Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#253      

ILLFAN67

I
ILLFAN67
I like the new commit! Kid had some skill. Can step out and hit the 3 which is big this day and age. A big who can play on the perimeter is a plus! Does he need some work yes! But he is farther along than any of the other project bigs we have recruited since Brad has been here. Will be interesting in a year of practice and Fletch how he works out.
 
#255      

SescIllini

SescIllini
SescIllini
Joel Goodson said:
Lewis is every bit as offensively skilled as Epps, is a lot better defensively, isn't a head case and doesn't appear to come with problem handlers.
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Joel, respect your opinion. But no need to go after Epps. I've followed Illini bball a long time and here is a list of players that either left the Illini program (temporarily) or had their bags packed Gill, Frank Williams, Dee Brown, Deron. Several others who I can't recall. Good that we had asst. coaches,players, families that convinced them to stay or return. In fact I'm surprised Deon Thomas stayed after the abuse he took his freshmen year by the "adults in the room".

I don't know the locker room stuff but Epps was going to be a very solid BIG player. BU I believe took one extra guard with the additon of Skyy, it looked like a good pick up at the time but it crowded out playing time and lead to a minutes crunch.
 
#256      

SescIllini

SescIllini
SescIllini
Champaign Toast said:
IHSA highlights make Jakstys look like a Duke player. Exciting game!

Compared to Meyers Leonard, whom I recall as a project (albeit one with raw tools and elite athleticism, rather than strong skills and publicly-questioned strength):
- ~2" shorter
- maybe less explosive?
- lower ranked
- better touch and handles at this stage, based on how I remember Meyers as a freshman
- better high school competition
** height and explosiveness make a difference at high major level, but Jakstys isn't too far behind Meyers in those categories

It's been remarked:
- you need players 10-13 on the roster
- it's economical to have some players that don't take big NIL payments (maybe Jakstys does--I don't know--but a 3 star with few high major offers would seem more likely to be in that category)
- Jakstys hasn't put up the monster performances that Morez and Hansberry did in AAU
- Jakstys is a different type of big than Dainja, Hansberry, and Johnson. That's worth something in practice and games.
- Jakstys will be "Fletch'd"

I like the commit.

Question: Do commits receive workout plans, virtual coaching, and progress tracking from college staffs? Do NCAA rules permit it?
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Just to take the punch bowl away for a second. Meyers was selected for the Nike Hoop Summitt which is a step up from the MCAA. Meyers was not a McAA, just outside the group selected, but the Nike Hoop Summitt is typically the 12 best players from the McAA group. He was also selected for the National U-18 team.
 
#257      

KingWolf11

KingWolf11
KingWolf11
There are plenty of reasons my friends are high school coaches in state and not Brad or NBA scouts but i have more than a few buddies that are head coaches in state and none of them think this kid is going to ever play here if we plan on being where we want to be.

Again this isn't hating its just passing information along, I hope they are wrong and look forward to catching some games next year to give my own opinion.
 
#258      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
ties will be resolved
Joel Goodson
SescIllini said:
Joel, respect your opinion. But no need to go after Epps. I've followed Illini bball a long time and here is a list of players that either left the Illini program (temporarily) or had their bags packed Gill, Frank Williams, Dee Brown, Deron. Several others who I can't recall. Good that we had asst. coaches,players, families that convinced them to stay or return. In fact I'm surprised Deon Thomas stayed after the abuse he took his freshmen year by the "adults in the room".

I don't know the locker room stuff but Epps was going to be a very solid BIG player. BU I believe took one extra guard with the additon of Skyy, it looked like a good pick up at the time but it crowded out playing time and lead to a minutes crunch.
Click to expand...

I'm on record (many times) that Epps is offensively gifted. But facts are facts. There were several significant problems and he bolted. Those other guys you cited didn't. The only reason I compared Lewis to Epps is that they play the same position.
 
#259      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
ties will be resolved
Joel Goodson
KingWolf11 said:
There are plenty of reasons my friends are high school coaches in state and not Brad or NBA scouts but i have more than a few buddies that are head coaches in state and none of them think this kid is going to ever play here if we plan on being where we want to be.

