Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[GatorMcKlusky]

I trust Underwood. I think he brings in the right players for the PROGRAM! As far as who is left from last year, we will see. I like the Davis addition. He can hit off the move and the bounce.

Calipari confirmed after his latest opening round loss that his method for going after premium high school players only isn't working anymore.

 

[Manual3for4peat]

The least efficient player in CBB?

He wasn't going to be that here. That's why he is gone, he knew Brad was not having it. He chose points over improving. His loss.

 

[Piotyr]

Hopefully Storr doesn't listen to the same handlers that encouraged Tyger Campbell to stay in the draft last year.

 

[ptgrd23]

From what I am hearing, who knows if it is true, is that every transfer away from the program has been Brad’s doing, with the exception of Epps. I asked my guy is Goode is the same, and he said yeah, if Goode is gone it’s because Brad doesn’t have a spot for him. Hate that if it’s true

 

[Trueblue777]

Rather have Miller than Boswell and it’s not even close

 

[IllinoisIntegrity]

While in last year’s recruiting thread, I thought it would be fun to point out the reaction to Damask being a potential portal transfer after it was announced. Maybe this can help some whiners suffering from Loyalty derangement syndrome to regain some perspective on potential recruits BU goes after. The man knows what he’s doing. Trust.

 

[Luwdoo]

Calipari confirmed after his latest opening round loss that his method for going after premium high school players only isn't working anymore.

His freshman used to play against players 3 years older lately they’re playing against players 4 years older. I guess he didn’t take that into account.

 

[goillini30]

Your default position that Illinois is always going to pick the wrong choice or do the incorrect things has led to the following takes from you the last couple days:

- Dain Dainja is 1st team all B1G caliber (LOL)
- RJ Melendez (9ppg, 30% 3pt) and Jayden Epps (39% fg, 30% 3pt, 9-23 record) would have led us to successful seasons
- Podz was pushed out for Goode (incorrect, he was pushed out *allegedly* because we had a 5* PG in Skyy coming in and Matthew Meyer and TSJ for the other guard spots)
- Goode is somehow a plus defender that was in line for a *huge* role next season compared to this one (incorrect again. He's a great rebounder but routinely abused on defense. You could easily tell other coaches' gameplans were to take it right at him anytime he was in the game)

Hopefully you were just joking about all the above as well!

I will say that the bolded improved once we stopped switching so much on the perimeter. In our "help as little as possible" defense teams were getting Goode switched onto pg's and then he got roasted. He's an above average help defender and rebounder, and an ok on ball defender as long as it's not a primary ball handler. I don't think he was ever as bad as our scheme made him look at times, but I also don't think he's an amazing defender or anything.

 

[GrayGhost77]

Lol...what in the Tuesday hell Loyalty?

The most reasonable thing I've read here is CoHawk playing football for Illinois next season.

Solid Loyalty-ing boys!

Off-season Loyalty gonna off-season Loyalty.

 

[DAM1298]

Does that mean he’s not planning on testing the draft waters? Had assumed, with no actual basis, that he would.

There’s definitely basis lol, he posted “NBA ” or something like that on social media after announcing he was leaving Wisconsin

 

[madillini4]

Lol...what in the Tuesday hell Loyalty?

The most reasonable thing I've read here is CoHawk playing football for Illinois next season.

Solid Loyalty-ing boys!

Hawkins putting the team on his back with a bum Knee

 

[HensonHall71]

It is interesting the comparison of Harmon to Sencire as it seems more likely Sencire wouldn't have redshirted if we didn't bring Justin in. While Justin's early season ability to shoot the cover off the ball from 3, finish at the rim, and make free throws were very favorable and made up for the giant defensive drop-off, taking the whole season and careers into perspective, this is what we see:

Harmon shot 31% from 3 and 47% from 2, both of which are right on his career averages. His free throw percentage was 92% this year on low volume (only 47 attempts), which is much higher than his 78% career average. He was a 1.15ppp player on 15% contributions rate this season, but that isn't anything close to his pre Illinois 0.94ppp average. He did have a 9.6 assomist rate and 1.3 steal rate.

Sencire in his freshman season shot 32% from 3 and 49% from 2, both better than Justin. He was only a 0.96ppp player on 16% contributions but teammate quality does have something to do with that as seen by Justin's huge jump this year as well. And he had an 11.2 assist rate and 3.3% steal rate, both much better than Justin. And Sencire was a much much much better defender overall. So the only thing not in Sencire's favor was his free throw percentage of 20% on low volume (20 free throws).

So when you compare season to season, Sencire seems like he greatly outperformed supersenior Justin Harmon as a freshman. Gut feel is if Sencire just gets a normal free throw percentage, he would be a major benefit to having him on the team and Justin played 19mpg this year...

