altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Alas, it's never too early for it on Loyalty.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
- Status
This is going to be an interesting transition from this year to last. There's nobody in the portal that's going to come even remotely close to what TJ did for us. Offensively, he scored on all levels, he was the best we've seen in transition and he was our lockdown defender. He could turn the water off on pretty much everyone. Some consider him to be the best player in our history. Actually, many do. That's impossible to replace.
Replacing Domask, again, almost impossible to replace for other reason that our offense ran through him. His conversion rate in the paint was incredible and he made huge plays down the stretch for us. His weakness came on the defensive end and being our version of a PG, ball handling wasn't great.
IF we get the guys that are projected, we have the standard backcourt that many were seeking. We'd have the traditional PG that can handle the ball, drive, finish(or dish), we shouldn't be easily pressured and defensively we should be better. We really got hurt keeping other guards out of the lane. It's not the biggest backcourt in the world (much different than last year), but that's ok.
We need a rim protector and a physical big man. God bless Coleman, but in multiple games, he was just at a disadvantage defensively. That was hard to watch, BUT he was athletic enough that he did do multiple things well. Offensively, he created mismatches on the perimeter. Don't like the thought of putting this in the hands of a true freshman(Morez) and a super green sophomore(Amani).
We have to have five guys on the floor that can all score or are at least are threats to score. When we're missing guys like Domask and Shannon.... Ty had to produce more offense. Having two guys on the roster that TO DATE are black holes offensively....I'm not sure that's sustainable this year. Maybe they both come back and have to be accounted for? I sure hope so.
While I LOVE seeing big names, Id love more to see big production offensively and defensively(don't have to get into that).
It'll be interesting! In Brad I Trust.
Replacing Domask, again, almost impossible to replace for other reason that our offense ran through him. His conversion rate in the paint was incredible and he made huge plays down the stretch for us. His weakness came on the defensive end and being our version of a PG, ball handling wasn't great.
IF we get the guys that are projected, we have the standard backcourt that many were seeking. We'd have the traditional PG that can handle the ball, drive, finish(or dish), we shouldn't be easily pressured and defensively we should be better. We really got hurt keeping other guards out of the lane. It's not the biggest backcourt in the world (much different than last year), but that's ok.
We need a rim protector and a physical big man. God bless Coleman, but in multiple games, he was just at a disadvantage defensively. That was hard to watch, BUT he was athletic enough that he did do multiple things well. Offensively, he created mismatches on the perimeter. Don't like the thought of putting this in the hands of a true freshman(Morez) and a super green sophomore(Amani).
We have to have five guys on the floor that can all score or are at least are threats to score. When we're missing guys like Domask and Shannon.... Ty had to produce more offense. Having two guys on the roster that TO DATE are black holes offensively....I'm not sure that's sustainable this year. Maybe they both come back and have to be accounted for? I sure hope so.
While I LOVE seeing big names, Id love more to see big production offensively and defensively(don't have to get into that).
It'll be interesting! In Brad I Trust.
I think I like the Tre White pickup. If he buys in, clearly going to be a difference maker. If he doesn’t, he gets buried on the bench and likely leaves after a year. So long as he didn’t use up a ton of NIL $$, a lot of upside with not a ton of downside.
texillwek
🔶🔹🔸🔷
So the transfer portal is a charging station? Got it.
Sounds great! Does he look like he can hang with bigger centers defensively if we play him at the 5 spot?
Last point is spot on as well re: Boswell (he's still 18 and gonna be a junior next year!)
From what we've seen/heard, I like that there is some youth transferring in over taking a bunch of 5th years. Maddox will only have one year, but the rest of the roster (there will surely be a little turnover) will be able to gel and be ready for 2025 with Fears and Sophomore Rez.
Something I read said Booth needs to get a fair bit stronger before he can really hang all game at the 5, but it sure does seem like he has "stretch 5" upside, and obviously we'll feel confident about Fletch and Sanderson getting him into that kind of shape. But right now, he's listed at 203lbs on ESPN, and I've seen Morez listed at around 235. So maybe next year you'd play Morez at the 5 more and Booth as a stretch 4? We'll see, but I think I'm sold on Booth either way. At this point I think I'd be disappointed if we didn't get him.
