So it's hit-or-miss with even the elite of the elite. Got it. I'd much prefer Morez's freshman season to be a substantial one instead of a learning-on-the-job one, and there's a much higher chance of success if he stays in the '24 class. JMHO.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Too soon for a '24.
Looks like 247 only has a top 59 for 2024 class. So evidently they don’t have him in that range if he doesn’t have a ranking. The services are more worried about reworking 2022 recruits and completing/reworking 2023 recruits. I saw that Rivals is coming out with their final 2022 ratings/rankings this week. These services have a limited amount of people working for them.
I can’t find ZZ’s birth date on line, but Skyy is listed as June 2003, which will make him a fairly old, 19 year old, freshman. If ZZ is just a year younger, as some here have stated, that would also make him a 19 year old freshman.
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
Wouldn’t you want them to be older when they get here - more physically and emotionally mature?
Very unlikely he’s going to be with Illini for 4 seasons given his ranking, so not sure why it really matters. Even if his freshman year with reclass is not as good as freshman year if he didn’t reclass, more than likely his 2024 sophomore season would be greater than a 2024 freshman year without reclass.
soupy17
- MI
Would you want to give them more time or opportunity to change their mind before they get on campus?
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
This.
We aren't talking about HS freshmen and sophs here. It's old juniors simply skipping one year of HS.
It's the make up of the kid and the program that decides how it works out...not that he's missing a senior year of HS.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
You don't want to see a kid take extra time in high school and do something that might disqualify them though.
For example, if the student has enough credits to graduate and they're only taking filler classes their senior year instead of graduating, you'd hate to see them blow them off to the point where their GPA might disqualify them in the Clearinghouse. The argument could be made that they should know to focus and stay qualified while in high school, but that's easier said than done with high school kids.
We also encourage high schoolers to look at dual credit programs so they can matriculate sooner and start working toward their careers. If these young men are seriously thinking about the NBA as their next career move, why shouldn't they be encouraged to move on like any other high schooler?
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
Curious where ZZ would stack up in the 2023 class. Depending on his physical maturity, that extra year can mean a lot for athletic skills. Thinking of 5* Khristian Lander joining the Hoosiers a year early, and he definitely struggled more than I think most expected. The physical maturity seemed to be an issue in the rugged Big 10. Of course, his coach was fired and he struggled the following year too...
Edit: I see this has been well covered...
Edit: I see this has been well covered...
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sacraig
- The desert
That depends on the person. Some are already at that level. Mostly I'd just like them to be good at basketball.
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
So
So we should beat everyone to the punch and recruit a couple years out, and then have them reclass so they don’t change their mind? Seems a bit paranoid to me.
ZZ certainly looks physically ready and if just a year younger than Skyy and trained with him can’t see how it could hurt. Not likely to use 4 yrs of eligibility anyway. If seemed like possibility, than a redshirt costs a scholarship but best way to have him ready.
This is a pretty important comment. Pretty much any recruit is a hit or miss, with the top recruits hitting a little more often. That's why you stack as much talent as possible.
Morez would get a lot better playing against guys like Coleman Hawkins and Dainja, instead of his high school classmates.
uofi7477
- Silver & Gold Vandals
Iowa?
It may not be ideal for players to reclassify, but if they’re that talented, you take the risk. Another school would only be happy to accept them.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
He's a righty?! Hard pass.
One thing to remember in the reclass debate is a lot of times parents will "hold" back there child early on to give them a foot up in sports. This usually happens if the parents are not sure the kid will be a high D1 talent (the can't miss types are different). Once the kid develops and is getting major interest it really is just them catching back up to their original class.
Not speaking to specific examples and I don't know the Clarks situation but from what others posted it seems like they are both on the older side from their classes.
Attachments
sacraig
- The desert
For every argument about some slight increase in potential success by staying in school an extra year, there's an equally compelling argument about the risk of injury during that extra year before they ever suit up for the team. Meanwhile, by bringing in top talent a year early, it frees you up to go after more top talent for the subsequent year. From a program perspective, it's absolutely the right call to get top prospects in ASAP.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
If they are good academically this could be a good situation to red shirt if they aren't ready physically. Then ZZ or whomever could learn the system and become adjusted to college. Much like they did years ago when freshman were not eligible.
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