We were talking about under the radar talent identified by Chester Frazier. Even if we count all the Underwood years, you are not coming up with 100 who didn't develop. Lieb was a Chin recruit.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Ryllini
- Lombard
I haven’t noticed us in many recruiting battles with Missouri of late, but why do I have a feeling Gates is going to have that program humming? He seems like a problem.
Can't take both and a fears reclass...too guard heavy.
Going to be fun to see what the staff does. They don't even know.
Something something Dee/Deron/Luther something something 3 headed monster
He won't be there long...by his choice BTW
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
we've been on this kid for a looong time. he's a lefty, a sharpshooter who goes by Colt (because it's his flippin' name). I think he'd be a fine replacement for Goode.
Honestly even though I'm somewhat skeptical of Butler, I would rather see them take him and Lewis than miss out on Mikey for a Fears reclass. I don't think Fears is good enough to be an immediate impact player as a reclass. The result of passing Lewis by after prioritizing him for months and the main competition dropping out makes me feel uneasy.
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If Butler and Lewis want to commit, you take them and don’t look back. If Fears wants to join the two, then you take also. We’ll still have open roads to give.
They can put out a lineup with Harmon, Shannon, Domask, Goode on the floor this year. That's at least 2+ shooters and 2 guys that are capable of shooting.
Jaksty seems like the type that would be a freshman redshirt. Have him walk on and pay him enough NIL to cover everything.
ILFaninFL
- Nature Coast in Florida
Of course, they know. What you do is someone is a walk-on. With NIL you pay for tuition, housing, etc. Plus something to live on.
As far as too many guards ... are you serious? College ball is about guard play and guard depth is currently a weakness of our team. Let them loose in the gym and it will sort itself out. Brad will figure it out.
Too guard heavy of a prep class in a single year at combo guard. Not too many guards on the roster....also doesn't allow enough flexibility for portal and wings next year.
And the staff is split. TIFWIW. They know that they like all 3 a ton.
It would only be 6 guards on the roster for next year right? Harris, DGL, Nico, Lewis, Butler, and Fears. Though someone would have to understand they might not play a ton as a freshman and I feel like one of Nico, DGL, or Harris would exit via the portal.
Baylor has played a ton with 3 guards and then MSU did it last year. If the kids can play it's fine but gotta wonder if you can count on production as freshman.
If I'm counting right though it would only be 12 filled scholarships for 24. If that happens a guard likely transfers out which would leave you with 2 open scholarships in the portal to add in the portal and I feel like you could feel up a third with paying Jaksty NIL to walk on and redshirt.
That’s what I’m thinking too. Assuming we get all 3 and no attrition, 6 guards. Probably to play 2.5ish positions (depending on matchups we may want more size like Goode at the 3). So we should be able to have a solid rotation of 4-5 to fill those spots, leaving only 1 or 2 as the odd men out. Right now that would probably be Butler and/or Nico. So I think that could work as long as everyone’s expectations are aligned and they should be. Nico needs more physical development and as a mid 3 star with only a couple of other high major offers hopefully Butler would be realistic enough to not expect to automatically have a rotation spot as a true frosh.
Like I said, in this day and age if you like kids I think you take them. And the positional/class balance stuff has a way of sorting itself out.
Three guards would give us four guards with no real point all Freshmen or Sophomore, plus add in some guard transfer because Underwood isn't secure in his job enough to rely on a bunch of young combo guards to play extended minutes (again).
Truth is, we passed on Fears because we didn't want Curbelo 2.0 (high vision guard who can't shoot). Instead we went after Boswell and missed, got a hobbled PG who left. He was replaced mid-season by a freshman combo guard who also left, then we had a very high profile whiff on RayJ. We then shifted to a PF who is a talented distributor, but is most certainly not a point guard and has an even worse outside shot than Curbelo. He is supplemented by a former top recruit that plummeted in the rankings after an injury and lack of play at a top school.
All that to say, it's all Curbelo's fault. /s
Truth is, we passed on Fears because we didn't want Curbelo 2.0 (high vision guard who can't shoot). Instead we went after Boswell and missed, got a hobbled PG who left. He was replaced mid-season by a freshman combo guard who also left, then we had a very high profile whiff on RayJ. We then shifted to a PF who is a talented distributor, but is most certainly not a point guard and has an even worse outside shot than Curbelo. He is supplemented by a former top recruit that plummeted in the rankings after an injury and lack of play at a top school.
All that to say, it's all Curbelo's fault. /s
6 guards/wings for 13 scholarships certainly doesn’t seem off to me. Is it because 3 frosh? Fears will play as a frosh and likely to get one transfer out. Seems particularly true when three of the guards are 6’4”
Gates just added another one today.
Given recent history, I think it is very likely that the staff will again bring in a veteran guard (or two?) through the transfer portal. We'll see.
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
5* SF Annor Boateng 2024. Gates is no joke. Wish they would have kept the last guy.
I keep seeing everyone refer to him as a 5-star, but ESPN and 24/7 have him as a 4-star. Ranked 41st by 247 and 30th by ESPN. I think it’s just On3 that has him much higher (17th)
Regardless, Gates is killing it. Need a big program to poach him ASAP.
I'd love that and hope it comes to fruition. I know Guerrier is a capable 3 point shooter as well. On paper it makes sense, just need to see it happen. I felt similarly about last years team...
Champaign Toast
Fan since Kiwane Garris
When will Leonard Hamilton retire? Florida State is a logical next program for Gates, considering he spent 8 years there as an assistant before getting the Cleveland State job.
The Seminoles were bad last year. Were mediocre two seasons ago. Are a projected bubble team this year. Would a third consecutive tournament-less season lead to a Hamilton retirement?
Gates got a contract raise and extension last spring, but maybe a Tallahassee gig would be the one to lure him. Another question: would an FSU athletics department sad about their ACC payout be up for paying Gates' buyout?
Missouri? How exactly? Gates is not that great of a coach. North Carolina and Duke because they are North Carolina and Duke. Rutgers? Miami due to NIL.
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