Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[SescIllini]

It seems Underwood shouldn't waste his time recruiting any non top 50 recruit if the plan is to bring in 5 or 6 transfers every year.

College basketball has basically become minor and major leagues. Mid and Low Majors are the minor league, and they will never be able to accomplish anything, because every good player they get will be taken by a P6 team. Gonna be hard to follow those smaller programs.

For the P6 schools, we just get a revolving door of new names year in and year out. There will be a guy or 2 that play 4 years, but for the most part it's 1-2 years per player. To me this means, you better win, because I'm not creating any real affinity to the team. College is different than the Pros because so many people have a more personal connection to the teams, but Pro rosters don't turnover at the rate college rosters are now.

I think the ones that have played it best are the ones who go for instant playing time at mid majors then transfer in to P6 with developed skills. Sitting on the bench for 1-2 years not great for skill development or confidence. In a way Skyy played it well, got instant playing time, left on his own terms (early) then went to Louisville a ball dominant guard, then left for a high payoff at UCLA. Storr played it well too, major minutes at both places, but some will have to choose to lower mid majors for that time of playing time.

Not sure what is going on with Butler, but better have him leave on good terms to play somewhere he can develop and possibly see him back in 2 years.

 

[The Galloping Ghost]

I think that's the takeaway from our recruiting approach. It'll either be 1 and done or 2 and done potential player or transfers. Maybe a flier every now and then on a high effort good character 4 star who will just be recruited over and buried on the depth chart until they play like an NBA prospect or leave on their own volition. I personally don't like it, but that's the game right now. And when 4 year eligibility gets struck down by the courts in the next couple years, it's not really going to matter anyways I guess. I just feel bad for the kids who actually do want to get a degree while playing NCAA ball at a major university. No more kids like Jack Ingram. Sad, but that's where we're at.

Uh, Jack played two years at Tulsa and two years for us. Jack was basically the precursor of this, just without the bag he deserved. Does have that engineering degree and I hope he's getting paid well for it.

Edit: And the fact that you gotta use a guy from almost 20 years ago as your example really hits on the lie that is the student-athlete experience. Yes, it's wholesome and we all kinda bought in, but they were few and far between.

 

[SeattleSlim]

Not sure that GIF works for this. Yeah, it’s Charmin, but it’s ULTRA STRONG Charmin.

And, if you know what’s good for your pipes, that’s the kind you shouldn’t flush.

 

[HailtotheChief]

Good God, i am not reading all that but if you don't think Ty doesn't need to be able to be guarded or any one needs to be guarded then I disagree. Ty can be 3 for 3 and not be guarded and it hurt us! He hasn't even attempted a 15 foot shot in 2 years I recall. Never attempted a single shot from 3 or even 15 feet! Coaches watch tape and thats not good! Do you think thats ideal or a good thing? We need spacing and if you don't think he must get better your chugging orange kool aid. I don't see how its even debatable its ideal if we are to win national titles. Its freaking not. BU will tell him that too.

 

[Mr. Roberts]

Uh, Jack played two years at Tulsa and two years for us. Jack was basically the precursor of this, just without the bag he deserved. Does have that engineering degree and I hope he's getting paid well for it.

Jack has been very successful in his career as an engineer.

 

[skyIdub]

 

[jumpingjack]

And, if you know what’s good for your pipes, that’s the kind you shouldn’t flush.

 

[Poe's Law]

It seems Underwood shouldn't waste his time recruiting any non top 50 recruit if the plan is to bring in 5 or 6 transfers every year.

College basketball has basically become minor and major leagues. Mid and Low Majors are the minor league, and they will never be able to accomplish anything, because every good player they get will be taken by a P6 team. Gonna be hard to follow those smaller programs.

For the P6 schools, we just get a revolving door of new names year in and year out. There will be a guy or 2 that play 4 years, but for the most part it's 1-2 years per player. To me this means, you better win, because I'm not creating any real affinity to the team. College is different than the Pros because so many people have a more personal connection to the teams, but Pro rosters don't turnover at the rate college rosters are now.

Might be good to at least lay the ground work and build relationships while they’re preps. You don’t think there’s going to be several instances of, “I’m not transferring there they didn’t give me the time of day when I was a prep player”?

 

[Florida_Illini]

So who's this potential 5* pg possibility if Fears isn't reclassing?

Boswell?

 

[nmillini]

well, this is pretty absurd. the reason to sugar coat it is to not have players names dragged through the mud. No one in the program or speaking with any sort of "insider" knowledge should give a d@mn about how the board reacts to anything. You sound like Bruce Weber.

When I'm jealous of attention, I get real mad.

