Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[illinifan1987]

I just received confirmation that the plane Brad is on had issues during takeoff, but is airborne now.

All I can say about whoever he's meeting

 

[HensonHall71]

So my uneducated guess is that we are probably out on Watkins, now, based on how I read Indy’s post. I take “heading overseas again” to mean another actual trip, and it seems very unlikely to me that Brad and/or other staff would make a second trip over without strong confidence in landing someone (who seems to be the “primary target”). And if we land either of the overseas targets that have been mentioned, then it would effectively rule out Watkins.

I’m interested to see how it plays out.

Agreed, it seems that way- it might be as simple as Watkins indicated he’s staying in the draft

On the overseas targets - there is a big difference between the two in my mind- Egor is playing with professional men and would be a significant contributor right away, Kasparas is playing with 16/17 year olds and would be the equivalent of a HS recruit (a really good one) but would have a bigger adjustment to college ball- Hence the addition of a transfer in addition to Kasparas if that is who we add

 

[So ILL]

Not in P5 schools that have aspirations at a deep tourney run at least. I think that's reflected in our current coaching staff who are all big game hunters. The Valleys and directional schools are for devo guys now. Play great, catch somebody's eye and transfer up for a nice bag.

Is Jakstys not considered a developmental guy?

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

When we're saying "int. guys", the only ones we're talking about are Kasparas and Riley...right?

In terms of those 2, who has the lower price tag?

 

[Trueblue777]

Agreed, it seems that way- it might be as simple as Watkins indicated he’s staying in the draft

On the overseas targets - there is a big difference between the two in my mind- Egor is playing with professional men and would be a significant contributor right away, Kasparas is playing with 16/17 year olds and would be the equivalent of a HS recruit (a really good one) but would have a bigger adjustment to college ball- Hence the addition of a transfer in addition to Kasparas if that is who we add

They both play in the 18 Under Euro league. Both were born in 2006.

 

[Bogey99]

Agreed, it seems that way- it might be as simple as Watkins indicated he’s staying in the draft

On the overseas targets - there is a big difference between the two in my mind- Egor is playing with professional men and would be a significant contributor right away, Kasparas is playing with 16/17 year olds and would be the equivalent of a HS recruit (a really good one) but would have a bigger adjustment to college ball- Hence the addition of a transfer in addition to Kasparas if that is who we add

Isn’t Egor playing with the Real Madrid 2nd team, which is only 16 - 18 year olds?

 

[BashCtIllini]

Is Jakstys not considered a developmental guy?

Will he stick around to develop?

The way college basketball is shaking out, if I was counseling a kid, I'd tell him if you're not going to be in the rotation as a Fr at a P6 school, go to a mid-major.

There's really no point in sitting on the bench at a P6 school. Someone is going to breakout at a mid-major during the year, and there's a good chance your coach is going to be looking at that guy, instead of you sitting on the bench developing.

 

[Trueblue777]

Isn’t Egor playing with the Real Madrid 2nd team, which is only 16 - 18 year olds?

Same league

 

[illiniballknower]

Agreed, it seems that way- it might be as simple as Watkins indicated he’s staying in the draft

On the overseas targets - there is a big difference between the two in my mind- Egor is playing with professional men and would be a significant contributor right away, Kasparas is playing with 16/17 year olds and would be the equivalent of a HS recruit (a really good one) but would have a bigger adjustment to college ball- Hence the addition of a transfer in addition to Kasparas if that is who we add

They play in the same league. And Kasparas has been more productive in both that league and other international tournaments.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Thought he played with the professional team - played with (and against) veterans and quality players.

Think so...but don't really know for sure...

 

[STL Illini]

This staff is cooking ... That's all I've got to say ...

Heading overseas again ... You guys can all determine that means ... There will likely be another guy who joins in addition as well ... Lathon, Monsanto, as well as a couple others I was told but will keep quiet for now ... They want to see how the du$t settles after they lock down the primary target ...