Also, if he hits on his upside, we still might benefit from his youth in that there's a chance, if it's a choice at the margins, that he decides to stay an extra year instead of leave for the NBA earlier than he would if he was a bit older.
edit: for comparison, Coleman is listed on ESPN at 225lbs.
If Tre White isn't an EDG, guess what? Luke, Ty, and Amani will take all of his minutes. You're going to have to be better than the other guys to see the court.
I hope he makes these hot takes as funny as the Domask ones from last April. (Remember how Marcus just appeared as a committed player? No rumors, no speculation?... They wanted this guy for a reason.)
I hope he makes these hot takes as funny as the Domask ones from last April. (Remember how Marcus just appeared as a committed player? No rumors, no speculation?... They wanted this guy for a reason.)
Yeah I think the staff is valuing continuity a bit more this off season, which I think is a good thing.
Also probably makes their jobs a bit easier, assuming we don’t mass exodus next year. Still think we can perform at a high level with the dudes we’re getting.
I'll need to go look at some video of Booth because I thought I saw him listed at 6' 10" and only 205 lbs. Yikes!
EDIT: Ok - I looked at video. He's got skill / athleticism and a little bit of dawg in him. He's only 18 and with maturity and good strength coach (I hear we have one), he could go full dawg. Keep working on that 3-stroke and he could be dangerously versatile. I'm a believer.
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altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I'm a fan of Robert but, speaking as a former engineer and an energy finance guy, that's a poor analogy.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Yeah it’s weird, you would definitely guess Booth weighed more than Hawkins from looking at them. I dunno.
Retro62
- North Bethesda, Maryland
I don't want to go through the next season as a Prius.
Anybody happen to remember what Hawkins weighed as a sophomore? Just comparing Booth's freshman stats with Coleman's sophomore stats, they are VERY similar. As Gritty alluded to with the passing comment, Coleman had slightly more assists, and also slightly more turnovers to go with them.
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I would guess he weighs a bit more than that now, but looking at images online (in ND uni, obviously, not HS pics), he is pretty slim in the torso.
For example, when compared to images of Coleman Hawkins, its very obvious how CH is listed 20 lbs heavier. Compare the guns & torso: easy to see he's not as filled out as CH, but with Fletch/Sand he'd probably get there soon-ish.
The court minutes isn't the issue unless the coach has promised them to a player (e.g. Clark) The issue is the locker room. I'm always optimistic but guarded as well. Epps and Clark were not locker room EDGs. And while there was plenty of concern about DGL in that regard going into the season, it turns out he was. Coaching and mentorship can go a long way to getting guys on the right path. Our few returning guys have a lot of work to do with a long list of newbies.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
I have to say I really like this strategy that BU and Co. are implementing. Get guys who are going to be here for at least two years so they can build chemistry for year two, get Fletched, and play how BU wants them to play. Sprinkle in some guys we recruited who've had time to develop and learn the system also. Could be huge versus the portal mercenary route most teams are going for. My only concern is a lack of a true BIG man. Maybe it's just reactionary due to the teams dominating this year both having massive center types, but it also seems that was our kryptonite and I'm curious how we counteract that when it comes time to play those type of teams again. When we had Kofi it masked so many problems for us.
That said, if what transpires is what Indy and others are alluding to I could easily see us being another Top 15-25 team this coming year and then if we can keep continuity being a Top 5-10 team and really making another run the following year.
That said, if what transpires is what Indy and others are alluding to I could easily see us being another Top 15-25 team this coming year and then if we can keep continuity being a Top 5-10 team and really making another run the following year.
splitter
- and not Nebraska
Teams tend to play up or down to the level of their competition. Players sometimes play to the level of their teammates.
Side by side would be my guess
Insiders, what would you say are the potential timetables for our 4 remaining guys?
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