Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[jumpingjack]

That player seems very committed for next year. I know he had some connection with Belo, but I think he knows his opportunity is here.

Also, is that technically allowed in todays transfer rules? You can’t actually recruit unless a guy is in the portal, right? Not that rules have ever stopped anyone…

I hate that I know who you're talking about

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Where do we stand with Murray?

Everything I hear is that it's going to be very tough to beat out G-Town and Nickelberry.

 

[TheBattleAward]

Don’t want Podz to leave. If he does I’ll root for him and try to catch his games.

Kids a winner, a hard worker, and a high volume scorer. And I think he can do it at this level.

But I know if he leaves it means we must have a really great player coming in that would limit his playing time. It would have to be a really good one though.

The thing I like about Podz is he has the attitude that he belongs, I believe he does too. He is going to be good, I hope it's in orange and blue

 

[BashCtIllini]

Everything I hear is that it's going to be very tough to beat out G-Town and Nickelberry.

It's home and it's his old coach, but damn kid:

15-15
19-14
15-17
13-13
6-25

under Patrick Ewing. Only 1 NCAA tournament appearance due to an improbable Big East Tourney victory, then they were smoked in the tourney game 1. Only one season better that .500.

You can do better my friend. Patrick doesn't have it.

 

[jumpingjack]

The thing I like about Podz is he has the attitude that he belongs, I believe he does too. He is going to be good, I hope it's in orange and blue

Every minute he played this year, he looked the part of an every day guy.
I'd be very disappointed if he left.

 

[Illini_Jack]

I'm glad I've stopped getting attached to these players. The transfer portal is the new norm in college basketball. Good luck to Payne and Belo and anyone else that decides to transfer too

 

[Longtimelurker]

I'm glad I've stopped getting attached to these players. The transfer portal is the new norm in college basketball. Good luck to Payne and Belo and anyone else that decides to transfer too

 

[logjam]

Plus with him going to Chicago with Kofi, one could assume Kofi is at least friends with BBV if not close friends. If Kofi stays, not a bad thing to keep his friends close — especially when he is a serviceable backup.

Who passes up a trip to Chicago? One more memory with his buds, maybe.

 

[Newmark4thFloor]

JMO, RJ I believe can be our next star "non Kofi" upperclassmen...he is a natural playmaker. AC, Goode and Podz should be glue guys that shine. Freshmen will prosper in the rotation and get great minutes, if not start.

 

[illinitiger]

Lol,...thinking CH and typed "A,..".....but I do love AC wherever he lands/does.

 

[DICKnaggie]

Everything I hear is that it's going to be very tough to beat out G-Town and Nickelberry.

So...maybe next year once GT finally fires PE? What a strange place that athletic department is in continually trying to make things work with Ewing.

 

[logjam]

I just can’t imagine there’s gonna be 3-4 transfers that all pick Illiniois. If we truly have 3 more transferring out, and they are all theoretically at the bottom of the roster (BBV, Lieb, Podz?) do we really expect all the transfers to come here and compete with a team that looks to be 13 Deep in starter caliber players?

Kty takes a transfer consistently lately. Tsheibwe?

 

[alexander58]

I'm glad I've stopped getting attached to these players. The transfer portal is the new norm in college basketball. Good luck to Payne and Belo and anyone else that decides to transfer too

I really enjoy watching players improve. I’m not a big fan of college free agency

 

[IlliniUnited]

Dalen Davis – 2023 – PG – Meanstreets

Saw him play twice at state. Does not look like a guard that would be a starter on a top half of the Big Ten team. Ames is much better on both sides of the ball.

 

[Spirit of the Prairie]

Feel for Payne. Came here thinking Kofi was gone and the extremely low odd outcome came to fruition. Plenty of dumb fouls but B1G officials did him no favors. Hope he can land at a place at an AAC school and really elevate their defense and have more offensive opportunities.

I think he never got a fair chance, not from coaching decisions and certainly not from refs. He had a lot more potential than he was allowed to show on the court. Unless Kofi and BBV stay (and I hope they do!) are we going to make up for size with amazing speed and shooting ability?