2025 ... You guys are starting to see some of the names I've been told behind the scenes for a while ... People DO NOT want to see our staff on the trail ... I am told all 4 of the guys below plan to take OVs ... Jeremiah Fears has been doing some recruiting of his own as well ...

AJ Dybantsa, Utah Prep , Small Forward

AJ Dybantsa is a Small Forward from Brockton, MA.

247sports.com

Jasper Johnson, Link Academy , Combo Guard

Jasper Johnson is a 6-4, 170-pound Combo Guard from Versailles, KY.

247sports.com

Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park Performing Arts Cs , Combo Guard

Meleek Thomas is a 6-3, 165-pound Point Guard from Midland, PA.

247sports.com

Will Riley, The Phelps School , Small Forward

4/30/2023: Will Riley is a 6-8, 178-pound Small Forward from Malvern, PA. He is ranked No. 22 in the country by 247Sports. Riley is the No. 2 recruit in...

247sports.com

First, thanks for the info Indy.
Second…..oh boy…..buckle up Loyalty.
We are officially going to go through our massive roller coaster ride upswing where we are going to now talk about the best
10-12 potential gets worldwide. How we will somehow magically get all of them to C-U and what a dream team we shall plan for. Only after countless pages of unrealistic prognostications we will swing and miss somewhere and that will have been the apex of the ride this week.
Insiders will be damned. We can’t compete without an handful of the worlds richest donors funding our NIL collective. It’s just so unfair. NIT here we come. Geoff Alexander and Zach Hamer need to go…..
You get the drift.
Again, thanks for the info Indy. Good to know there’s perhaps more coming next year. Will be excited to see how it plays out. Either way….thanks.
I’m buckled in….
Now GO Loyalty…..do what you do best.

 

[illinifan1987]

First, thanks for the info Indy.
Second…..oh boy…..buckle up Loyalty.
We are officially going to go through our massive roller coaster ride upswing where we are going to now talk about the best
10-12 potential gets worldwide. How we will somehow magically get all of them to C-U and what a dream team we shall plan for. Only after countless pages of unrealistic prognostications we will swing and miss somewhere and that will have been the apex of the ride this week.
Insiders will be damned. We can’t compete without an handful of the worlds richest donors funding our NIL collective. It’s just so unfair. NIT here we come. Geoff Alexander and Zach Hamer need to go…..
You get the drift.
Again, thanks for the info Indy. Good to know there’s perhaps more coming next year. Will be excited to see how it plays out. Either way….thanks.
I’m buckled in….
Now GO Loyalty…..do what you do best.

I don't think anyone on here would disagree with that

 

[HensonHall71]

They both play in the 18 Under Euro league. Both were born in 2006.

You’re right- for some reason I thought Demin was playing for the Real Madrid first team- how quickly I’ve forgotten him already!

 

[Goldtop]

First, thanks for the info Indy.
Second…..oh boy…..buckle up Loyalty.
We are officially going to go through our massive roller coaster ride upswing where we are going to now talk about the best
10-12 potential gets worldwide. How we will somehow magically get all of them to C-U and what a dream team we shall plan for. Only after countless pages of unrealistic prognostications we will swing and miss somewhere and that will have been the apex of the ride this week.
Insiders will be damned. We can’t compete without an handful of the worlds richest donors funding our NIL collective. It’s just so unfair. NIT here we come. Geoff Alexander and Zach Hamer need to go…..
You get the drift.
Again, thanks for the info Indy. Good to know there’s perhaps more coming next year. Will be excited to see how it plays out. Either way….thanks.
I’m buckled in….
Now GO Loyalty…..do what you do best.

I think you understand our loyalty family just fine.

 

[PasadenaIllini]

Kasparas

If we actually have a realistic shot at this guy, then we have the chance of getting a future All B1G caliber guard. Quick release on his shot, great handles and all around skills, really quick first step, and decent athleticism. Not sure how schooled he is defensively, but anybody that athletic can be taught to play great defense.

