Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Thompson]

Hot take..

I’d rather have Maxime Raynaud than Kalkbrenner

 

[Heisenbobble]

Danny Wolf says hello

So does Ed Cooley.

 

[americanoutlaw11]

I've noticed every time kalbrenner name is mentioned, our insiders don't comment...silent verbal

This phrase has always annoyed me. By definition, verbal can’t be silent. And even allowing for understanding what they meant by it, every time someone said we had one 8-10 years ago they were wrong.

 

[foby]

I've noticed every time kalbrenner name is mentioned, our insiders don't comment...silent verbal

I noticed that too. Zero input may be a great sign. I mean if there was nothing, they'd simply say that, right?

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

As I sit here at some bar in Vegas reading through all the comments and still pissed about the way we ended the season, it hit me. It could be the margaritas and bloody Mary, too, but
...
Coleman alluded to it being his last game in an illini uniform, and his dad made a comment on someone's X about going to NBA. Might he be looking at going to a new school?

I'd rather see him end his career as an illini, but he has to do what's best for his life

 

[CentralILLini]

The Sincere thing would be a gigantic fail if he decides to leave.

 

[Yes33]

LOL. Whatever you say…

 

[FreshlySqueezed]

The problem is that the bolded isn't really true.

Even someone like TSJ didn't improve his draft stock all that significantly, the league knew what he had, his selection is just rising because the draft class got worse.

The NBA doesn't care how successful or dominant you are in college basketball, they care about you demonstrating translatable skills. Coleman has done that this year. He might do that LESS if he were a more primary scoring option for us next year.

I wouldn't turn my nose up at him coming back by any means, don't get me wrong, he'd help us a ton. But he's going to go pro and that's the right decision for his future as a basketball player.

Kofi made a big mistake that was ultimately just a bummer of a situation for all parties. This is not that.

You have absolutely no way of proving that. And I have a way of proving it likely to be false.

Go look at the the first few mock drafts this year. Those mocks already knew the relative strength of the draft. He is now being projected to be a lottery pick.

Unless your argument is that the only reason he moved up is because other people dropped, it's pretty clear that he improved his draft stock pretty significantly.

 

[Idea Gardener]

The Sincere thing would be a gigantic fail if he decides to leave.

Why?

Gigantic fail is like Michigan when they lost out on TSJ due to admissions.

If Sencire moves on, it means we have someone better. And he was able to use all of last year to help the team as well as improve himself.

 

[CentralILLini]

Goode and TY coming back are absolutely crucial for the culture of next year. Toss them some extra NIL scratch and lock em in.

 

[CentralILLini]

Why?

Gigantic fail is like Michigan when they lost out on TSJ due to admissions.

If Sencire moves on, it means we have someone better. And he was able to use all of last year to help the team as well as improve himself.

Because he most definitely could have contributed this year to an area of need.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Because he most definitely could have contributed this year to an area of need.

again, it was his choice to sit

 

[cruth13]

Staff wants a stretch big, any chance Braden huff enters the portal and we could bring him home? Or is he locked in at Gonzaga?

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Is Wolf totally out of the picture for us? Duke or Northwestern seem most likely.

He is in the portal, but I believe he has a do not contact stipulation. He probably already knows where he’s going & judging by the lack of insider chatter on him, it probably isn’t here.

 

[Dbell1981]

This phrase has always annoyed me. By definition, verbal can’t be silent. And even allowing for understanding what they meant by it, every time someone said we had one 8-10 years ago they were wrong.

That was the Dustin Ford effect...perhaps Jamal Walker effect.

 

[Illini90]

again, it was his choice to sit

Rumor has it he asked BU if he wanted him to end his redshirt when Terrence got suspended and Brad told him no. Team player.

 

[Illini in Italy]

I'm wondering how long it will be until a player or group of players sue the NCAA over the restriction on how many years they are allowed to play? As they have inherent income/property interests via NIL and NBA (and ultimately NFL) in their status as a player on a team (and striving for classification as an employee), how long will it be before the courts have to make a decision regarding how many years can a player participate in "college athletics"? And what we will have will be . . . minor league sports . . .

 

[BoiseBaller]

Has there been any chatter about Kylan Boswell lately?

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

again, it was his choice to sit

I'm sure with plenty of encouragement.

I don't think him playing changes the outcome of the season. Maybe one more win. Just maybe a 2 seed. Still have to get the draw on the tourney.

Not a major fail in my opinion.

 

[jumpingjack]

I'll be extremely disappointed if we lose Sencire in the portal. I'll understand, but as a fan, it'll sting. Always enjoyed watching his effort on defense and some of the more memorable non-TJ dunks of last season.

 

[ugottabjoshinme]

I like Dain, but his ceiling is a scoring bench big with a slightly bigger role than he had most of this year. I’d welcome him back in that role but I’m not throwing the NIL bag at him. He’s still limited defensively and not playable in certain matchups. I don’t think you can count on him as a starter because there isn’t much rim protection.

 

[Joel Goodson]

I'm sure with plenty of encouragement.

think again: staff wanted him to play

 

[My2Cents]

Javon Small, Yes please!!

 

[Mobi]

He also committed to Purdue at one point. We will see what happens. His history creates doubt:

• Finished high school at Word of God Christian Academy in North Carolina and playing in Overtime Elite
• Previously attended Montverde Academy and Real Salt Lake Academy after beginning prep career at McCutcheon High School

For the minutes he has been given in the tournament, I would believe I am in a good place on the team next season if I were him.

 

[Mobi]

I personally do not think Hawkins will be back. If he just wants a bag full of money, maybe he will be. But the other rationale posted for him to return doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Stay and improve your draft stock? First, the act of returning doesn’t mean he’ll have a better season and/or improve his draft standing. Second, do those saying that look at the draft. I think there were 3 “seniors” taken in first round and maybe 10 in the second. Year before I think it was about 5 in the entire draft. Likely the only way he is going to improve his draft position is if he finds a time machine that can transport him back to being a sophomore while keeping the skills he has now.

The other thing that I believe is often overlooked when people say things like “why wouldn’t you just take the cash and get to stay in school” is ego. These guys believe in themselves and believe they can make it at the next level. And they’re just ready to pursue their dream rather than come back. Some may disagree with that decision, but unless you’ve been a top athlete with real pro possibilities who has worked hard to get to the point these players are at, you’re looking at this from a complete different perspective than these players are.

I hope Coleman stays if he believes it is in his best interests both from a personal and a professional standpoint. I certainly couldn’t fault him for coming back only for a paycheck, but I hope that’s not the main reason.

I don’t see him coming back because in the “worst scenario “ he comes back to college ball, we probably already promised our NIL to somebody else (and the spot, too).