I agree - I’m a big fan of Sencire and think he could have a Kendall Gill type of trajectory- where he was a defensive player that improved his shot and becomes a really good all around player

He was clearly buried in the depth chart this year but I think he could have a huge impact next year- I hope he doesn’t transfer

 

[Lee]

View attachment 33102

 

[ptgrd23]

Live in Fort Wayne, by Homestead. Goodes neighborhood. From friends and family, he ain't going anywhere

I hope you are right. Luke sacrificed his RS sophomore season to try and help a doomed team. That kind of passion and loyalty is rare. You want that kind of person on your team. We have seen Luke improve evey season. He has a high motor, will guard anyone, makes a huge effort on rebounding and is a good 3 point shooter. I want him to have a 18 ppg all big 10 senior season!

 

[CoalCity]

We should be able to have your post (and other Insiders) pinned to the top of each page. That way you don't have to answer the same question 15x a day.

Or maybe people could, you know, read and get caught up

 

[Get yourself a new map]

While in last year’s recruiting thread, I thought it would be fun to point out the reaction to Damask being a potential portal transfer after it was announced. Maybe this can help some whiners suffering from Loyalty derangement syndrome to regain some perspective on potential recruits BU goes after. The man knows what he’s doing. Trust.

Ha wonder who had that super level-headed take about him making the team better even in the event that his measurable production were to dip, while also saying this:

 

[DAM1298]

I wouldn't encourage Jakstys to redshirt. A redshirt gives him an extra season in 28/29. Who thinks that he will still be here in 5 years? I would take whatever he can give us right now. It might only be in one or two games, but WTH? JMHO

I think it would be more about opening a roster spot.

 

[Umit9]

While in last year’s recruiting thread, I thought it would be fun to point out the reaction to Damask being a potential portal transfer after it was announced. Maybe this can help some whiners suffering from Loyalty derangement syndrome to regain some perspective on potential recruits BU goes after. The man knows what he’s doing. Trust.

Those are awesome! Got a good laugh.

Thank you!

Go Illini

 

[CoalCity]

I think it would be more about opening a roster spot.

Redshirting counts against the scholarship count. It doesn't open a roster spot

 

[IlliniTilDeath]

I think it would be more about opening a roster spot.

Redshirt doesn’t open a spot

 

[USAFILLINI]

Outside of recruiting players, is BU looking at bringing anyone on staff to help with the defense?

 

[KingWolf11]

Hopefully Storr doesn't listen to the same handlers that encouraged Tyger Campbell to stay in the draft last year.

He’s 3 years younger than Tyger going through the process and has many ways to improve his stock like TJ has. Tyger is what he is I’m not sure what he would’ve gained from coming back besides an NIL bag.

 

[illini011]

Outside of recruiting players, is BU looking at bringing anyone on staff to help with the defense?

I was wondering the same thing lol

 

[ChiefGritty]

While in last year’s recruiting thread, I thought it would be fun to point out the reaction to Damask being a potential portal transfer after it was announced. Maybe this can help some whiners suffering from Loyalty derangement syndrome to regain some perspective on potential recruits BU goes after. The man knows what he’s doing. Trust.

To toot my own horn a bit:

"Complete" is the word that springs to mind for Domask.

I'll buy that as an RJ replacement. Sneaky post-up game too, that's a nice club to have in the bag.

Domask was a starter and major contributor immediately as a true freshman on a pretty experienced and competitive SIU team.

I feel like that speaks to his game. This is a very functional, playable basketball player, and a multi-level bucket getter.

Goode's a bit bigger and longer and a more deadly long-range shooter as a catch-and-shoot guy, but more limited into a 3-and-D type role.

Domask is a jack-of-all-trades. He'll put the ball on the floor a lot more and generate more stuff for himself and others. Good shooter, not elite. Probably a little more limited in the defensive matchups you can put him in.

Because we're going to get called back to MVC transfer reference points, Domask is really a lot more similar to Rayvonte Rice than to Jon Ekey both in terms of his style of play and level of production in the Valley.

I guarantee you Domansk plays a ton.

A 23 year old with 105 career starts on a good team in a good mid-major league with a solid-all-around game is going to soak up minutes all over the place.

But, despite all of that, I am who I am:

I'd rather have RJ for two years than Domansk for one

I'm biased in favor of continuity and player development. I acknowledge that.

And yet, Melendez remains a talented guy who might be poised for a very valuable season at Georgia next year and I'd believe even more strongly if he were still being Fletch-ified. Domask's value next year is zero.

It wound up an incorrect take regardless, but don't reduce that statement to "RJ is better than Domask and the sky is falling because we've swapped the two". That isn't what I said. There's a method to my madness.

 

[Sedino]

I also thought we'd be a successful team with RJ Melendez and Jayden Epps. I still do.

Gritty did you get into pru’s strong stuff? Wtf are you on this morning