His style of play seems similar to DMW with a bigger offensive upside.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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With potentially all five starters gone, there will be plenty of minutes up for grabs for whomever earns them. Also, there will be plenty of Loyalty fodder about who has and has not, in fact, "earned them"!
I would be shocked if all five starters are gone next year. And Curbelo should be back as well
Bigtex
- DFW
MHO...Ty is likely to get the most minutes (not including Boswell in this conversation) from incoming freshman. IMO size and competition at 3/4 plus skilled player. Development and match ups will be final determination (well actually Coach will).
PG lot of competition
2G even more competition
SF/3G very competitive
PF - Minutes to be earned
C - huge unknown- emphasis on HUGE
Me as well. We barely got to see Podz this year. I want to see what he can do next year. Also if the roster stays as it is constructed, I expect to see more two guards, two forwards, and one center lineups next year. Plus staying in his class would make Boswell a surefire Mcdonalds All American candidate.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
That's great and all but we want to know who will be 10th in the rotation and why they won't be getting 15+ min/game.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. The dude is a winning player based on intangibles and is built like a tank. Does not need to be a star, but plays to win.
Is there any chance Hawkins could transition to a 5?
Players that could've replaced AM:
Belo and Da'Monte. Belo for sure was playing better than AM last year. Da'Monte was a 3 machine and played better defense. Sometimes AM played good defense (2H of the season)...many times he was cold from 3 (nearly all season) It's hard to say "what if" and you can perfectly make an argument for the other side that them coming off the bench was a key to the success of the team...but I do feel BU placated to him a bit to keep him "happy".
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
glad you posted that b/c I was thinking the same thing.....................Ty does everything great.....I know it's HS but he might be our next 4 year starter
jmho
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
much bigger offensive upside
Curbelo averaged 21.5 mpg, Miller 25.5 mpg. Damonte got 24.9 mpg. Damonte shot a good percentage, but he only averaged 5.5 ppg because he has always been so hesitant to take a shot.
Again, I sure as heck don't think Miller was playing simply to keep momma happy. He played because he was a good player. His shooting was not great, but with a year experience and practice, if he increases his shooting % as a Soph, he becomes one of our best players and all that experience becomes invaluable.
The problem the Fr. have this year is Trent and Damonte got an extra year. So the roster got backed up a bit, otherwise, they'd be getting a lot more PT.
Definitely not a knock on Podz because everything we have heard has been positive. Epps has been playing against high level competition so I think his transition will be easier. Harris is more of a question mark for me. He seems like the "microwave" scorer. Probably more of a Plummer replacement than a primary ball handler.
Hawkins has great leaps, great size and excellent ball handling skills. He needs to develop his offensive game to either drive to the hoop or catch and shoot the three. I think he could replace Grandison at the 4 next year but he has to provide more offensive and cutout the ticky tack fouls.
Maybe he could develop the high low post game with Dain next year.
Maybe he could develop the high low post game with Dain next year.
I think the question is the 3 or the 4. He could probably play either at this level. The team is definitely losing Damonte and possibly Grandison. That definitely creates opportunity for Ty, Luke, and RJ. I think all 3 will end up playing pretty large roles next year.
Miller certainly showed good quickness, jumping ability and a nice outside shot. He had trouble finishing in the paint (need to get stronger). Worked very hard on defense.
He could have had a major role this year at Illinois but chose to leave. Maybe he did not want to get compared to Ayo. That is on him.
We have moved on. Luke, RJ and Pods want to be here and are already making contributions on a veteran squad.
Harris Epps Rodgers and Dainja want to be here.
Brad is recruiting great!
He could have had a major role this year at Illinois but chose to leave. Maybe he did not want to get compared to Ayo. That is on him.
We have moved on. Luke, RJ and Pods want to be here and are already making contributions on a veteran squad.
Harris Epps Rodgers and Dainja want to be here.
Brad is recruiting great!
I'm really getting a Jay Wright vibe from BU lately. Not in play style, but just overall where our program is heading. BU knows exactly what type of guys he wants, he's not chasing stars or winning the high profile recruits over Duke, UK, etc. We will rarely be the most talked about team in the preseason. The blue bloods can keep that honor (because it means nothing). But every year, no matter how much talent we lost or how highly rated our incoming class is, the Illini will be dangerous in March.
Big Jack
- Decatur
I will first start by clarifying that I am in no way a talent expert or a coach, just an experienced arm chair know it all.
IMHO Hawkins has a lot of talent, he can handle the ball very well, passes better than average and certainly has shown glimpses of being a decent shooter, however that being said he seems to over think everything. His inability to feed Kofi is infuriating. He panics every time he tries to drive the lane as in the NW game Sunday. He seems to have that fear if he screws up he will be benched look so he hesitates then passes.
Wish he could.just get out of his own way. We all saw what he is capable of vs Rutgers earlier.
I see we crossed from the "We are getting all the players we want!" phase to the "Where's the playing time for all these players? (Insert name) will be looking to transfer out!" phase.
Classic. I think the next phase is "Recruiting is fluid." Do I have that right?
Classic. I think the next phase is "Recruiting is fluid." Do I have that right?
Three are out of eligibility, so that leaves Kofi and Jake. Like to see them back but think the odds are against it. Kofi the toughest to replace and will have more effect on team style than Ayo leaving. Plenty of time to worry about that later.
My ideal starters next year:
Curbelo, Boswell, Melendez, Rogers/Goode, Kofi
Curbelo, Boswell, Melendez, Rogers/Goode, Kofi
soupy17
- MI
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Hutch could in theory return with the COVID year correct? Feels like most are anticipating he does not with his continued health issues, but unless I'm missing something he's at the same eligibility level as Grandison.
soupy17
- MI
With Epps, Podz, CoHawk and Dainja/Payne off the bench...sheeeeesh
The 4 is his best position. Even if Kofi leaves, we still have Dainja, Payne, BBV, and Lieb at C. Hawkins can also help at C also, but his best position by far is PF.
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