Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[ElGran]

We have all lamented our PG depth to some degree this off-season. Even if both Skyy and Epps stay, 3 PGs is probably the minimum you would have ideally.

I think last season showed how important it is to have PG depth. Curbelo got hurt and we really had no good options for high level PG play. And yes, this upcoming season, it’s a big concern. Hopefully Skyy stays healthy and Epps and Rodgers can provide reasonable backup.

 

[combes]

View attachment 20182
I think Brian Johnson was last Illini basketball player to get an engineering degree. FYI - he was a walk on and Lucas' younger brother. My understanding was they don't let football and basketball players major in engineering because the lab classes get in the way of afternoon practices.

Brian walked on, earned a scholarship, and started on a Big Ten championship team.

 

[aaeismacgychel]

View attachment 20182
I think Brian Johnson was last Illini basketball player to get an engineering degree. FYI - he was a walk on and Lucas' younger brother. My understanding was they don't let football and basketball players major in engineering because the lab classes get in the way of afternoon practices.

I saw others respond, but this can't possibly be true unless things have changed significantly in the past 10-15 years. I know in the early to late 2000s we would regularly have a couple football player engineers. Heck, I almost want to say that even into the mid 2010s we'd have at least 1 starter who majored in engineering, usually in the O-Line or snapper.

Yeah, I just looked up and currently there's 3 Illini football players majoring in engineering. I'm calling this debunked:
Grayson Griffin- Electrical Eng
Devin Hale- Systems Eng
Jake Huber- Mech Eng

Also Johnny Newton intends on keeping his grades up so he can transfer into mechanical engineering. He apparently just missed the cut on qualifying upon enrolling but has a strong drive to get in. My guess as to why we don't see more engineers on the field is that having B10 level athletic talent is rare and having UofI Engineering level math and science ability is rare, so having both is just exceptionally rare.

 

[The Galloping Ghost]

I saw others respond, but this can't possibly be true unless things have changed significantly in the past 10-15 years. I know in the early to late 2000s we would regularly have a couple football player engineers. Heck, I almost want to say that even into the mid 2010s we'd have at least 1 starter who majored in engineering, usually in the O-Line or snapper.

Yeah, I just looked up and currently there's 3 Illini football players majoring in engineering. I'm calling this debunked:
Grayson Griffin- Electrical Eng
Devin Hale- Systems Eng
Jake Huber- Mech Eng

Also Johnny Newton intends on keeping his grades up so he can transfer into mechanical engineering. He apparently just missed the cut on qualifying upon enrolling but has a strong drive to get in. My guess as to why we don't see more engineers on the field is that having B10 level athletic talent is rare and having UofI Engineering level math and science ability is rare, so having both is just exceptionally rare.

 

[doowink]

I saw others respond, but this can't possibly be true unless things have changed significantly in the past 10-15 years. I know in the early to late 2000s we would regularly have a couple football player engineers. Heck, I almost want to say that even into the mid 2010s we'd have at least 1 starter who majored in engineering, usually in the O-Line or snapper.

Yeah, I just looked up and currently there's 3 Illini football players majoring in engineering. I'm calling this debunked:
Grayson Griffin- Electrical Eng
Devin Hale- Systems Eng
Jake Huber- Mech Eng

Also Johnny Newton intends on keeping his grades up so he can transfer into mechanical engineering. He apparently just missed the cut on qualifying upon enrolling but has a strong drive to get in. My guess as to why we don't see more engineers on the field is that having B10 level athletic talent is rare and having UofI Engineering level math and science ability is rare, so having both is just exceptionally rare.

 

[Noblesville Illini]

I still can't get over how weird is it that a keystone moment for our program's recruiting was losing our entire coaching assistant staff after a (statistical) co-big ten title season...

Simple addition by subtraction!

 

[Noblesville Illini]

when is the last time we ever took any kind of player from Purdue's front yard ?

Well, not since Brian Cardinal! Still bitter about that one. It was Rod Cardinal's son for crying out loud!

 

[bavanga3]

I was off. It was 2007-2018. Frazier was not a top 100 prospect. He just kicked the rankings systems but with hard work.

