Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
#801      

illiniguy24

illiniguy24
illiniguy24
Indy Illini Fan said:
College Hoops Sport GIF by NCAA March Madness
Click to expand...
Heard he is Memphis bound if he does
 
#803      

westcoastillini

W
westcoastillini
ChiefGritty said:
This is wrong, important to understand.

From the perspective of scouting him as an NBA defensive player, last year was a catastrophe for Kofi. He was exploited in every kind of matchup he'd face at the next level, totally different than Luka Garza who kinda-sorta did just maybe well enough if you squint facing the same issues. Garza is quickly failing out of the league anyway, despite being an awesome offensive player. If you are hopeless at defending NBA athletes on the perimeter you will be gone quickly. Kofi was not an NBA prospect in April 2022, period.

Ayo, for the record, was a definite NBA prospect and a guy with real first round interest in April 2021, but nonetheless was another guy who was a weird translation to the NBA where his physical profile wouldn't just allow him to get to and finish everything at the rim the way he could in the Big Ten. Ayo's a real NBA player and would have been taken in the first round if you re-drafted, but he's a quirky NBA player, the scouting was overly harsh but it wasn't wrong.

I mention that because Shannon and Hawkins both have absolutely prototypical hand-in-glove profiles for the modern NBA (albeit at different positions), they fit the mold to a T. So we're used to a "godlike superstar All-American = non first rounder" translation for Kofi and Ayo which will not apply here.

Hawkins has the individual skill pieces of an NBA big, but has shown them only fleetingly and inconsistently. You forgive some of that for an 18 year old who can jump out of the gym, Hawkins is beyond the point where just "potential" will carry his profile. He's a possible draft pick, but coming back and putting consistent high level performance on tape where getting him going is more of a team focus offers some real upside for him.

If Shannon returns and then enters the 2024 Draft, he will be 24 years old the first time he touches an NBA floor. He has shown comprehensively that he is an awesome athlete who can break players down off the dribble and explode to the rim, finishing through contact. He has both ability and willingness to guard. His jumper is functional and could be good (though probably never elite) with further development. He is what he is, I think he would definitely be a second rounder and get a full time NBA roster spot as a rookie, and I feel like he has more to lose than gain by coming back. I'd love to have him, I just wouldn't expect him being a 20 point a night Big Ten POY to radically change his draft outlook.

The good news on both of them is the 2024 Draft is thought to be much weaker than 2023. However, that's not a secret and they may not be the only fringe guys that return with that knowledge.

If I had to handicap it?
Hawkins stays, Shannon goes 40%
Both stay 30%
Both go 25%
Shannon stays Hawkins goes 5%
Click to expand...
So you are saying TSJ is definitely coming back 😃
 
#807      

Travis1173

Travis1173
Travis1173
ILLfated said:
Doesn't this contradict everything was posted about him when he left our program. 
Click to expand...
In fairness, ANYTHING is probably better than the dumpster fire they put on the hardwood last year.

Although fading them was very profitable for me.
 
#812      

RichardKeenesCousin

RichardKeenesCousin
Richard Keene's Cousin
RichardKeenesCousin
and 69 others said:
I think you’re right about sticking Bona in the lane, but you have to pull him out to draw the defense away from the basket. The best strategy is to stick Bona in the lane, but then pull him out, then put him back in, then pull him out and just do that over and over again to keep the defense honest.
Click to expand...
Does he get to take a nap when it's all over?
 
#818      

Second place is 1st loser

S
Second place is 1st loser
LvilleILL said:
For Coleman/Shannon yeah. But for portal guys nope
Click to expand...
Makes me feel better hearing that. My initial question was isn't this going to be a chicken or the egg scenario? CH and TJ want to see an older, more mature roster to come back to.... wouldn't significant, more mature transfers also want to know that they're hopping aboard a team that can legitimately compete(CH and TJ being the critical components)?
 
#819      

Navy_illini

N
Navy_illini
DAM1298 said:
Are you referring to Hall? Very much not a guard
Click to expand...
More of Walker Hoggard and Hall all come back for MSU you have a veteran 1-3. Then you also have Akins who can come off the bench I am assuming Fears camp think he should start right away and with MSU line up that will be hard to do. Not an insider but I am not sure why Izzo told Fears the team would look like next year. Plus that is a lot of NIL dollars to keep all those players
 
#824      

DAM1298

D
DAM1298
LvilleILL said:
There was legit buzz on him....but there have been two other guys that have become a lot more likely the last couple of days
Click to expand...
By your response, I take it he isn’t retaining eligibility? Like TJ, his post didn’t specify.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.