DMW is coming back?
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Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Covid Year? Doesn't that apply to him too?
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
I'm accepting that Belo might be gone (it still hurts), but there has to be a way to have two stellar PGs on a single roster.
If you want to play fast, you need to rest guys. You need someone to lead the second unit to avoid going silent the way we did at times this season. It'll never be 50/50, but there has to be a way to manage it.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
You are correct, Sir.
While I loved watching Cook, I totally forgot what a stud prospect he was before he came here.
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
It’s not true love
Omg thank you
Have Epps coming…..might not be room for 3 PGs that all want the ball.
Not his couch like Hunter Dickinson
I mean, even if you forget Dee and Deron, it was just one season ago Baylor managed to get Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler to coexist. All that yielded them was a national championship.
Man y’all got me dreaming on a Clark, Shannon, Melendez, Hawkins/Goode, Kofi lineup. That team has shooting, length, defense, toughness, explosion and a two time All American behemoth to boot. Add Rogers, Epps, Podz, Payne and Dainja. Would be incredible.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
Sure, but then it's a matter of telling all three the truth: you're going to compete for your spot. If you're not smart with the ball, if you can't do what we're asking, then the writing's on the wall.
If Belo still left after that kind of situation, I'd have less of a bitter taste in my mouth because it'd be based on his merits instead of an injury and illness plagued season where he never really hit his stride.
I keep thinking about the out east/legend post about him from last night. I keep thinking about Duke and how ESPN was so quick to point out it had been his dream school growing up. I don't like it.
Those days are over...
Epps isn’t really a PG. He may become a lead guard but I think initially his role will be off the bench with a green light to just get buckets.
Kruger benefited from an extraodinary run of downstate talent in Illinois
Peoria
- Marcus Griffin
- Frank Williams
- Sergio McClain
Bloomington
- Brian Cook
We missed on some good ones
Galesburg Joey Range -> Iowa
Fenwick (Chicago) Corey Magguette - Duke
Quentin Richardson (Chicago) -> DePaul
Peoria
- Marcus Griffin
- Frank Williams
- Sergio McClain
Bloomington
- Brian Cook
We missed on some good ones
Galesburg Joey Range -> Iowa
Fenwick (Chicago) Corey Magguette - Duke
Quentin Richardson (Chicago) -> DePaul
So really what your saying is the top dogs are gonna be trading players all the time? Jk. It will be a vicious cycle. Freshmen commit to top program, freshmen gets over recruited/beat out for playing time by grad transfer, transfers to another school and takes minutes from developing soph/junior at another school, soph/junior transfers from that school to steal minutes from incoming freshmen. One of these days these kids are gonna realize that hard work and determination will get you to your goal wether you stick it out at the school you pledged to or if you transfer 3-4 times. Bottom line if you are not a guaranteed starter AND completely happy you can and will get recruited over. Do you think coaches are just gonna sit back and wait until all off season conversations have concluded to start looking at the portal? Heck no, they have to cover their a$$e$ as well. Welcome to the new college basketball free agency. Now its even worse than the NBA, no salary cap on these schools/boosters.
And yet we made it work with Ayo, Trent and Belo last season.
Look, I'm very high on Skyy and Epps. They have tons of talent. But they'll be true Freshmen. They've never played at this level. Look how amazing Max Christie was in the nonconference schedule. Once Big Ten competition hit though, his performance really levelled off. It's a tough adjustment and the idea of not having any PG with experience at this level does make me nervous. We know what Belo is capable of. If either of these guys can have the Freshman season Belo had, I'll be ecstatic, but that is a tall order, and Belo wasn't asked to do as much as it seems like Skyy and Epps will be asked to do.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Cook is from Lincoln.........a proud Railsplitter
Loyalty the last 24 hours proves us Illini fans are indeed crazy. This is the most action I’ve seen on a non big commitment day ever, and I feel like there has been more traffic than most of those.
I'm sure the line up could possibly be even better. We don't even know what Danja or other newcomers may bring. The good thing about high major transfers is you have a good idea.
If they are unhappy and being social about it why would we be worried about them leaving? Wish them the best. Once that cat is out the bag the relationship with the coaches is fractured i would believe. Its all about trust and im not sure how much i could trust a 20 year old to go all out for me if there is discontent. Its funny to me that the 2 guys being mentioned most about transferring were the 2 worst at complaining to refs when things didnt go their way. Underwood can't stand that crap. You gotta play with emotion but controlled emotion.
Yeah, and I feel bad for everyone involved, especially AC. Tough kid, hard worker, very talented, and suffered a really disruptive and unpredictable injury. For sure I'll root for him whatever he decides.
If we wind up with as much turnover as is being discussed, I won't complain. College bball is a big business, and the athletes deserve to have more mobility IMO to find whatever fit they think they can get. I do enjoy seeing young players develop at Illinois, but I get it. We've been very fortunate to have guys like Ayo, Kofi, Trent, DMW, Feliz, etc., who bought in and turned the program around. And of course Underwood has done a miracle --just needs to get a few more tourney wins.
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