Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Poe's Law]

Even if not all coaches keep 2 scholarships open most will probably keep at least one. So, if the number of unused doesn't reach 700 it will probably be at least 500. That's still a boatload of athletes not playing D1.

There are 351 D1 college programs, this the 700 (exaggeration) from the article.

But it will be a real number. Also did NCAA do away with the sit out year in all situations? Because if you have to sit a year after transferring that’s another batch or scholarships that aren’t available to HS players.

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1485079723906588680

 

[KevinC]

Have no idea how tall Ty Rodgers is, but in view of today's efforts to exaggerate in every way as well as virtually no player measuring at his college listed height when measured by the NBA, my best guess is 6'6 5/8". Why this is done I can offer no reasonable idea. If I were a coach, I would list all my players 2-4 in. shorter. Then when a cocky team expects a bunch of midgets to show up, they look up to look you in the eye. That is far more intimidating.

And every college coach or scout would write off the players for being too short without ever wasting the time to come to see them.

 

[Tommy153]

Um, we didn't get much out of the Tisdale diet. do you have another one he can use?

Try this diet.

 

[Dallas336]

Well pizza and beer seems to work for everybody!

 

[Illini]

This doesn't look half bad
1 - Curbelo/Epps
2 - Podz/Harris/Epps/Goode
3 - Goode/Rodgers/Melendez
4 - Hawkins/Melendez/BBV
5 - Dainja/Payne/BBV
This is worst case (for incoming guys) - no Kofi, Grandison, or Hutch and no major transfers. This also assumes no one leaves. Next year is definitely going to be a major rebuilding year (unless Kofi comes back).

 

[N T A C F]

This doesn't look half bad
1 - Curbelo/Epps
2 - Podz/Harris/Epps/Goode
3 - Goode/Rodgers/Melendez
4 - Hawkins/Melendez/BBV
5 - Dainja/Payne/BBV
This is worst case (for incoming guys) - no Kofi, Grandison, or Hutch and no major transfers. This also assumes no one leaves. Next year is definitely going to be a major rebuilding year (unless Kofi comes back).

That looks at least half bad to my eyes. Gonna need major development and a Hail Mary or two in the transfer market.

 

[HailtotheChief]

This doesn't look half bad
1 - Curbelo/Epps
2 - Podz/Harris/Epps/Goode
3 - Goode/Rodgers/Melendez
4 - Hawkins/Melendez/BBV
5 - Dainja/Payne/BBV
This is worst case (for incoming guys) - no Kofi, Grandison, or Hutch and no major transfers. This also assumes no one leaves. Next year is definitely going to be a major rebuilding year (unless Kofi comes back).

That looks pretty suspect to me outside AC if we wanna be a NCAA tourney team. They have some talent but very little experience. We need to add more talent and experience or see major improvement over the off season. How many starts have those guys had in their careers? Not many at all. Trent or DMW have more than all of them put together. Likely 4x as many! Hopefully Jacob and it Kofi return. If Kofi banks on his NIL who knows. I dont think Kofi is ready for the NBA yet and if he can bank here why not stay.

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

There are 351 D1 college programs, this the 700 (exaggeration) from the article.

But it will be a real number. Also did NCAA do away with the sit out year in all situations? Because if you have to sit a year after transferring that’s another batch or scholarships that aren’t available to HS players.

I think there's a lot of oversimplification here to try to get clicks.

First, a number of coaches have let open scholarships ride anyway. This is nothing new.

Second, you in advertently pointed out a way that the pool increases. In the past, a lot of scholarships were being eaten up by transfer players in their sit out year. That number is actually going to be reduced.

Third, the transfers in a way puts a premium on filling scholarships. If you're going to have a guy ditch you, you'd like to have someone experienced to step up.

 

[Bucktown]

There are 351 D1 college programs, this the 700 (exaggeration) from the article.

But it will be a real number. Also did NCAA do away with the sit out year in all situations? Because if you have to sit a year after transferring that’s another batch or scholarships that aren’t available to HS players.

I seem to remember that a player gets one transfer with no sit out. Any others require a sit out. There is an exception for grad transfers where there continues to be no sit out requirement.

 

[Brosky]

That looks pretty suspect to me outside AC if we wanna be a NCAA tourney team. They have some talent but very little experience. We need to add more talent and experience or see major improvement over the off season. How many starts have those guys had in their careers? Not many at all. Trent or DMW have more than all of them put together. Likely 4x as many! Hopefully Jacob and it Kofi return. If Kofi banks on his NIL who knows. I dont think Kofi is ready for the NBA yet and if he can bank here why not stay.

Like I always say (referring to NIL) depends on how good his agent is. Let's hope he's a good one. Or she.

 

[hoopsfan47]

You got it right. That team was electrifying.

I have watched and played a lot of basketball over the past 65 years and have yet to see a team adept at passing the ball in the lane in heavy traffic as The Flyin' Illini....all of them. Watching old film of that team still makes my jaw drop.

 

[hoopsfan47]

It's like @JFGsCoffeeMug said, coaches will bank schollies for prospective transfers who want to come in during the season, like Dainja. And like the quote alludes to, coaches don't think they can keep 13 guys happy anyway, so why keep 13 guys on scholarship at all times when the guys at the end of the bench will transfer anyway. So the idea is that coaches will only keep 11 of the 13 scholarships occupied, leaving 2 open at any given time. If every coach does that, there will be 700 unused scholarships at any given time

Seldom will you find 13 scholarship players on the Duke roster during K's tenure.

