Apologies on the Griffith/Griffin confusion, and Felix being JUCO. Also,
@Mojoman, I didn’t ignore Ayo, I conceded him when I mentioned the Ayo luster wearing off in a previous post.
My position isn’t we haven’t had good players, or there has been zero improvement. I’m looking at it from a relative standpoint which I think helps emulate a recruits perspective.
All these players have options, and they’ll choose the option they feel is best for them. The players we’re recruiting have some of the best options available to them.
If you’re RayJ, or Tyger, or Mulcahy and Illinois is an option what can the Illini offer for 1 year that other schools who are recruiting you can’t?
1. The biggest bag (maybe)
2. A better strength program
What else? Tyger chose to go pro implying Illini wouldn’t meaningfully contribute to his pro prospects if he really did consider transferring. RayJ chose Baylor who I think have had 5 guards drafted in the last 2 years. And, I’ll bet my beach house Reeves hits the portal and goes elsewhere too.
The level we’re at and trying to rise to requires more selling points than Ayo. These teams have all had multiple Ayo’s they can use as selling points. This isn’t SFA anymore where BU can say hey I had Thomas Walkup (and Ayo), and that impress the recruits we’re trying to sway.