Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[FreshlySqueezed]

'cause they're old (and rich)?

Funny timing. There's actually an article on The Athletic now about this exact thing. Good article for anyone with a subscription.

On the sidelines in your 70s? This generation of coaches says no thanks

A conflux of factors — like NIL, the transfer portal and rising salaries — has younger coaches contemplating shorter careers.

theathletic.com

To summarize, it's 4 main reasons why the old guard is leaving and why the new guard have no desire to coach as long as the old (into their 70s).

-Roster uncertainty
-The great unknown of NIL
-Social media-enhanced tension
-Money (increased salaries for coaches).

 

[john1952]

I hope RJ is back next year r and has gotten rid of the yipps.

If we aree bringing in 4 veteran portal players, I could see RJ leaving for a situation similar to PODZ.

 

[Big Jack]

We have 1 open now; TSJ and Mayer leave, CH likely gone: scholarship obligation to Lieb is fulfilled; Skyy and Perrin are gone. That is 7 available places assuming everyone else stays. We have 2 recruits, so space for 5 new guys unless CH and/or Lieb decide to stay another year or the coach decides to leave a space open.

Think you are wrong regarding Lieb he has not used all 4 years yet

 

[WeWillWhen]

I got a feeling Ace or AJ storr may be linking back up with the beloved. We shall see, I think the latter is more likely

The other that has been subtly eluded to may be Jaden Schutt.

Yeah . . . I don’t think so.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

'cause they're old (and rich)?

I'm sure that's a component, but the reality is that the days of recruiting, developing and managing their programs is over. The off-season is like NBA free agency. You have no control what your roster is going to look like year after year. It's bitten us a few times, but it's also benefitted us a few times. Less any out of left field surprises, we can probably nail down, MAYBE, 4-5 for sures to return? That's on the heels of losing the top 6 from last year's team. The mid majors have become the high majors farm system. I don't know the inner workings of how all of this works in the background, but rerecruiting your own players, going into the portal, then recruiting HS players....I can see where it wouldn't be appealing for some. Heck, I'm an avid fan and it's stressing me out already and the season isn't even over.

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1626422256002818049

 

[OrangeAndBlueBlooded]

Id be shocked if we ever have all scholarships used come the first game of a season. BU has explicitly stated he likes keeping one open.

On another note, I know the game has changed, but it’s gotta be dang exhausting to basically recruit half your roster year in and year out. And probably close to impossible to have the kind of roster you actually want as a coach.

Not to mention trying to keep your current players from transferring.

 

[St Michel]

Think you are wrong regarding Lieb he has not used all 4 years yet

Shannon can also return if he wants. Mayer leaving is the only certainty.

 

[jjv0004]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1626422256002818049

His athleticism jumps out to say the least (the 55 second mark!!). I don't seem to remember him being that kind of athlete in the videos I used to watch of him. Give me way more athletes like him that can also shoot.

 

[BashCtIllini]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1626422256002818049

How much are these kids getting paid to play hero ball offense and half@$$ed defense?

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

I'm sure that's a component, but the reality is that the days of recruiting, developing and managing their programs is over. The off-season is like NBA free agency. You have no control what your roster is going to look like year after year. It's bitten us a few times, but it's also benefitted us a few times. Less any out of left field surprises, we can probably nail down, MAYBE, 4-5 for sures to return? That's on the heels of losing the top 6 from last year's team. The mid majors have become the high majors farm system. I don't know the inner workings of how all of this works in the background, but rerecruiting your own players, going into the portal, then recruiting HS players....I can see where it wouldn't be appealing for some. Heck, I'm an avid fan and it's stressing me out already and the season isn't even over.

Much more difficult than NBA free agency. Basically everyone is on a one year contract.

 

[Joel Goodson]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1626620969136652289

 

[Combo]

His athleticism jumps out to say the least (the 55 second mark!!). I don't seem to remember him being that kind of athlete in the videos I used to watch of him. Give me way more athletes like him that can also shoot.