 

[ginabackes00]

I could be completely wrong, but let's look at our freshmen DGL and Hansberry. My guess is they came here believing they were going to get decent minutes. I'd also guess they realized playing against the likes of Coleman, Domask, and Shannon, they need to accept they have room to improve in order to play more minutes with a winning program.

 

[AirNeazy]

Boswell?

Ahh makes sense, my bad. Didn't know if it was referring to a prep or transfer.

 

[HailtotheChief]

He shouldn't have started the 2nd half or played at all with Clingan on the floor.

 

[Illini92and96]

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.

Sounds like you agree with my point? Things could change at anytime, so no one is really committed until the portal closes.

And it mirrors the trend of society in general. Everyone expects what they want, and for it to happen immediately or they bolt. Don’t get a good raise? Switch companies. Society has gotten soft.

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

Where do we draw the line and say being critical of a player or recruit is "trashing" or "mud-slinging"?

For everything that gets said in game threads and post-game threads about our current players who are giving their all for our program, I am a little taken aback at the defending of other players that goes on here. I was critical of Zach Edey a while back and you would have thought I was on a Purdue message board.

Someone points out a committed recruit wants guaranteed playing time and their opinion is that's soft, and then they're getting reamed by people saying he's "dragging their name through the mud"... well just wait until he gets into a game and turns the ball over a couple times. Guessing only then it's okay to hurl the insults.

To me it's the difference between gossip and actual knowledge. Although I'm not much of a fan of criticism either way. Players are who they are. Coach plays them. They owe us effort.

 

[Noblesville Illini]

I absolutely understand why Jase would be having second thoughts. All recruits outside the top 100 would be wise to seriously consider going down a level and getting playing time to maximize their value once they become upperclassmen. I also absolutely understand why we might be having second thoughts. Why bring in a freshman when you can bring in a 20-something with college experience? But, man, from a fan perspective, we are so thoroughly at a point where I'm not going to care till these guys are on campus and in practice. And even then, there will be more Skyys out there. You maniacs can construct your lineups now, but to say these things are fluid is a massive understatement.

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

Being jealous of attention has never been one of my problems. Sorry you're having to deal with it.

 

[Peoriapipeline]

I’m really a fan of the midwestern kids like Ayo, TSJ ,Monte, Goode seem like they bring that toughness and have thick skin.. These west coast kids give me a “ Hollywood” vibe ( except Coleman)

 

[Keisersose]

I think one of Underwood’s strongest attributes his that he can identify talent with the best of them. We’ve seen it. The few players that did not work out (mark smith and Skyy) are examples of times when we chased stars or titles like Mr Basketball.

Pretty cool to be after chase literally before lol other P5 programs. If he’d rather play early in a smaller conference , or a lower level team in a top conference , well I guess that’s up to him. Like others have said, in a couple years maybe he will have the opportunity to go big time again. But who knows what the landscape will be two years from now.

I love that DGL worked had and developed this year. Finding players that are willing to put in the work and then stick it out will be a key moving forward IMo.

 

[Thompson]

Chester has had some tough luck with recruiting. Sees the potential in Butler and gives him the shot and doesn’t get the rewards. Epps, Harris.. hopefully Amani sticks with us for 4 years

 

[jumpingjack]

Sounds like you agree with my point? Things could change at anytime, so no one is really committed until the portal closes.

And it mirrors the trend of society in general. Everyone expects what they want, and for it to happen immediately or they bolt. Don’t get a good raise? Switch companies. Society has gotten soft.

Yeah, people should definitely just suck it up and get paid less than the market provides. What the @#_& are you smoking?

 

[Qwiksilvur]

Sounds like you agree with my point? Things could change at anytime, so no one is really committed until the portal closes.

And it mirrors the trend of society in general. Everyone expects what they want, and for it to happen immediately or they bolt. Don’t get a good raise? Switch companies. Society has gotten soft.

Workers not wanting to be totally exploited…heaven forbid.

 

[hooraybeer]

well, this is pretty absurd. the reason to sugar coat it is to not have players names dragged through the mud. No one in the program or speaking with any sort of "insider" knowledge should give a d@mn about how the board reacts to anything. You sound like Bruce Weber.

 

[Get yourself a new map]

And, if you know what’s good for your pipes, that’s the kind you shouldn’t flush.

Legitimately had a plumber tell me this a few days ago. It’s too strong!

 

[BradUnderwoodLover]

If yall want the true story about Jase it’s that after he commited Brad essentially stopped communicating with him and payed him no attention. Is that soft of him to decommit? Yeah 100%. But seriously Brad you couldn’t make a couple phone calls every couple months???