Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#176      
Fly Illini Fly!
Indy Illini Fan said:
And to add a little more to this … We’ve got an open ride …

And if anyone’s learned anything about Brad … If he can upgrade the talent … He will … He will recruit over kids …

You add Jasper to this team and it’s a no doubt top 5 preseason team … No doubt … Man would that be fun to watch …
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If Jasper comes here and re-classes...I don't know about any chances but just to say that sounds ABSOLUTELY INSANE...what in the world the starting five? Kylan, Jasper, Kasparas, Ben, Tomislav? Ben?

Lord...Golly...

That's a sure top 5 team in the country. Honestly the sky would be the limit.

I ain't gonna lie...that possibility has me in shambles... 😂
 
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#177      
ChiefGritty
Indy Illini Fan said:
We didn’t want him for 2024 … That’s been known since before he committed …

Fears literally knew this which is why he said in his statement if he was staying in 2025 he would’ve been coming here …
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Yeah, I get it, the ability to secure that NIL bag now was just too much to resist and Illinois didn't make that available for him in '24, but then did and used it all up for Riley and so it all goes.

It's perfectly explicable and forced into a Riley-or-Fears choice, we took the best available option.

No one did anything wrong here. You could argue Fears should be more patient for longer-term NIL riches, but can this marketplace survive to 2029? Very possibly not, make hay when the sun is shining.
 
#178      
Illini in Italy
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#181      
Dbell1981
ChiefGritty said:
Get the memo man, it's "we didn't actually want him" time with Fears.

Anyway, they are both 6'3" score-first combo guards rated in the mid 30's nationally whose most-used descriptive adjective is "smooth". It's as similar as two prospects at the same school a decade apart can possibly be.
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Look dude, I'm not sweating Fears but he is not JCL. GTFOH
 
#182      
IlliniFan42
I mean the easiest comparison is his brother and after one year that doesn't look like a player we'd want on our team, and that's someone that played four years in high school. Our recruiting has simply exceeded what the Fears brothers can provide.
 
#186      
IllinoisIntegrity
Indy Illini Fan said:
And to add a little more to this … We’ve got an open ride …

And if anyone’s learned anything about Brad … If he can upgrade the talent … He will … He will recruit over kids …

You add Jasper to this team and it’s a no doubt top 5 preseason team … No doubt … Man would that be fun to watch …
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So, where are we on Storr? Those May meltdowns 🤣
 
#187      
spillini
Indy Illini Fan said:
I wouldn’t say it’s done deal that’s he’s reclassifying … But it’s on the table …

There’s always a reason a kid slams in 3 visits in a weeks time right before Peach Jam …

And there’s also a reason Brad went back to the big boy donors and said be ready for my call …

And I’ll tell y'all right now … If Brad goes to those guys and says I can get Jasper … Here’s the amount … For this year … As long as it’s the number I’ve been told … They’ll do it …

Boosters got that Elite 8 taste last year and they want an f’ing natty …

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May the boosters’ investment portfolios grow to the moon
 
#189      
fatboyslim
Which tells me how silly these WTE top 25's are for college bball. Most of these teams have a lot of unknowns. Even some of the top 10 teams because of portal additions and subtractions. There is no way to tell who is going to be a top 25 team for over half of the teams on these lists until they start playing for a couple of months together. But I get it, it's clickbait hype to get fans excited.
 
#190      
hoopsfan47
Indy Illini Fan said:
And to add a little more to this … We’ve got an open ride …

And if anyone’s learned anything about Brad … If he can upgrade the talent … He will … He will recruit over kids …

You add Jasper to this team and it’s a no doubt top 5 preseason team … No doubt … Man would that be fun to watch …
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Indy....you might want to lay off the spiked kool-aid a bit. Watching Kentucky of the past 15 years, it seems we might want to learn a thing or two from history. At least take a wait and see with as many as 3 frosh in the starting lineup. Nothing wrong with pulling for them like a banshee to win every game, but top 5 "no doubt" might be bit over-enthusiastic. Of course, personally, I expect them to be #1!!!!!!
 
#192      
Birdus
Second place is 1st loser said:
We're putting this down as a good thing?
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Yes. Definitely. When would it not be a good thing to take a top ten recruit over a kid in his 30's still struggling with his shot? Fears was supposed to be committed for next year. He was supposed to take another year to develop. If he does go for the bag, I hope he gets his. Otherwise, I am good where we are with Kylan or Jasper or whatever. Jasper is ready now. If he wants to come here and we can afford him, it will produce immediate results. The Illini want to be in a position to win this year and next year. I am in with that. Now, the next thing to happen if it has not already is for Greg to have a major meltdown on his podcast and ask the question. Is the Illinois program declining now that Fears is reopening his commitment?
 
#193      
Illinirog70
If we all take a step back, this was really inevitable. Why should he commit to us now for '25 for no money? Or less than top money?

He did not mention a reclass in his announcement, which may mean teams may be lining up to pony up in '25 (including Ill.)

If he gets a good offer to reclass to '24, that's found money. He did not burn any bridges with us for either '24 or '25, so provided we come to the table with sufficient dough (for either year) we're still in the game.

He's established himself as a future star so someone is going to reach out. Likely for '24, but if not, what has he lost for '25?

Absolutely the right move for him. May be worth an extra million...or two!

Likewise, why would ANYONE except a marginal player commit now for '25?

Recruitin'times are achangin'!
 
#194      
sacraig
Indy Illini Fan said:
And to add a little more to this … We’ve got an open ride …

And if anyone’s learned anything about Brad … If he can upgrade the talent … He will … He will recruit over kids …

You add Jasper to this team and it’s a no doubt top 5 preseason team … No doubt … Man would that be fun to watch …
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And yet we still keep landing in the middle of the pack in the B1G for a bunch of talking heads in the blogosphere.

I guess that's why you play the games.
 
#196      
Indy Illini Fan
Illini_1105 said:
There’s no way we get Jasper to reclass. We are stacked at the guard spot already. Let OA cook for 2025 now that we have a fresh start
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Oh don’t get me wrong … I’d much rather have Jasper for 2025 … And I think that’s where he stays …

But I’m just reporting what’s on the table … And Brad going to the boosters and an assistant telling me there’s a chance tells me all I need to know …
 
#200      
Roundball Sage
There is one good rule to follow in today’s New College Ball Age of Player Motion. And that is...never get too attached to any one player. Things are just always in movement these days. And the merry-go-round does not stop for a moment... nor should it.

You will not have the same guys on the floor every time you look up. I said a long time ago that today’s College ball is now like classic street ball where whichever guys show up on a given day or night pair off into teams and you get the game on. OK, it won’t be changing THAT fast... but you get the idea. It's about the fun of playing and seeing Who's Best on any given day -- or year.

Put your faith and trust in the Program... the bigger picture... the legacy and personal connection you have to 'Your' chosen logo and situs of place. That doesn’t have to change or be in flux.

I like today’s Players-In-Motion operating system where the guys who put on ‘your’ uniform on any night wanted to be there for that moment in time. They don’t have to be there tomorrow (next year) if they don’t want to and your Program will survive and prosper because you are providing a winning environment that anyone would be interested in playing for.

And if a place does not provide a Winning (nurturing, mentoring) ball environment then THAT is the problem to solve in today's New College Ball Age.
 
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