Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[jrichisamazing]

A borderline 5 star guy with 3 years of eligibility left, who could be better?

If you're asking most accomplished, definitely not. Tyger Campbell is a 3 time All Pac 12 1st team player. But I'd toss him in a second for Boswell, because Campbell is a rent-a-player and Boswell is someone you can build a program around. That is a huge deal.

Are we sure "building a program" is a thing still? In this environment, it seems like finding the best available talent is the way to go no matter how many years of eligibility. Boswell could easily come here, not like it, and transfer out again.

Give me Tyger, try to win as many games as possible this season, then reload again. The never ending cycle, until the NCAA enforces some different transfer rules.

 

[NJJ871]

I agree with you and so does the best hs coach that I've coached under, but this argument always makes me think of the exception to the rule

I went back and looked at the box score for that game - Dee and Deron shot a combined 3-14 from 3, but the rest of the team shot 9-16 (Luther was 6-11).

 

[Heisenbobble]

Are we sure "building a program" is a thing still? In this environment, it seems like finding the best available talent is the way to go no matter how many years of eligibility. Boswell could easily come here, not like it, and transfer out again.

Give me Tyger, try to win as many games as possible this season, then reload again. The never ending cycle, until the NCAA enforces some different transfer rules.

Not to mention that Boswell never really wanted to come to Illinois.

 

[jumpingjack]

Ah, that fateful day when Darryl Dawkins’ great-grandfather, Ebenezer Dawkins, lumbered into the gymnasium and dashed a thunderous dunk through the bottom of the ligneous basket, splintered the spindly stick over his thigh, and spake those famous words, “See youse in the Show, college boys!”

PotY

 

[IlliniDawgs]

If he's coming off the bench, that's fine. The issue is playing 5th year seniors that will only be here one season, over younger guys that you are trying to develop. I don't think many will be happy if this guy was playing ahead of Rodgers, Goode, or Hansberry.

Last year we specifically chose NOT to add a veteran guard because of the fear of what it would do to our freshmen guards… and they still left

While I agree there are some exceptions you really can’t think about multiple years in the future now. Just not really a thing

 

[BashCtIllini]

Are we sure "building a program" is a thing still? In this environment, it seems like finding the best available talent is the way to go no matter how many years of eligibility. Boswell could easily come here, not like it, and transfer out again.

Give me Tyger, try to win as many games as possible this season, then reload again. The never ending cycle, until the NCAA enforces some different transfer rules.

well you feel a little safer when the guy has already used a transfer. And with a guy like Boswell where his home is Arizona, but family is in Illinois, you would think his options would be extremely limited to avoid having to sit a year if he were to transfer a 2nd time.

 

[Nuke Dukem]

well you feel a little safer when the guy has already used a transfer. And with a guy like Boswell where his home is Arizona, but family is in Illinois, you would think his options would be extremely limited to avoid having to sit a year if he were to transfer a 2nd time.

I would normally agree with you however is a whole different animal

 

[21ChampaignSt]

A borderline 5 star guy with 3 years of eligibility left, who could be better?

If you're asking most accomplished, definitely not. Tyger Campbell is a 3 time All Pac 12 1st team player. But I'd toss him in a second for Boswell, because Campbell is a rent-a-player and Boswell is someone you can build a program around. That is a huge deal.

Sounds familiar

Edit: I'll add some commentary. In general, I'd like to avoid the one year rentals (unless we're talking about a role player/specialist) but I think it depends if TJ and Coleman come back. If so, give me one year of Tyger. Otherwise, give me Boswell. We really haven't had any continuity at point guard since Ayo left so it would be nice to work toward that.

 

[phats22]

Heard there was this kid from SIU on campus today, Damascus I think. Like the steel knives. they're pretty cool and swirly and kinda remind me of pru and his posts. I hope I see one of his posts today. I also heard something about a parrot? maybe that Damascus kid has one....this parrot I heard talked about seems particularly crazy tho. Somehow it has 1300 kids in it. Did it eat them? I feel like this should be a bigger news story, right?

