Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
#201      
I hear you- nobody that follows recruiting was expecting Casey to announce to us given we weren’t in the picture the last couple of months

But he has been the number one player in the state of Illinois for his class since a freshman, he plays a position of need, we have been recruiting him for 3 years - it was also clear at the end he wasn’t interested in us so it was likely mutual

My point is, according to some on this board we haven’t missed out on any of our top targets that have announced elsewhere (and there have been many in this class). You can pick from that list of reasons for every recruit to justify why we didn’t miss
Small gripe but he also isn't even close to the #1 player in the class anymore. Schutt is miles ahead of him. 247 even has Huff over him. On 247 rankings I believe he fell from somewhere around #12 (was a five star at one point) to out of the top 100 over the past 2 years. No thanks.

I can also assure you he would have absolutely been interested in us by the end if we wanted him. When the only 2 of your finalists that will take you are DePaul and Miami.... yeah.
 
#202      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Small gripe but he also isn't even close to the #1 player in the class anymore. Schutt is miles ahead of him. 247 even has Huff over him. On 247 rankings I believe he fell from somewhere around #12 (was a five star at one point) to out of the top 100 over the past 2 years. No thanks.

I can also assure you he would have absolutely been interested in us by the end if we wanted him. When the only 2 of your finalists that will take you are DePaul and Miami.... yeah.

Mike Shaw trajectory v2.0.
 
#204      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
And can we please recognize how nice it is not to be left with these types of recruits? *coughcoughjohngrocecough*



Edit: that we then actually lose to Miami and DePaul....
 
#206      

blackdog

Champaign
#207      
If you aren’t recruiting him it’s not a miss. We’ve missed on plenty but don’t compare this recruitment with the others. No excuse just fact
Your point is excellent....Illinois is not a place for kids with egos whose only focus is getting to the NBA ASAP. But more importantly, Underwood is making Champaign a place to work hard, make your team the best it can be, and become the kind of player upon which NBA teams place high value. Ayo is his first Illini NBAer, and then Giorgi. Pretty good start and precedent for character, skill, team focus and work ethic compared to many one and doners. Few gifted high school stars are willing to be "every day guys". But I like the culture and the way all of Underwood's guys have bought into the program, stuck around, and enjoyed the "team" culture. It is not easy to find talented HS players who fit the mold and yet have the mindset to beat all those gifted "arm chair" stars in a hardwood battle. It takes much effort by all....and what we should appreciate is that they are ALL doing their part to put an outstanding TEAM on the floor in State Farm Center every day. But in doing it that way, the staff will miss on many kids with talent simply because when the program and demands are laid out for them, they are unwilling to sacrifice their personal agendas. They are simply kids who are far more mature physically than mentally. Consequently, interest is established based on talent but commitment by both sides is determined when both mental and physical attributes are a winning match. The Illini will have interest in dozens of talented kids, but this staff seems to be able to commit to a special and small group of them. The result is a lot of talk and interest by fans based on the eyeball, but in the end, the decisions will be made on and in their heart and soul....on both sides... which will result in the program being on the winning side.

A last thought is that "every day guys" make a kind of team that those "arm chair' stars hate to play against. Case in point....Michigan. How you doin' young Dickinson? Here come the Illini!!
 
Last edited:
#211      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Remember Self said he wanted three guys with “PG handles” on the court at all times.

As opposed to "love handles"....

images
 
#215      
Your point is excellent....Illinois is not a place for kids with egos whose only focus is getting to the NBA ASAP. But more importantly, Underwood is making Champaign a place to work hard, make your team the best it can be, and become the kind of player upon which NBA teams place high value. Ayo is his first Illini NBAer, and then Giorgi. Pretty good start and precedent for character, skill, team focus and work ethic compared to many one and doners. Few gifted high school stars are willing to be "every day guys". But I like the culture and the way all of Underwood's guys have bought into the program, stuck around, and enjoyed the "team" culture. It is not easy to find talented HS players who fit the mold and yet have the mindset to beat all those gifted "arm chair" stars in a hardwood battle. It takes much effort by all....and what we should appreciate is that they are ALL doing their part to put an outstanding TEAM on the floor in State Farm Center every day. But in doing it that way, the staff will miss on many kids with talent simply because when the program and demands are laid out for them, they are unwilling to sacrifice their personal agendas. They are simply kids who are far more mature physically than mentally. Consequently, interest is established based on talent but commitment by both sides is determined when both mental and physical attributes are a winning match. The Illini will have interest in dozens of talented kids, but this staff seems to be able to commit to a special and small group of them. The result is a lot of talk and interest by fans based on the eyeball, but in the end, the decisions will be made on and in their heart and soul....on both sides... which will result in the program being on the winning side.

A last thought is that "every day guys" make a kind of team that those "arm chair' stars hate to play against. Case in point....Michigan. How you doin' young Dickinson? Here come the Illini!!
Easy with the mental / physical and heart / soul stuff but I get it.
You make a valid point in that the best programs will have that magic mix of potential pro players with grinder 3 / 4 year guys with the commitment ideal.

As it happens, that does perfectly describe what the Illini have created for a bit. Coach knows that this is the setup for good things.
I am with you, it's the best mix.
 
#216      
I hear you- nobody that follows recruiting was expecting Casey to announce to us given we weren’t in the picture the last couple of months

But he has been the number one player in the state of Illinois for his class since a freshman, he plays a position of need, we have been recruiting him for 3 years - it was also clear at the end he wasn’t interested in us so it was likely mutual

My point is, according to some on this board we haven’t missed out on any of our top targets that have announced elsewhere (and there have been many in this class). You can pick from that list of reasons for every recruit to justify why we didn’t miss
No. Illinois and Tim Anderson would have had a great shot to land him if they wanted him. They didn’t. Neither did Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and others who had stopped recruiting him. His stock had plummeted and he had a rep of low motor.

Illinois didn’t miss on him. They didn’t want him. Hence, Miami and DePaul as finalists.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.