Did he end up dropping out? I know he was 80s and 90s for a while.

 

[CHI 1086]

View attachment 20182
I think Brian Johnson was last Illini basketball player to get an engineering degree. FYI - he was a walk on and Lucas' younger brother. My understanding was they don't let football and basketball players major in engineering because the lab classes get in the way of afternoon practices.

Was he there in the late 70s?

 

[rbillini]

I saw others respond, but this can't possibly be true unless things have changed significantly in the past 10-15 years. I know in the early to late 2000s we would regularly have a couple football player engineers. Heck, I almost want to say that even into the mid 2010s we'd have at least 1 starter who majored in engineering, usually in the O-Line or snapper.

Yeah, I just looked up and currently there's 3 Illini football players majoring in engineering. I'm calling this debunked:
Grayson Griffin- Electrical Eng
Devin Hale- Systems Eng
Jake Huber- Mech Eng

Also Johnny Newton intends on keeping his grades up so he can transfer into mechanical engineering. He apparently just missed the cut on qualifying upon enrolling but has a strong drive to get in. My guess as to why we don't see more engineers on the field is that having B10 level athletic talent is rare and having UofI Engineering level math and science ability is rare, so having both is just exceptionally rare.

I’d say the only reason that Ardmore engineers on the field is that the engineering campus is on the far end of campus from the football fields. That on long walk.

 

[Manual3for4peat]

Did he end up dropping out? I know he was 80s and 90s for a while.

Just going off what Werner said on Illini Inquirer. I believe 2/3 services had him outside of the top 100.

 

[Illini in OC]

I'm wondering if Epps not showing strong as a PG in practice drove the staff to push harder for another PG.

uh no

 

[Illini in OC]

We should absolutely still take a grizzled veteran passing offense-initiating true true point guard in the portal.

Always have a player like that on the team no matter what.

We already have Goode at the 2. We're covered. /s

 

[jezzadownunder]

Well, not since Brian Cardinal! Still bitter about that one. It was Rod Cardinal's son for crying out loud!

Played w Brian in HS. He was 2 years older

 

[combes]

Was he there in the late 70s?

Brian started for Lon Kruger’s Big Ten championship team in late 90s. Lou Henson’s players: Kevin Turner, Jerry Hester, Matt Heldman, Jerry Gee, Brian Johnson.

Kruger won a BT title with Lou’s players.

Self won two BT titles with Kruger’s recruits: Frank Williams, Brian Cook, Sergio McClain, Cory Bradford, Marcus Griffin, Robert Archibald, Lucas Johnson, Damir Krupalija, Sean Harrington.

Weber won two BT titles with Self’s recruits: Dee, Deron, Augustine

 

[Joel Goodson]

Brian started for Lon Kruger’s Big Ten championship team in late 90s. Lou Henson’s players: Kevin Turner, Jerry Hester, Matt Heldman, Jerry Gee, Brian Johnson.

Kruger won a BT title with Lou’s players.

Self won two BT titles with Kruger’s recruits: Frank Williams, Brian Cook, Sergio McClain, Cory Bradford, Marcus Griffin, Robert Archibald, Lucas Johnson, Damir Krupalija, Sean Harrington.

Weber won two BT titles with Self’s recruits: Dee, Deron, Augustine

And Daddy Brad is amassing a passel of titles with his recruits.

 

[RichardKeenesCousin]

Brian started for Lon Kruger’s Big Ten championship team in late 90s. Lou Henson’s players: Kevin Turner, Jerry Hester, Matt Heldman, Jerry Gee, Brian Johnson.

Kruger won a BT title with Lou’s players.

Self won two BT titles with Kruger’s recruits: Frank Williams, Brian Cook, Sergio McClain, Cory Bradford, Marcus Griffin, Robert Archibald, Lucas Johnson, Damir Krupalija, Sean Harrington.

Weber won two BT titles with Self’s recruits: Dee, Deron, Augustine

I loved that team. No one had them winning it. But they put on a very balanced show. Didnt Jerry Gee change his name to Jerrod right before his senior year? What was that all about?