Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Sorry I didn’t look up scholarship grid…but 4 guards are all a “take”?Lewis ... Butler ... Gill ... Fears ...
Lewis & Butler in 2024 ... Gill & Fears in 2025 ...
Yes - all 4 of those guys are takes ...
Thought Fears was a near lock to reclass?
That is a ton of talented guards. Something that has been sorely missing.Lewis ... Butler ... Gill ... Fears ...
13 scholarships. Means you're probably carrying at least 6 guards at all times. Plus with the natural of the current NIL environment guys are going to transfer out.
Currently the only guards on the roster with eligibility for next year are Sencire, DGL, and Nico. The only others are Goode, Rodgers, Hansberry, and Dain.
Add 4 incoming guys with Lewis, Butler, Morez, and Jaksty and you have 11 guys on scholarship if nobody leaves. Gives you two spots to look to add impact players in the portal though realistically someone likely leaves.
You're going to need to bring in a bunch of talented young players in or you're going to have to rebuild your entire team every year.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
hell, yes. let them sort it out in practice. that's a helluva backcourt (DGL incuded)
gonna be interesting to see if Fears' re-classes. still a no-brainer of a take though. 3 prep guards in a class is a lot, but Fears is a special circumstance deal (fully understand that Fears may go anywhere).
Gill should work on PG skills, as that very well may be the route to early playing time.
Don't know what this guys smoking but........Lewis ... Butler ... Gill ... Fears ...
Not to be a downer...but would all 4 come???? Don't know what each of those 4 would think about sharing the ball and the spotlight with the other 3.Lewis ... Butler ... Gill ... Fears ...
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
no idea. but they all have high hoops IQ and winning is important. Butler has enough size to play some wing (more of a 2 / 3, than strictly a 2). I don't think any of them are remotely chuckers. Gill might need to bide his time, but most kids do.
Same with Butler, but he'll have the opportunity to change that. We're by far Butler's best offer and we've been on him for a good while. If the kid truly believes in himself, I think he's coming.
goes without saying that this issue is a complete no-op for Fears. pretty much the same for Lewis.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
want:
Gabe Sularski (2026), 6' 6" SG, Benet Academy. Sularski's dad is very tall.
I think he's better than Nojus at this stage (and I'm a Nojus fan).
Gabe Sularski (2026), 6' 6" SG, Benet Academy. Sularski's dad is very tall.
I think he's better than Nojus at this stage (and I'm a Nojus fan).
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skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Yeah, it doesn't seem like that will leave enough schollies to take advantage of the Illini's elite portal harvesting skills.
Only entering his sophomore year. Could still be growing .
Only have 7 guys that can return for 2024 If we add 4 that would still leave 2 open. Plus guys will leave.
The nature of the system is that guys will leave. Just acquire as much talent as possible. If you need an open scholarship to get someone better in the portal then someone will get pushed out. Either a current player who will lose minutes will leave or someone will decommit.
When is Lewis making a decision? Doesn't he have a visit somewhere else scheduled soon? Do you think he takes it? Wouldn't that be pretty telling?Brad seems pretty confident he can get all 4 ...
He's got visits scheduled to LSU and Ole Miss over the next couple weeks...
And his lead recruiter at LSU just left to take a G League job ...
I think he will be in decision mode after those visits for sure ... He will be signing early ... Our staff was pretty confident after dinner last night ...
If you want my bold prediction
... I think we get Lewis and Butler committed and signed this fall and are done with prep recruiting for 2024 ... I think Brad locks down Gill on his visit in October ... The start of the 2025 class ... And we get Fears on his visit in October ... Then in January he commits and whatever class he wants to be in ... He's a take ...
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
He's got visits scheduled to LSU and Ole Miss over the next couple weeks...
And his lead recruiter at LSU just left to take a G League job ...
I think he will be in decision mode after those visits for sure ... He will be signing early ... Our staff was pretty confident after dinner last night ...
If you want my bold prediction
that sounds pretty good
It sure does. Denzel likes it too.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Brad seems pretty confident he can get all 4 ...
From your lips to God's ears.....From what I have seen and heard thus far, that sounds like a very successful couple of months worth of results! I am happy to see you so bullish on this.He's got visits scheduled to LSU and Ole Miss over the next couple weeks...
And his lead recruiter at LSU just left to take a G League job ...
I think he will be in decision mode after those visits for sure ... He will be signing early ... Our staff was pretty confident after dinner last night ...
If you want my bold prediction
Are you always this optimistic about recruiting?He's got visits scheduled to LSU and Ole Miss over the next couple weeks...
And his lead recruiter at LSU just left to take a G League job ...
I think he will be in decision mode after those visits for sure ... He will be signing early ... Our staff was pretty confident after dinner last night ...
If you want my bold prediction
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