Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
I try not to be in a hurry to get anywhere (or “anywhen”).Sure, but 3 time zones to the east we get to 2:30 (and 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, etc.) 3 hours ahead of you!
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
- Status
Clark-RJ-Shannon-Hawk-Kofi w/ Dainja, Goode, etc. off the bench is a top 5 squad on paper.
Luke is going to feast on wide open threes next year. He's our Stefanovic.
Luke is going to feast on wide open threes next year. He's our Stefanovic.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Gotta assume Grandy and Hutch won’t be back.
Even with TSJ (if that happens), I’d love one more experienced ball handler (which would mean one more would have to go, assuming we get TSJ).
I think the current squad could really use guys with experience. TSJ has played a lot for some really good teams. Shannon could play two more if he chooses. Seems like its going to be a year to year question for everyone, so if it were up to me, take the guy who gives you the best chance to win now & worry about next year, next year.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
With the number of players hitting the transfer portal every season, I wouldn't personally bank on any one player staying for 3 years. Apples to apples, I would compare one year of Hopkins vs. one year of Shannon. Who knows what will happen after that.
I'm impatient. I need this to happen by close of business today. You hear me, @TSJ-Illini?!?
I get that but with only one transfer barring a coach leaving then if Hopkins were to transfer again he would be force to sit out a year. I doubt that's likely.
It would be interesting to know what the coaches know about who is staying,going or if they even know themselves. I know some insiders have posted as many as five leaving and I'm not sure Jacob was included in that number. That will greatly impact offers.
I'll always be partial to Gill-Anderson-Battle-Liberty-etc when it comes to most talented Illini teams. On paper, Lowell Hamilton was ranked about as high as anyone in the country and he was the 5th or 6th most talented player on those teams. Larry Smith ranked super high as well, and there's still our favorite announcer Bardo, and Deon Thomas would have been part of that team if not for Bruce Pearl.
Edit - think I was wrong about Deon....he would have been on the following year's team with Bardo, Liberty and Gill after Nick and Kenny left for NBA
Last edited:
This I want to like this twice
I'm taking the known quantity every day of the week.
Germanboxers
- Fort Wayne, IN
Deon sat out 89/90 season, not 88/89, the year Nick, Gill, Liberty, Battle and Hamilton were all together. But your point stands without adding Deon to the mix. That was an extremely talented team by HS ranking and by performance relative to other top teams that year.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
But, what if they are?
Good God! You'll hear the announcement before he announces it! This could end "time" as we know it!Sure, but 3 time zones to the east we get to 2:30 (and 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, etc.) 3 hours ahead of you!
The other factor to consider is where that scholarship would go after TSJ's one year. Could be we have 2023 prep prospects we rate highly and we'd rather the spot opens up instead of having it reserved for Hopkins. For example, what if Morez Johnson reclassifies, as has been rumored, and brings James Brown along with him? I could see having both Hopkins and CoHawk on roster already complicate that.
247 Composite as Prospects
Cockburn - 46
Rodgers - 54
Epps - 71
Dainja - 91
Melendez - 94
Goode - 102
Harris - 102
Podz - 109
Hawkins - 168
Lieb - 480
BBV - N/A
Clark - 27
Shannon - 90
tbh it’s really not that special on paper…some of those guys around 100 look like far superior prospects than their ranking, though.
Cockburn - 46
Rodgers - 54
Epps - 71
Dainja - 91
Melendez - 94
Goode - 102
Harris - 102
Podz - 109
Hawkins - 168
Lieb - 480
BBV - N/A
Clark - 27
Shannon - 90
tbh it’s really not that special on paper…some of those guys around 100 look like far superior prospects than their ranking, though.
madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
Good post. On paper, not the greatest Illini team talent-wise, but if coaches can keep getting kids to outplay their rankings, we're all going to be very, very happy.
Now back to watching Tiger at the Masters. Talk about comebacks
Talk about being loaded with talent top to bottom... for reference... I believe that when Ayo committed he was the only top-100 player in the program. Then, when Kofi committed it was just those 2. Just a crazy influx of talent over a short period of time.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Yep, with Clark & Shannon, we’d have 9 players in the top 109.
Why not neck size or admissions?
- Status