commit.
FWIW Creighton had the #7 class for 2021 and their highest ranked recruit was #48. UConn #9 with highest ranked recruit #50.

I think the point he was making is just that even though they were still pulling in #1 and #2 rated classes without OA, it's still possible their recruiting was better when OA was there, and that seems to be what a lot of UK fans think as well, who I imagine have a better handle on the relative strengh of their annually ridiculous recruiting classes.
 
#197      
If Illinois can figure out how to reach Top Ten (or better) in NIL dollars getting to athletes, recruiting top talent will not be a problem.

If Illinois cannot figure this out, I’m not sure who we have to blame other than our boosters/fanbase.

Honestly, I’m disappointed that no one has yet stepped up to make Illinois a highly visible and aggressive first mover here.
 
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