Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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He spent so much time here recruiting Cliff Alexander that you might as well call him a Chicago resident.
Good luck getting one brother after potentially turning down the other.
I do really like Dai Dai Ames videos though. On clips Boswell and Ames look pretty dang good. Fears also looks great, but he looks more like a physical presence and distributor to me. Could probably be a strong defender as well. Not a lot of highlight shots though.
At the same time it seems fairly uncommon for one to follow another.
I'd be more concerned about Lalu coaching staff.
With absolutely no knowledge, I'd guess the chances of getting both brothers is higher than getting a younger brother after pissing off the older brother.
I can't imagine the Fears are too thrilled to think that their top 30 son, with offers from most of the big ten as well as Gonzaga and Kansas, is actually viewed as the 3rd best PG recruit by the school they appear to like most. That tends to sour you quite a bit, and make you say no thanks when that same staff comes calling for another kid.
That said if you like Ames, and that gets you in even better with JJ Taylor, and keeps you good with the Fire, and helps you with potential future Kenwood players, then you weigh both sides and act the way that will be best for the future of the program.
Isn't the bird in the hand worth more than the two in the bush?
Over the years I've seen the Illini come out empty handed so, so many times when stretching for the bird in the bush.
Over the years I've seen the Illini come out empty handed so, so many times when stretching for the bird in the bush.
Oh I agree. I kinda think both scenarios are improbable.
As someone else noted we're sitting okay so perhaps we can afford to wait.
Big boy recruiting as they say.
Get Jeremy on the Sr. year Damonte Williams shooting program. Keep him away from all other years of that shooting program.
BU is not on some suicide trip here. He/they have had a long relationship and must/should have communicated what IL was looking for.
I recall a radio show where the fathers of both Fears and Boswell protected their hands and openly stated that they need to make decisions that benefit their boys. Which is very, very fair.
But, so is it fair for BU to lay out what he expects and move on IF the kid/s do not meet his expectations.
As long as both sides came to an understanding personally I do not see an issue - business as they say. I do not like it, but ....... that is what it is.
The 2025 Fears WILL very seriously look at IL IF IL is a powerhouse. So will the his dad.
Both dads and BU have been at this game for a long time.
Fear (not the player) of the past clouds the moves of the future.
Do not think BU can or will operate from the stand point of fear.
It's really quite simple.
We (our coaches) offered a scholarship to play for the Illini.
They (all of the above recruits) have chosen to keep looking, and not yet accept our offer.
We (our coaches) have an obligation to find players that meet the criteria to play at the University of Illinois.
As far as we know, Fears and all the others who have been offered, can still accept our offer. Time however is running out, because hopefully, one of our top guys will accept. So the ball is in the recruits court. They best be making up their minds.
If they all fall through, like Illini fans are somewhat used to seeing happen, until recent years, we fall back on the portal in the Spring. We have great prospects already committed. We can bank on that.
IF that is the case, then apologies.
However, that is not my understanding. The less said the better.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Maybe not so much.
If you missed it a few pages ago, it was intimated that Fears would be a done deal already if the staff wanted it to be a done deal.
We clearly have more recruiting clout these days and don't necessarily need to jump on the first kids that say "yes".
On one hand, I totally just want to take the top 30 point guard and call it a huge recruiting win that builds momentum and gives you a shot at the more talented younger brother. Taking a look at our current and future roster layout, we will have plenty of length, shooting, and play-making ability to around to make up for a mediocre shooter that has great vision and passing abilities.
On the other, we have enough skill coming in for 2023 (soph Epps and Harris and maybe senior Curbelo) that we can swing for the fences on a recruit and miss both and settle for someone in 23 or regroup for 24.
Personally, I'd take the top 30 PG and continue the momentum of a solid 22 class into 23 and Morez in 24 to keep stacking classes. We aren't Duke or Kentucky where we can have a "bad" class and just roll into it next year. All it takes is Fears not coming, then Boswell to bridesmaid us, and then we are scrambling for someone and the fact that 22 may be a down year for us, it makes me worry that this fickle thing called perception switches and we start sliding.