There are new parrots everyday, I think that one is particularly large

 

[pruman91]

Heard there was this kid from SIU on campus today, Damascus I think. Like the steel knives. they're pretty cool and swirly and kinda remind me of pru and his posts. I hope I see one of his posts today. I also heard something about a parrot? maybe that Damascus kid has one. they're really cool birds. I had one stand on my head in Hawaii. this parrot I heard talked about seems particularly crazy tho. Somehow it has 1300 kids in it. Did it eat them? I feel like this should be a bigger news story, right?

ask and you shall receive.........

 

[jamarvelous31]

Not to mention that Boswell never really wanted to come to Illinois.

This. Didn't it come out afterwards that he only visited IL to make his mom happy?

 

[TheDukeUIUC]

I would normally agree with you however is a whole different animal

Underrated wordplay, lol

 

[pruman91]

Are we sure "building a program" is a thing still? In this environment, it seems like finding the best available talent is the way to go no matter how many years of eligibility. Boswell could easily come here, not like it, and transfer out again.

Give me Tyger, try to win as many games as possible this season, then reload again. The never ending cycle, until the NCAA enforces some different transfer rules.

 

[SescIllini]

Some young players in the portal getting time and stats at good programs. This is a problem IMHO. We saw this with Epps and Skyy this year and Adam Miller a couple years ago.

Not sure what else a coach/school can do.

 

[Rudd21]

Are we sure "building a program" is a thing still?

It better be. Throwing together a free agent team every year has never worked no matter how great the talent is.

The best teams this year - Houston, Purdue, Alabama, Kansas, UConn, FAU, Miami, San Diego State are all well built programs with continuity.

 

[Chuck Nuggets]

We were promised big things on Friday. It's Friday.

 

[ChiefIllinois]

It better be. Throwing together a free agent team every year has never worked no matter how great the talent is.

The best teams this year - Houston, Purdue, Alabama, Kansas, UConn, FAU, Miami, San Diego State are all well built programs with continuity.

RE Illinois continuity: it’s really just been last years team that lacked it. It’s the norm now for teams to have less than they used to. Without looking at exact numbers I assume the 20-21 and 21-22 had some well above average continuity production numbers. When you have three 5th year guys who started and one of the highest usage guys in the nation turn pro, your continuity numbers are going to drop.

This past year we obviously had a ton of new production. If Hawkins and TSJ come back, along with Goode, rodgers, sincere, and dainja we are probably pretty freaking high once again on production continuation. I don’t currently see this as a major issue for Illinois.

 

[ChiefIllinois]

Some young players in the portal getting time and stats at good programs. This is a problem IMHO. We saw this with Epps and Skyy this year and Adam Miller a couple years ago.

Not sure what else a coach/school can do.

You use your scholarships every year to win this next year and worry about the future ones later. Like you said we did pretty much everything we could on court to appease Epps/Skyy/miller and they all transferred. Gone are promises and hoping freshman stick through it. If they do, great, but it’s impossible to guess if that’ll be the case.

I’d love to not take guys out of the portal who’ll steal PT over guys like sincere/Hansberry/DGL if those kind of guys were going to stick around 4 years. I just think that’s going to be a complete 180 and go from the norm to the oddity. All you can do is construct one year (maybe 2 year) rosters and hope freshmen stick it out.

 

[mclovin12]

Shocked at some of the Marcus Domask slander as someone who watched all his games this year. WI native so I am biased but he’s a beast. Dropped 16 and 7 @ Oklahoma State and made the game winner 3 to go up 1 with 7 seconds left. His 2 worst games came against MVC champs Drake who doubled him every time he got the ball cause they considered him such an offensive threat. He won’t get doubled in the Big Ten and if he gets open shots he’s going to make them. I’d honestly be surprised if he went to Illinois and wasn’t a starter who averaged double figures.

 

[BryceHopkins]

I wished he could have stayed and played, but I think Underwear had him slotted as a mop up time guy. He would’ve had a hard time getting playing time. He is a rare example of a good use of the transfer portal.

