Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[HailtotheChief]

This Ty stuff is absurd he just played 22 minutes a game on an elite-8 team and I think there is an argument that Brad should have used him more for large parts of the season. He needs to continue to improve(especially finishing), but he's a plus rebounder, incredibly versatile defender, and just a perfect glue guy. Everyone obsessing over his 3pt shooting needs to relax.

Stephon Castle is probably the 2nd most important player on UCONN and is shooting 26% from 3 and doesn't take many. Houston played 6'7 and 6'8 guys that don't shoot.

Towards the end of the season when teams like Purdue and UConn didn't guard him he didn't play 22 minutes a game and was a liability and kept bigs under the hoop. He played 8 min vs UConn to start both halves and wasn't guarded. I am sure that plus minus was awful with Clingan standing down low. Purdue left him unguarded to so if you think that won't continue and is ok then I disagree. More teams with good coaches won't put the big on Ty and dare him to shoot and clog the lane. He has to at least shoot to some degree and he really hasn't attempted a shot from beyond 10 feet in 2 years. I'm not hating on Ty I'm pulling for him. He is passionate and works hard but I'm am sure BU when they chat will tell him he needs a mid range jumper to play as much as they want him too. If he can get a shot which I have my doubts he would be a stud.

 

[HensonHall71]

It seems like a weird application of the rule that other players get to play 5 years with the COVID year and people get 6 years with an injury waiver in a different season but Domask only gets 4.3 years because his injury took place in the COVID year.

I agree - I think his team makes the case that
1) Covid year- NCAA gave everyone an extra year of eligibility due to Covid, it wasn’t just the kids who had their season cancelled or ones that chose to sit out- it was unilaterally applied to everyone- then you can’t deny a medical hardship waiver because they got hurt that specific year- anyone else that got hurt a different year gets their 6 years to play 5- it’s an arbitrary distinction that wouldn’t hold up in court
2) minimum game threshold- given a normal basketball schedule is 31 games, SLU played 2 conf tourny games, so 33 would be a normal year and he played 10 which is .1 games over the threshold and certainly worthy of an exception
3) financial- you would be Denying him the ability to earn high 6 figures in NIL - this is a different world of NIL now and the stakes are much higher, he’s depending on this income and the financial burden of denying him a waiver is significant

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

The thing with Ty is tho he doesn’t need to be a starter to get his minutes. He does a lot of things well so he’ll still likely get solid minutes off the bench and he’s the kinda guy who seems like he’ll accept his role.

Well we’ll find out if he’ll accept that role as I’m guessing that is the role BU is spelling out for him for next year. If he leaves, guess he doesn’t.

 

[SCillini]

Huh? Did you misread my post? You are saying the exact same thing I did, but with a lot more words.

My mistake. We agree. In the talk of transfers and recruiting over guys, I was trying to say that roster changes are inevitable, and talent upgrades are great, but building a program culture requires some of the stability that we saw in the Trent & Ayo years. And these massive overhauls are a crapshoot as we’ve seen the last two years.

 

[More3s]

This Ty stuff is absurd he just played 22 minutes a game on an elite-8 team and I think there is an argument that Brad should have used him more for large parts of the season. He needs to continue to improve(especially finishing), but he's a plus rebounder, incredibly versatile defender, and just a perfect glue guy. Everyone obsessing over his 3pt shooting needs to relax.

Stephon Castle is probably the 2nd most important player on UCONN and is shooting 26% from 3 and doesn't take many. Houston played 6'7 and 6'8 guys that don't shoot.

Hmm I wonder how far apart we actually are in how we view Ty. His minutes this year were kind of in the middle between a starter and key bench player, but I think everyone acknowledges that he could play a key role for the reasons you stated. But maybe we differ on whether he should start, and maybe we differ on whether he should play significantly more minutes than he played this year?

What if we took the outline that LvilleILL posted a while back:

“Overall, they want:
A lead pg
A 2/3 that has some versatility (Maddox, Hill, Oweh, etc)
Storr
Stretch 4 if Coleman is gone
5 man no matter what”

Given that list, where would be the best place for Ty to start? Would you rather start him over a lead pg? Or over someone like Maddox? Maybe he could start at the 4 if we got a good 5 man that could prevent teams from just sticking their 5 on Ty and daring him to shoot? (Assuming Coleman’s gone). Would you start Ty at the 4 over Amani? Honest questions here.