Again this isn't hating its just passing information along, I hope they are wrong and look forward to catching some games next year to give my own opinion.
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Jakstys has pretty good skills for a true big, guess we'll see
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1683476060120252416
 
#262      

IndyIllini2

IndyIllini2
IndyIllini2
Updated Scholarship Grid!
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#263      

KingWolf11

KingWolf11
KingWolf11
Joel Goodson said:
Jakstys has pretty good skills for a true big, guess we'll see
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1683476060120252416
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Agreed and I hope they are all wrong! Werner had Joe Henricksen on his podcast last week (who is also from Yorkille funny enough) and he said he has him as a mid major player. His main point was usually when a kid gets his first high major offer other schools follow, nobody else has shown interest in him.

I don't know enough about Henricksens track record enough to listen to him like I do my friends but he said he thinks he is even a developmental guy at the mid major level.
 
#264      

JFGsCoffeeMug

JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
JFGsCoffeeMug
KingWolf11 said:
There are plenty of reasons my friends are high school coaches in state and not Brad or NBA scouts but i have more than a few buddies that are head coaches in state and none of them think this kid is going to ever play here if we plan on being where we want to be.

Again this isn't hating its just passing information along, I hope they are wrong and look forward to catching some games next year to give my own opinion.
Click to expand...
 
#269      

rrillini

R
rrillini
KingWolf11 said:
Agreed and I hope they are all wrong! Werner had Joe Henricksen on his podcast last week (who is also from Yorkille funny enough) and he said he has him as a mid major player. His main point was usually when a kid gets his first high major offer other schools follow, nobody else has shown interest in him.

I don't know enough about Henricksens track record enough to listen to him like I do my friends but he said he thinks he is even a developmental guy at the mid major level.
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Similar situation! Remember Ethan Happ. Grew fast and was a guard as underclassman at a small school. We weren't interested in him. He never lost to us in 4 years.
 
#271      

ptgrd23

ptgrd23
ptgrd23
Difference betweeen Jakstys and Lieb is Jackstys appears to be able to hit 3 pointers. He may be more of a euro 5 playing high post instead of low. Defense in the lane might be an issue but maybe he will bulk up. I am thinking Jakstys playing high low with Morez, Dain and Amani. We already have some beef.
 
#272      

Grandpa

G
Grandpa
Champaign Toast said:
IHSA highlights make Jakstys look like a Duke player. Exciting game!

Compared to Meyers Leonard, whom I recall as a project (albeit one with raw tools and elite athleticism, rather than strong skills and publicly-questioned strength):
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The public was misinformed. First time the Illini team did the bench-press competition, he won. Freshman who had just got there. He has always been a hard worker and came in physically tough. He wasn't getting pushed around.
 
#273      

HailtotheChief

H
HailtotheChief
Bigtex said:
Sure feels like Illinois could have waited on jaksyts. wish he had other p5 offers. Feels like a mid major player but someone has to be #12 or #13 on the roster.
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I'm fine with this add. As others have stated. It is tough to keep 13 young men happy with PT. Jaksty hopefully is considering a red shirt. He has something you can't teach at 6'11" plus he has skill for a big with a good looking shot. Also, is he still growing? With a year of high school, a possible red shirt then a lot can change and a young man matures and grows into his body over the next year or two. I am not saying it will but it could and with 13 spots someone needs to sit next season. I like this add now that we have 13 spots.
 
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#274      

hoopsfan47

H
hoopsfan47
After watching a high-light film on JJ, I see two skills, shot and handle, that are rare in a player of his size. He can shoot and has capable handles. Along with some athleticism, and given a heart and desire to compete with the best, the sky is the limit. Also, he doesn't shoot line drives. There is no film or stat of his FT shooting prowess, but if that is solid, having a player on the floor at crunch time who can do those things is a potential big advantage for the Illini.

What most critics are missing, is that we have only seen him play against HS competition. With solid coaching, conditioning, and competition, it is very reasonable to assume we will see him make some big contributions in 2 or three years and maybe sooner. In addition, we will also see other programs interested in him making a change of uniform and this board in panic mode. ;)
 
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