College ball might not be fun for him cause he’s not going to get away w 90% of this when the opponent is actually playing defense.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Yep, D1 head coaches have it terrible. And it's a flippin' travesty that players have attained nearly the freedom that their coaches have had forever.

 

[Calvin]

College ball might not be fun for him cause he’s not going to get away w 90% of this when the opponent is actually playing defense.

They're highlights. Sometimes it's good to see what a guy can do at his best (or the defenses worst), or just see players having fun.

 

[NJJ871]

How much are these kids getting paid to play hero ball offense and half@$$ed defense?

You're being very generous regarding the defensive effort.

 

[WhiteHorseWings]

How much are these kids getting paid to play hero ball offense and half@$$ed defense?

Probably depends how good they are at it

 

[Illinifan74]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1626422256002818049

I think if he tried that under the legs pass in a game at the U of I, we would see Brad's head actually explode due to the force of the @$$ chewing that would ensue.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

For all the over-the-top praise we typically lay on our recruits, DGL is getting the opposite. I don't get it. What has he done to garner all this negativity? Transfer? Dunk in a game that was over?
Don't injure your hands clutching your pearls. He's a 17 year old kid, with a lot of talent.
With fans like these, who needs haters?

 

[BashCtIllini]

For all the over-the-top praise we typically lay on our recruits, DGL is getting the opposite. I don't get it. What has he done to garner all this negativity? Transfer? Dunk in a game that was over?
Don't injure your hands clutching your pearls. He's a 17 year old kid, with a lot of talent.
With fans like these, who needs haters?

Well he has bounced from school to school, is already on his 2nd college before stepping a foot on campus, and has a known entourage concern for starters.

In terms of his game, he was ranked as high as #30 overall when he committed to Purdue, but it has been all downhill since then. He was great in the early spring session last year and kinda disappeared after that. Went to Montverde and was on the end of the bench. He's now gone to this pay for play "league" which looks like garbage basketball.

So there is a healthy dose of skepticism that he will stay here for more than 1 season, because he has never really done that before. He's also pretty small, so while he's an impressive leaper, he personally will get sent into the 3rd row and the ball will go into the upper deck, if he tries that in college. So people are viewing him as a lottery ticket. He clearly has some ability, but will all his other issues trump that.

 

[jamarvelous31]

For all the over-the-top praise we typically lay on our recruits, DGL is getting the opposite. I don't get it. What has he done to garner all this negativity? Transfer? Dunk in a game that was over?
Don't injure your hands clutching your pearls. He's a 17 year old kid, with a lot of talent.
With fans like these, who needs haters?

I think given his frame and school changes there is enough noise to take a wait and see approach.

You have to remember this is the board that regularly compares top 50 highschool kids to borderline NBA hall of famers, so over-reaction shouldn't be confused as hate. The fact that we get to be skeptical of a top 100 recruit says something about where this program is on the court & off.

I trust our coaches to bring in a plan A-F to make sure it's a win-win for all of us, including the recruit.

 

[GBIllini]

I prefer to have a wait and see approach on all of our recruits. There is absolutely no way to know how they are going to work out until you put their feet to the fire, so to speak.

 

[Big Jack]

For all the over-the-top praise we typically lay on our recruits, DGL is getting the opposite. I don't get it. What has he done to garner all this negativity? Transfer? Dunk in a game that was over?
Don't injure your hands clutching your pearls. He's a 17 year old kid, with a lot of talent.
With fans like these, who needs haters?

The last sentence says it all! Well put. Until he gets here and plays he is good in my eyes. I say let him prove my ignorant bliss wrong. Not gonna knock him down until it is required ala Skyy!

 

[Battle89]

Much more difficult than NBA free agency. Basically everyone is on a one year contract.

Or half a year...or a couple months...

 

[Fighting I 95]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1626422256002818049

Finally someome to throw alley oops!