I trust Brad and his staff to put in all necessary work to find guys if we miss on both, but it may be an unnecessary fade route on 3rd and 1 when all we need to do is hand it off. Maybe Underwood believes Fears gets us wins and Boswell gets us a ring. I hope it works out.
On the other, we have enough skill coming in for 2023 (soph Epps and Harris and maybe senior Curbelo) that we can swing for the fences on a recruit and miss both and settle for someone in 23 or regroup for 24.
Personally, I'd take the top 30 PG and continue the momentum of a solid 22 class into 23 and Morez in 24 to keep stacking classes. We aren't Duke or Kentucky where we can have a "bad" class and just roll into it next year. All it takes is Fears not coming, then Boswell to bridesmaid us, and then we are scrambling for someone and the fact that 22 may be a down year for us, it makes me worry that this fickle thing called perception switches and we start sliding.
I trust Brad and his staff to put in all necessary work to find guys if we miss on both, but it may be an unnecessary fade route on 3rd and 1 when all we need to do is hand it off. Maybe Underwood believes Fears gets us wins and Boswell gets us a ring. I hope it works out.
NEIlliniFan
- No longer in New England
It was also stated flat out the Miller situation played a big role in the staff cooling on Fears.
Miller's parents wanted Miller to start. Miller started all 31 games. Still transferred.
Fears' parents reportedly want him guaranteed a starting role. If so, do you still take him?
I don't
Miller's parents wanted Miller to start. Miller started all 31 games. Still transferred.
Fears' parents reportedly want him guaranteed a starting role. If so, do you still take him?
I don't
I know nothing. But it certainly seems plausible that Fears could commitnow, but he/his camp is looking for assurances/promises they aren’t getting. So it’s possible that we aren’t preventing him from committing, just knowingly not saying the thing that gets the commitment.
Possible?
Possible?
Miller's mother wanted him to play PG. Curbelo was the same age and a better PG and would get those minutes so he left.
NEIlliniFan
- No longer in New England
I know
I really don’t see the path to us getting JJ Taylor. To me, the writing on the wall doesn’t point to him coming here. Transfer to Donda, top 5 nationally, assuming 1 and done, it just doesn’t seem like we are the place.
On the PG situation I don’t think the staff would have any hesitation on Fears if they weren’t confident they’ll be in the Boswell race until the end. I think we’ve got a shot there but Arizona’s emergence this year from unranked to top 10 is making it harder for us.
On the PG situation I don’t think the staff would have any hesitation on Fears if they weren’t confident they’ll be in the Boswell race until the end. I think we’ve got a shot there but Arizona’s emergence this year from unranked to top 10 is making it harder for us.
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Pretty darn impressive for an unknown kid. Color me intrigued.
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Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
TC, why you gonna bring up Eric Gordon again? That's just mean!Recruiting 101....not all offers are committable
Good night everything is fine.
Sorry, didn't figure out the edit before posting.
I also typed that there are plenty of guys out there that think they are better than they are because of rankings (Whitney)
So, I'll just choose to trust BU to not take the top 50 but to take Illinois guys.
I also typed that there are plenty of guys out there that think they are better than they are because of rankings (Whitney)
Professional career[edit]
After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Whitney signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Charlotte Hornets.[6] He was waived at the end of training camp and added to the roster of the Hornets' NBA G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.[7] Whitney averaged 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds per game for the Swarm.[8] In October 2021, he joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers after being acquired in a trade.[9So, I'll just choose to trust BU to not take the top 50 but to take Illinois guys.
No apologies needed PB. I was just making a blanket statement and piggy-backed on your comment.IF that is the case, then apologies.
However, that is not my understanding. The less said the better.
(Thanks for the prayer.)
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