 

[sacraig]

This staff is cooking ... That's all I've got to say ...

Heading overseas again ... You guys can all determine that means ... There will likely be another guy who joins in addition as well ... Lathon, Monsanto, as well as a couple others I was told but will keep quiet for now ... They want to see how the du$t settles after they lock down the primary target ...

2025 ... You guys are starting to see some of the names I've been told behind the scenes for a while ... People DO NOT want to see our staff on the trail ... I am told all 4 of the guys below plan to take OVs ... Jeremiah Fears has been doing some recruiting of his own as well ...

AJ Dybantsa, Utah Prep , Small Forward

AJ Dybantsa is a Small Forward from Brockton, MA.

247sports.com

Jasper Johnson, Link Academy , Combo Guard

Jasper Johnson is a 6-4, 170-pound Combo Guard from Versailles, KY.

247sports.com

Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park Performing Arts Cs , Combo Guard

Meleek Thomas is a 6-3, 165-pound Point Guard from Midland, PA.

247sports.com

Will Riley, The Phelps School , Small Forward

4/30/2023: Will Riley is a 6-8, 178-pound Small Forward from Malvern, PA. He is ranked No. 22 in the country by 247Sports. Riley is the No. 2 recruit in...

247sports.com

Lord have mercy. As an Illinois fan, I refuse to believe this could happen until it hypothetically does.

 

[sacraig]

There isn't such a thing as developmental guys anymore.

Sure there is. But they play at mid-majors or major conference teams with smaller NIL budgets and then transfer to the big boys after a year or two.

 

[ThePortalMadeMeDoIt]

My man it looks like you went ahead for that natives all wound up again. I swear you have to be posting and then be like watch and just start rolling when the comments come in. Well done sir

 

[LadyLoyalty]

I think you understand our loyalty family just fine.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

When we say "international guys", we are referring to only Riley and Kasparas...right?

If so...between those 2 guys...who does the staff prefer and which one is less costly $$ wise?

 

[AnnoyedWithGarza]

Kasparas

If we actually have a realistic shot at this guy, then we have the chance of getting a future All B1G caliber guard. Quick release on his shot, great handles and all around skills, really quick first step, and decent athleticism. Not sure how schooled he is defensively, but anybody that athletic can be taught to play great defense.

Physically more ready than Egor?

 

[Kendall Gill’s Uncle]

Can you show me where you’re getting the info that Egor plays against grown men? Everything that I can find shows he plays for Real Madrid 2 and hasn’t played for their top team. Their roster is made up of 17-19 year olds and they are in first in the league 5 games up on Barca 2 who Kasparas plays for.

Kasparas has played 1 game for the Barca top club but every other game for Barca 2. He plays about 6 more minutes a game, averages about 5 points more, and shoots the 3 about 4% better than Egor.

I get that Egor is rated on future NBA draft boards, probably because he’s 6’9” and I haven’t seen Kasparas on any but I’m not sure where your other info is coming from.

 

[LvilleILL]

Kasparas

If we actually have a realistic shot at this guy, then we have the chance of getting a future All B1G caliber guard. Quick release on his shot, great handles and all around skills, really quick first step, and decent athleticism. Not sure how schooled he is defensively, but anybody that athletic can be taught to play great defense.

We have a good shot. Gotta close in the next week or so, but I think we are sitting really well right now

 

[Brosky]

Not really. It's fine the way it is.

 

[PasadenaIllini]

Physically more ready than Egor?

I wouldn't say that. There's a reason scouts have Egor in the top 10 in the 24-25 draft. Egor's height, quickness, and skillset make him a nearly impossible matchup...in my opinion Egor'd be in contention for B1G MVP immediately. But Kasparas is a d@mn good player and would help us right away. Now hopefully the rumors about his interest in playing for us are legit and the price won't be prohibitive.