 

[PassingBy]

This doesn't look half bad
1 - Curbelo/Epps
2 - Podz/Harris/Epps/Goode
3 - Goode/Rodgers/Melendez
4 - Hawkins/Melendez/BBV
5 - Dainja/Payne/BBV
This is worst case (for incoming guys) - no Kofi, Grandison, or Hutch and no major transfers. This also assumes no one leaves. Next year is definitely going to be a major rebuilding year (unless Kofi comes back).

BU teams do not start hot and remain hot

Seems they invariably start coldish, then around Xmas heat up and then everything is up for grabs. Takes time for them to "gel". AT times they do un-gel too

What I see in the grouping you have is a bunch of very determined kids, especially 1-3, who have been rather successful at the HS level

4-5 are, IMHO, suspect

Depending on IF we hot the portal for a #4, I can see one of them transferring out

 

[alexander58]

BU teams do not start hot and remain hot

Seems they invariably start coldish, then around Xmas heat up and then everything is up for grabs. Takes time for them to "gel". AT times they do un-gel too

What I see in the grouping you have is a bunch of very determined kids, especially 1-3, who have been rather successful at the HS level

4-5 are, IMHO, suspect

Depending on IF we hot the portal for a #4, I can see one of them transferring out

Most teams hit a lull at some point. The key is to be hot at the right time.

 

[hodgesonfire]

Illinois is really in need of a 6'8ish player who can defend a ball handler. Ive watched Demonte way to often guarding a player who is almost 6 inches taller than him. I hope maybe Goode or Hawkins can eventually be that player. Right now games like Maryland and Arizona show how vulnerable the team is to tall ball handlers.

 

[Joel Goodson]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1485384871233077249

 

[Joel Goodson]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1485039932997525507

 

[Illini Farmer]

Illinois is really in need of a 6'8ish player who can defend a ball handler. Ive watched Demonte way to often guarding a player who is almost 6 inches taller than him. I hope maybe Goode or Hawkins can eventually be that player. Right now games like Maryland and Arizona show how vulnerable the team is to tall ball handlers.

Ty Rodgers?

 

[IllinoisssssssVarsity]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1485039932997525507

What does hold his ranking back? A quick twitchy guard usually does have a higher ranking.

 

[Illinifanalways]

Morez Johnson will be a heck of a player for us. That is the part this team is missing now. Tall shooter who can pass. Defense will come along as he gets stronger. What a pick up we got. Let's hope he brings a couple friends with him to Champaign.

 

[Noblesville Illini]

Ty Rodgers?

Not too far off............
Over the years, a lot of basketball talent has come out of Saginaw, Michigan — high school sophomore Ty Rodgers has ties to more than one of the most recent NBA success stories. Rodgers, a wing in the high school class of 2022, is a cousin of current Indiana Pacer, Brian “Tugs” Bowen II. His uncle, Jason Richardson, starred at Michigan State and went on to become one of the NBA’s most consistent scorers between 2000 to 2010. The athletic genes don’t end there — his brother, Will, is an NFL prospect playing defensive lineman for Washington State. Claiming that this family has incredible athletic pedigree would be an understatement.

Now pushing six-foot-seven, Rodgers has grown over the past year and is probably still not done. That is the highest number I've seen on his height. Thornton lists him there also.

 

[Illinilosch]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1485384871233077249

Watched the 2nd game of Chicago St Rita on Saturday vs Link Academy (Branson, MO). Loved the effort of MJ although he was neutralized a bit by Tarris Reed (2022 Michigan commit) and ended up fouling out of the game, he plays very hard and aggressive. In 3 years this kid is going to be really really good. Right now he's a top 50-75 player. By the time he's a Senior, he will be a handful for opponents. I predict he'll finish top 30 at least when he gets to IL as long as his game evolves.

The player I came away in love with was James Brown. This kid has "IT" and can do some much on the basketball court. Plays aggressive, dominates down low and on the glass, can handle the ball and threw down some really nice dunks. This kid right now is easily a high 4 star player and can rise to a Top 15-25 ranking in a couple years.

He is absolutely a must-get IMO.

 

[doowink]

Watched the 2nd game of Chicago St Rita on Saturday vs Link Academy (Branson, MO). Loved the effort of MJ although he was neutralized a bit by Tarris Reed (2022 Michigan commit) and ended up fouling out of the game, he plays very hard and aggressive. In 3 years this kid is going to be really really good. Right now he's a top 50-75 player. By the time he's a Senior, he will be a handful for opponents. I predict he'll finish top 30 at least when he gets to IL as long as his game evolves.

The player I came away in love with was James Brown. This kid has "IT" and can do some much on the basketball court. Plays aggressive, dominates down low and on the glass, can handle the ball and threw down some really nice dunks. This kid right now is easily a high 4 star player and can rise to a Top 15-25 ranking in a couple years.

He is absolutely a must-get IMO.

I'd feel good with JB in O & B!

 

[ptgd1]

That looks pretty suspect to me outside AC if we wanna be a NCAA tourney team. They have some talent but very little experience. We need to add more talent and experience or see major improvement over the off season. How many starts have those guys had in their careers? Not many at all. Trent or DMW have more than all of them put together. Likely 4x as many! Hopefully Jacob and it Kofi return. If Kofi banks on his NIL who knows. I dont think Kofi is ready for the NBA yet and if he can bank here why not stay.

I think we start the season 10-14 in the B1G and end the season in the top five.

And go to the Finals in the B1G Tourney.