I assume it was an auto correct but "Underwear" made me chuckle

 

[BashCtIllini]

I would normally agree with you however is a whole different animal

Is he? Let's look at Fr stats:

Tyger - 30 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, 2.4 rpg, 0.8 spg, 35.8% FG, 26.7% 3pt, 67.4% FT

Boswell - 15 mpg, 4.6 ppg, 1.6 apg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 spg, 45% FG, 39% 3pt, 79% FT

Now granted Tyger improved his shooting a fair amount to where he's up to 40% FG, 33% 3pt, 79% FT for his career, but that's also my point with Boswell. Do we not expect Boswell to improve over time? His shooting as a Fr is much better than Campbell's, he's also physically bigger. To me it is clear Boswell has the higher ceiling.

If you doubled Boswell's minutes per game to match the PT Campbell got as a Fr, and just assumed Boswell's stats would double, Boswell would be better in every category except assists. One thing we know for sure, Campbell will be of 0 help in the 2024-25, or 25-26 seasons. Maybe Boswell would be in the NBA by then, but I still think the better choice is the guy that gives you more years. Especially considering we don't appear to have any big time PGs we're in good with in the 2024 class. Probably because we didn't think we'd need one. But that is just one more reason why a transfer with 3 years eligibility is better than one with 1.

 

[IllGuardU]

I wished he could have stayed and played, but I think Underwear had him slotted as a mop up time guy. He would’ve had a hard time getting playing time. He is a rare example of a good use of the transfer portal.

Here come the underwear gifs

 

[theNewGuy]

Here come the underwear gifs

 

[Nuke Dukem]

Is he? Let's look at Fr stats:

Tyger - 30 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, 2.4 rpg, 0.8 spg, 35.8% FG, 26.7% 3pt, 67.4% FT

Boswell - 15 mpg, 4.6 ppg, 1.6 apg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 spg, 45% FG, 39% 3pt, 79% FT

Now granted Tyger improved his shooting a fair amount to where he's up to 40% FG, 33% 3pt, 79% FT for his career, but that's also my point with Boswell. Do we not expect Boswell to improve over time? His shooting as a Fr is much better than Campbell's, he's also physically bigger. To me it is clear Boswell has the higher ceiling.

If you doubled Boswell's minutes per game to match the PT Campbell got as a Fr, and just assumed Boswell's stats would double, Boswell would be better in every category except assists. One thing we know for sure, Campbell will be of 0 help in the 2024-25, or 25-26 seasons. Maybe Boswell would be in the NBA by then, but I still think the better choice is the guy that gives you more years. Especially considering we don't appear to have any big time PGs we're in good with in the 2024 class. Probably because we didn't think we'd need one. But that is just one more reason why a transfer with 3 years eligibility is better than one with 1.

You could be 100% correct. Honestly, I know almost nothing about Boswell. I do like the idea of a 5th year senior PG who has had some post season success even if it’s for one year. And I really like Tyger’s game…..and hair. But if you read my OP closely, maybe you will see it was an attempt at humor. Possibly poor attempt.

 

[othawhitemeat]

Shocked at some of the Marcus Domask slander as someone who watched all his games this year. WI native so I am biased but he’s a beast. Dropped 16 and 7 @ Oklahoma State and made the game winner 3 to go up 1 with 7 seconds left. His 2 worst games came against MVC champs Drake who doubled him every time he got the ball cause they considered him such an offensive threat. He won’t get doubled in the Big Ten and if he gets open shots he’s going to make them. I’d honestly be surprised if he went to Illinois and wasn’t a starter who averaged double figures.

Yeah, think peeps look at highlights and see some unathletic dude that can shoot in a step down program. However, if you watch the games, you see a guy that can shoot, pass, rebound, solid team defender, high IQ, and can post some. I see a little bit of Tyler Wahl to his game with better shooting but not as much post and a little bit of Joey Hauser to his game, but better passer. The dude is a very good player and would be a great add.