Last thing: I think part of the reason Ty struggled to finish this year was because he was being guarded by 5s that could just sit at the rim in a deep drop and just focus on rim protection.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

I think the path is through there being two COVID years.

College basketball players got 1 extra year for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Seniors graduating in 2020 got an extra year and freshman in 2020-2021 got an extra season. Anyone playing overlapping those two seasons for 1 extra year.

I wouldn't know where to look but we're any medical redshirts handed out in 2019-2020? Because my argument for Domask would be that his freshman year 2019-2020 qualifies for is extra COVID year and his sophomore year 2020-2021 qualifies for a medical redshirt.

It seems like a weird application of the rule that other players get to play 5 years with the COVID year and people get 6 years with an injury waiver in a different season but Domask only gets 4.3 years because his injury took place in the COVID year.

Players graduating in 2019-20 did not get the extra year. Only 2020-21 is considered a “Covid year.” Otherwise we would’ve gotten another year of Andres Feliz.

 

[PepeSilvia]

Towards the end of the season when teams like Purdue and UConn didn't guard him he didn't play 22 minutes a game and was a liability and kept bigs under the hoop. He played 8 min vs UConn to start both halves and wasn't guarded. I am sure that plus minus was awful with Clingan standing down low. Purdue left him unguarded to so if you think that won't continue and is ok then I disagree. More teams with good coaches won't put the big on Ty and dare him to shoot and clog the lane. He has to at least shoot to some degree and he really hasn't attempted a shot from beyond 10 feet in 2 years. I'm not hating on Ty I'm pulling for him. He is passionate and works hard but I'm am sure BU when they chat will tell him he needs a mid range jumper to play as much as they want him too. If he can get a shot which I have my doubts he would be a stud.

You're mentioning two teams that have two freak of nature bigs that Ty couldn't score on. Nobody of that caliber will even be in the NCAA next year.

If other teams are going to play off Ty like that he will be able to get a full ahead of steam and score at the basket.

Plus he becomes a very valuable off ball screener if teams are going to try and play off like that. Could use him to set flare screens to create open looks at will.

 

[Grandpa]

I would not go to a school where I wouldn't get 20 minutes per as a freshman. Why ride the bench and have almost zero experience as a sophomore? Then your school brings in someone with more experience. You go into your junior year with a little experience. Play a lot your first 2 years and then transfer up a level if you need to, teams will be in a bidding war, or if you are good like Podz go directly to the NBA.

 

[jamarvelous31]

His handle improved as the season went on and his usage went up.

Domask was an absolute joy to watch this year, but was asked to play out of position. The losses at NW, Penn St, MD were heavily driven by no true PG down the stretch.

Illini0440 responded elsewhere that they're getting a PG so non-issue.

 

[Joel Goodson]

This would be mind numbing. I get current players portaling based on new people being brought in, but if recruits start doing the same? Holy cow, it would be a never ending domino chain until school starts. What’s the point of committing if there is no real commitment.

consider the prep commit's POV: they're committing to a school, a staff and a roster. if that roster changes significantly, that could change things (that was then, this is now). really, what's the difference between a current player and a kid who's coming in ~2 months?

FWLIW, if Butler decommits, that would suck (despite the roster upgrades). think he has a world of potential.

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

Rodgers role will be the same at every school. It's not like there's a program that is saying you're perfect for us, our system is built around guys who can't shoot. So Rodgers can choose to step down a level or he'll have the same problem somewhere else.

Ty Rodgers is a college 4. Which is fine, a guy with his skills can be a very good, undersized post player. He is certainly not a guard, and if he's a wing, he's drive only. So the key to Rodgers is to fill out our guard position so he can move into the paint.

I personally think Domask was adequate at best as a PG. Give me a real true PG. Someone I don't have to worry about getting his pocket picked. Someone who can handle in pressure, someone that makes his teammates better. Get that guy and everything starts to fall into place much better.

