Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Indy Illini Fan]

Oumar Ballo, Arizona Wildcats, Center (BK)

Oumar Ballo is a 6-10, 245-pound Center (BK) from Mali.

247sports.com

 

[Luhmania]

Oumar Ballo, Arizona Wildcats, Center (BK)

Oumar Ballo is a 6-10, 245-pound Center (BK) from Mali.

247sports.com

Wow, yes please!

 

[Illini231]

Probably in the vast minority but I have no interest. Can't do anything outside of the paint, can't make free throws, and can only play in drop coverage.

 

[jumpingjack]

Oumar Ballo, Arizona Wildcats, Center (BK)

Oumar Ballo is a 6-10, 245-pound Center (BK) from Mali.

247sports.com

Shift Coleman to a true stretch 4 role alongside him and holy schmoly, our defensive efficiency would be through the roof.

 

[NarrowJ]

Oumar Ballo, Arizona Wildcats, Center (BK)

Oumar Ballo is a 6-10, 245-pound Center (BK) from Mali.

247sports.com

 

[jumpingjack]

Just saw something regarding “Sencire has removed everything Illinois related from his socials”… Sigh…. I hate this trend… The transfer announcement build ups can be so dramatic… Major props to Dain…. Thought he went about it all in a great manner.

That's just not true about Sencire. He has plenty of team stuff up last time I checked. Let the process play out. There's plenty of stuff in flux this week for everyone in Cbb, so I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy the weirdness.

 

[FinallyMadeAnAccount]

Oumar Ballo, Arizona Wildcats, Center (BK)

Oumar Ballo is a 6-10, 245-pound Center (BK) from Mali.

247sports.com

I'm not sure if this a hot take, but I don't want him

 

[Battle89]

Definitely not a lock to Arkansas ... I really doubt he follows Cal ...

He would follow OA though ...

Took one night off from the Board, after hearing the early reports here of Jase leaving. Part sad about that and part just overstimulated with basketball in general.

Wake up to Jase officially gone, Cal gone from Kentucky, and all hell breaking loose in 30+ pages of new material. No more nights off!

Thanks as always to the insiders not just for all the timely info, but also the humorous way it is often presented. This is a great board.

 

[Manual3for4peat]

I'm not sure if this a hot take, but I don't want him

Same. He kills the offense.

 

[Loyalillini10]

Exactly this.

 

[Wrightandjohnstreet]

what happened to this narrative that we don't want any traditional low block big men anymore because 5-out offense??

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

I'm not sure if this a hot take, but I don't want him

It’s a pretty warm take considering the 5’s we have on the roster.

 

[SkyysNotFalling]

Small
Storr
Domask
Hawkins
Ballo

Am I crazy or is that the #1 team in the country?

 

[illiniswish09]

Helloooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[DAM1298]

I'm not sure if this a hot take, but I don't want him

lol very hot take to be like “nah I’m good” on one of the top, most athletic bigs in the country. Elite lob target who just averaged a double double on 65.8% shooting from the floor.

 

[Illini 993]

lol very hot take to be like “nah I’m good” on one of the top, most athletic bigs in the country. Elite lob target who just averaged a double double on 65.8% shooting from the floor.

He also made 95 of 192 FTs (.495.) I think he's a really good player, just not as good as others that the insiders have mentioned.

 

[sacraig]

He also made 95 of 192 FTs (.495.) I think he's a really good player, just not as good as others that the insiders have mentioned.

I think I would probably prefer Raynaud (less efficient from the field but far better FT and is a threat from three range) to Ballo, but we could benefit from either of them.

 

[Bert2022]

I'm not sure if this a hot take, but I don't want him

Can you elaborate on why you wouldn't want Oumar Ballo? Anything you write would be acceptable as opinion, but please, just write something.

 

[The Galloping Ghost]

I think I would probably prefer Raynaud (less efficient from the field but far better FT and is a threat from three range) to Ballo, but we could benefit from either of them.

And I'd take either over Dain, despite really liking Dain, which is why he's at Memphis.

 

[sacraig]

And I'd take either over Dain, despite really liking Dain, which is why he's at Memphis and we are here.

@The Galloping Ghost

@ChiefGritty

 

[thefalcon5]

It’s a pretty warm take considering the 5’s we have on the roster.

He doesn’t fit what I imagine our offense is trying to do

 

[illiniballknower]

He doesn’t fit what I imagine our offense is trying to do

TBF there isn't a lot of stretch fives out there

 

[FinallyMadeAnAccount]

Can you elaborate on why you wouldn't want Oumar Ballo? Anything you write would be acceptable as opinion, but please, just write something.

A couple reasons - I simply prefer some of the other 5's we're looking at, he's only got 1 year unlike some of the other 5's, can't shoot FTs at all, doesn't seem to be a fit for the type of offense Brad is trying to run, and I have some friends that are Arizona fans that are happy he's gone (which I acknowledge makes me biased).

 

[thefalcon5]

TBF there isn't a lot of stretch fives out there

Yeah that’s fair. I’m a “take the best talent and mold your team to fit” kind of guy, at least to an extent.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

I'm not sure if this a hot take, but I don't want him

Well, he would have been the shot blocking, rim protecting center that we were missing versus just about everybody. Watching Coleman get abused in the paint would have been limited and Clingan's draft position wouldn't have been bumped 10 spots based on our game alone.