Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
#126      

IlliniMot

I
Springfield, IL
IlliniMot
Nuke Dukem said:
Seeing the clips of Morez makes me remember the Class A Elite Eight in 1978 and 1979. I was a high school Jr and Sr those years. Some classmates and I from our small school in Southern Illinois made the trip to C-U to watch the tournament. There was a player from New Lenox Providence like no one we had ever seen. Total domination. Although the dunk was illegal in those years, he spent a lot of time above the rim, blocking shots and just dropping the ball though the hoop. And he was just a Fr and So those years. Walter Downing. Clearly a man among boys even as a freshman. If memory serves me, Providence finished third in 1978 after blowing a big lead to eventual champ Nashville in the semi and then totally dominating everyone to win it all in 1979. The Havana Ducks finished second both years which brings back memories of Pork and the Havana Ducks but that is not basketball related.

Edit: Mr. Downing went on to be a MDAA and play for Marquette. Was drafted by the Lakers but I don’t think he ever played for them.
Click to expand...
I graduated in '79 and went to the same tournaments (but traveled from a small town in western IL). I seem to remember the dunk being reinstated for the '78-'79 season. I remember watching Quincy High that year taking liberties with many rims. But, partly because Downing's teammate, Barney Mines, put on a show in the semis and finals in '79. Hit from mid-range and skied for some impressive dunks. I also remember him as a lock-down defender. He went on to have a very respectable career at Bradley.
 
#129      

Chieeeeeef

Chieeeeeef
Chieeeeeef
Nuke Dukem said:
Seeing the clips of Morez makes me remember the Class A Elite Eight in 1978 and 1979. I was a high school Jr and Sr those years. Some classmates and I from our small school in Southern Illinois made the trip to C-U to watch the tournament. There was a player from New Lenox Providence like no one we had ever seen. Total domination. Although the dunk was illegal in those years, he spent a lot of time above the rim, blocking shots and just dropping the ball though the hoop. And he was just a Fr and So those years. Walter Downing. Clearly a man among boys even as a freshman. If memory serves me, Providence finished third in 1978 after blowing a big lead to eventual champ Nashville in the semi and then totally dominating everyone to win it all in 1979. The Havana Ducks finished second both years which brings back memories of Pork and the Havana Ducks but that is not basketball related.

Edit: Mr. Downing went on to be a MDAA and play for Marquette. Was drafted by the Lakers but I don’t think he ever played for them.
Click to expand...
I gave you a thumbs up solely for the Pork and the Havana Ducks reference. Takes me back to my college days. I needed that…
 
#131      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
respect my decision™
Joel Goodson
Any intel on 2026 Colin Stack? Kid is 6' 10+", apparently, and plays for Benet Academy (with Sularski). Any relation to Jim Stack?
 
#134      

alexander58

A
alexander58
IlliniMot said:
I graduated in '79 and went to the same tournaments (but traveled from a small town in western IL). I seem to remember the dunk being reinstated for the '78-'79 season. I remember watching Quincy High that year taking liberties with many rims. But, partly because Downing's teammate, Barney Mines, put on a show in the semis and finals in '79. Hit from mid-range and skied for some impressive dunks. I also remember him as a lock-down defender. He went on to have a very respectable career at Bradley.
Click to expand...
I believe Barney was a big part of Bradley’s 1982 NIT championship. Bradley recruited Downing, but came up short. He never fulfilled the promise he showed as a freshman. I’d heard he was injured?
 
#147      

BashCtIllini

BashCtIllini
BashCtIllini
Mike55 said:
He wasn’t a legend there.
Click to expand...
Good player but definitely not a legend. I believe Cooper's mom might have also been an Iowa athlete. Don't believe we wasted much time on him, as the expectation was Iowa bound.

He played for Peoria Notre Dame last year, they have another guy that is going to Belmont, and they were barely .500. He decided to head over to Metamora for his Sr. year to win a little. That said, I've been impressed when I've watched him, but a little puzzled why Notre Dame was so mediocre with 2 D1 big men last year.
 
#148      

ChiTown

ChiTown
ChiTown
BashCtIllini said:
Good player but definitely not a legend. I believe Cooper's mom might have also been an Iowa athlete. Don't believe we wasted much time on him, as the expectation was Iowa bound.

He played for Peoria Notre Dame last year, they have another guy that is going to Belmont, and they were barely .500. He decided to head over to Metamora for his Sr. year to win a little. That said, I've been impressed when I've watched him, but a little puzzled why Notre Dame was so mediocre with 2 D1 big men last year.
Click to expand...
In High School basketball guards play is extremely important,another example is St.Rita.
 
#149      

Tacomallini

T
Washington State
Tacomallini
This was just brought up in one of the other threads. Ear to the ground recruiting fans - what are the odds we add a transfer during the semester break?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.