I've never seen Boswell play well at Arizona. Literally every time I watched, I was thinking where was the guy I saw in high school and his stats are pretty good, so what is this? That said, I'd still take him in a second and he'd be a major help to our roster, if for no other reason than to get other guys where they can excel.

I’ve had the exact same experience with Boswell this year. Every time I’ve seen him play for any real amount of time, he hasn’t looked very impressive. Saw him against Purdue early in year, against WSU in their second matchup, against my Beavers, and then last two NCAA games. His stats in those 5 games — 116 minutes (23.2 mpg), 17 points (3.4 ppg) on 6-29 shooting (20.6%) including 1-17 from 3, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals and 6 turnovers. Now I know you don’t start on a team like Arizona without talent and he is young, but I have trouble wrapping my head around the idea he is a key piece we’re missing from what I’ve seen. Just hope if he comes home, I don’t have to stop watching games in order for him to play well.

 

[john1952]

It one is going to be tasked with rebuilding a team in six to eight weeks, it is pretty reasonable there are going to have "culture," "fit" and "chemistry" problems

Some seasons there is going to be a tight culture, like this year, where players, and coaches and players have a tight connection

Some seasons it will be like last season where there was only a loose culture, where players were not always connected and at times looking from the same point in the same direct and seeing different things

It is certainly possible with above average portal departures, and if mining the portal does not go as planned, that "toxic" team cultures could develop over time

Coleman Hawkins really improved his passing this year. I was just wondering if the "invisible friend" he used to pass to had opted for the portal????

 

[Bert2022]

Butler will be an exceptional compliment to Fears.... they will both score a ton, Fears the better distributor / clutch guy and Butler the better rebounder/ more versatile defender. I really hope I get to see those 2 play together... and to have them come up through our system.

 

[BashCtIllini]

Rice is a pass first point guard with elite separation and shot creation. He also won PAC12 freshman of the year and was all PAC12 first team. Yeah sorry but I’ll take that over a ball hog that’s just looking for the biggest paycheck any day

I look at Myles Rice, see his 3pt shooting at 27.5% and say Nope.

That's the weird part with this new world, for me at least, the standards go up. If you have essentially 2/3 of all players to choose from, you're going to have former 5 star guys, key players on P6 teams, stars on mid-major teams, 32 year olds with a wife and kids, etc.

While I for some reason have a bad feeling about Storr, he would easily be my top choice of those 2. The guy I wish we were hearing more about, or anything about, is Cade Tyson. 6'7" 46.5% from 3 on 172 attempts, 86% FT shooter. I have to imagine we at least gave him a call and he said, sorry coach not interested.

 

[Illinifrank67]

Rice is a pass first point guard with elite separation and shot creation. He also won PAC12 freshman of the year and was all PAC12 first team. Yeah sorry but I’ll take that over a ball hog that’s just looking for the biggest paycheck any day

I find the "just looking for the biggest paycheck" narrative ridiculous. Most of this board would bolt on their current employer for a 10k/ year raise, but a kid (who's likely better at his job than 99% of us) looking to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars is just being selfish... Dumb.

 

[Florida_Illini]

I’ve had the exact same experience with Boswell this year. Every time I’ve seen him play for any real amount of time, he hasn’t looked very impressive. Saw him against Purdue early in year, against WSU in their second matchup, against my Beavers, and then last two NCAA games. His stats in those 5 games — 116 minutes (23.2 mpg), 17 points (3.4 ppg) on 6-29 shooting (20.6%) including 1-17 from 3, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals and 6 turnovers. Now I know you don’t start on a team like Arizona without talent and he is young, but I have trouble wrapping my head around the idea he is a key piece we’re missing from what I’ve seen. Just hope if he comes home, I don’t have to stop watching games in order for him to play well.

I see Boswell as a definite upgrade on PG from what we have had for several years. Quality handles, distributor, solid 3 pt shot and good defensively. That said he reminds me a lot of Skyy in that he doesn't have explosiveness towards the basket nor good finishing ability. I see him as a good upgrade but not gamechanger addition.

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

I find the "just looking for the biggest paycheck" narrative ridiculous. Most of this board would bolt on their current employer for a 10k/ year raise, but a kid (who's likely better at his job than 99% of us) looking to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars is just being selfish... Dumb.