 

[FlotownIllini]

Will forever remember the Omar spin move and finish at the rim. Legend. Good luck at your next destination big man

That really was impressive. One of the only times we really saw his true potential. Not sure exactly why he could never seem to get anything going consistently. Hope he finds the right fit in his next destination. Grateful for his time as an Illini!

 

[Keisersose]

I think he never got a fair chance, not from coaching decisions and certainly not from refs. He had a lot more potential than he was allowed to show on the court. Unless Kofi and BBV stay (and I hope they do!) are we going to make up for size with amazing speed and shooting ability?

Dainja seems to have passed him on the depth chart. BBV looked better at times on defense even.

I don’t know what you mean by fair chance. I saw his athleticism and his ranking out of HS and thought he’d be a good replacement for Giorgi. He was ok. And showed some flashes at times. But I never felt great when he entered the game.

 

[Spirit of the Prairie]

I’ll be really sad if Podz leaves. Kid never really got a shot and he committed to us when he had a ton of high major options. I need to see more of those rainbow threes he hit at NW

If Podz leaves, that will be a big loss to Illinois and I will never understand Underwood's persistent refusal to put him in. Was this some kind of power or ego thing from Underwood for his dad, like we always heard about with Adam Miller's kin? Seemed like in games when we really, really needed somebody who could make baskets, he MIGHT get in occasionally for a nanosecond, then back out to cheer on the sidelines. Seemed like a much more engaged and enthusiastic Illini than some others. Hope he stays. This portal stuff stinks and is ruining college basketball AND making even more of a mockery of the "college" part of it than ever (see UNC and Kansas, just for two).

 

[Spirit of the Prairie]

Who passes up a trip to Chicago? One more memory with his buds, maybe.

Or a consultation with Ayo.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

If Podz leaves, that will be a big loss to Illinois and I will never understand Underwood's persistent refusal to put him in. Was this some kind of power or ego thing from Underwood for his dad, like we always heard about with Adam Miller's kin? Seemed like in games when we really, really needed somebody who could make baskets, he MIGHT get in occasionally for a nanosecond, then back out to cheer on the sidelines. Seemed like a much more engaged and enthusiastic Illini than some others. Hope he stays. This portal stuff stinks and is ruining college basketball AND making even more of a mockery of the "college" part of it than ever (see UNC and Kansas, just for two).

I think it’s just a numbers game. Most teams don’t go much more than 8 deep. Payne, Hawkins, and Curbelo were basically guaranteed their roles. That left the 3 freshmen fighting for the scraps.

 

[IllinistuckinGopherland]

If Podz leaves, that will be a big loss to Illinois and I will never understand Underwood's persistent refusal to put him in. Was this some kind of power or ego thing from Underwood for his dad, like we always heard about with Adam Miller's kin? Seemed like in games when we really, really needed somebody who could make baskets, he MIGHT get in occasionally for a nanosecond, then back out to cheer on the sidelines. Seemed like a much more engaged and enthusiastic Illini than some others. Hope he stays. This portal stuff stinks and is ruining college basketball AND making even more of a mockery of the "college" part of it than ever (see UNC and Kansas, just for two).

You know what impresses me about Brad Underwood? It’s his ability to win a Big Ten title, while simultaneously and vindictively denying playing time to the 5th guard on the depth chart in order to stick it to his dad to make sure he knows who the man is.

/s

 

[BashCtIllini]

I need a dominant erupt here badly

 

[alexander58]

Who do you suggest should have sit instead of Podz?

If Underwood thought Podz was capable of filling in more, he would have played more often. More often than not, I will take a coaches’ side on playing time decisions. Fans don’t make good coaches.

 

[St Michel]

Just saw Jalen Hooks mentioned on Twitter as a possibility for illinois, and he liked the tweet. Maybe he's been mentioned before but I haven't noticed it.

 

[logjam]

With Omar announcing, I would guess the other definite would be Lieb. The one that’s contingent, I’m guessing is Podz. If we bring in Clark, Shannon, and Williams, along with Epps and Harris, I don’t see minutes for him.

I don't seem to know anything about how a 2nd year in the system Podz will end up...does anyone? I'm guessing he's putting in the work to find out.