I agree with this and don’t fault the players. On the other hand, just because other people might do the same thing if in his shoes doesn’t mean as a team you can just say “well others are the same way” and just disregard it entirely. That said, I don’t know these players personally and am not the one vetting them — Brad and company are. Just have to trust them. I’m sure they have declined to go after very talented players who had similar “issues,” so obviously they feel comfortable.

 

[Boomauer]

Towards the end of the season when teams like Purdue and UConn didn't guard him he didn't play 22 minutes a game and was a liability and kept bigs under the hoop. He played 8 min vs UConn to start both halves and wasn't guarded. I am sure that plus minus was awful with Clingan standing down low. Purdue left him unguarded to so if you think that won't continue and is ok then I disagree. More teams with good coaches won't put the big on Ty and dare him to shoot and clog the lane. He has to at least shoot to some degree and he really hasn't attempted a shot from beyond 10 feet in 2 years. I'm not hating on Ty I'm pulling for him. He is passionate and works hard but I'm am sure BU when they chat will tell him he needs a mid range jumper to play as much as they want him too. If he can get a shot which I have my doubts he would be a stud.

It appears to me that Ty's shot comes off his hands funny. It's like he's shot putting the ball instead of releasing off his fingertips like most good shooters. It's called "touch". Reminds me of when Shaq shot free throws. Maybe he can develop some touch but most good shooters have it from an eary age.

 

[Boskydell]

consider the prep commit's POV: they're committing to a school, a staff and a roster. if that roster changes significantly, that could change things (that was then, this is now). really, what's the difference between a current player and a kid who's coming in ~2 months?

FWLIW, if Butler decommits, that would suck (despite the roster upgrades). think he has a world of potential.

Feels like Perrin redux. I tend to fall in "love" with certain recruits, and Butler is certainly one of those. Hope it's not a done deal.

 

[Piotyr]

The unfortunate reality of a high school recruit in this age of COVID years and no penalty transfers is that instead of competing with maybe 50 high school players of similar quality at your position for a spot on a top level team, you're now competing with 300 players, 80% of which have more collegiate experience experience than you.

I have no inside knowledge on Jace Butler's situation, but if you're deciding between 3 minutes per game at Illinois or 20 minutes a game at a mid tier program like Colorado State, Drake, New Mexico or Michigan then that starts to look a lot more attractive to a kid who just wants to play and get experience.

 

[The Galloping Ghost]

The unfortunate reality of a high school recruit in this age of COVID years and no penalty transfers is that instead of competing with maybe 50 high school players of similar quality at your position for a spot on a top level team, you're now competing with 300 players, 80% of which have more collegiate experience experience than you.

I have no inside knowledge on Jace Butler's situation, but if you're deciding between 3 minutes per game at Illinois or 20 minutes a game at a mid tier program like Colorado State, Drake, New Mexico or Michigan then that starts to look a lot more attractive to a kid who just wants to play and get experience.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

I have no inside knowledge on Jace Butler's situation, but if you're deciding between 3 minutes per game at Illinois or 20 minutes a game at a mid tier program like Colorado State, Drake, New Mexico or Michigan then that starts to look a lot more attractive to a kid who just wants to play and get experience.

 

[LvilleILL]

There's a reason for the likely decommitment with player/players we are bringing in. All I will say for now.

To be honest, I am a bit disappointed in Jase's mentality. While he probably would not play much at all next year still think it's a bit soft

 

[Joel Goodson]

It appears to me that Ty's shot comes off his hands funny. It's like he's shot putting the ball instead of releasing off his fingertips like most good shooters. It's called "touch". Reminds me of when Shaq shot free throws. Maybe he can develop some touch but most good shooters have it from an eary age.

yeah, like a grenade

am a huge Ty guy. seriously think he has a raging case of the yips. hope he figures it out

 

[RockfordIllini]

If Jase does decommit wondering what landing spots are available to him. Sure there are openings at the P5 level but any place decent is going to be looking at the portal to fill spots just like we are. Maybe he goes the mid major route but any decent P5 level program I think it’s an uphill battle for any non 5* freshman to earn PT.