Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[nichi]

This should not matter one bit. He’s not good enough.

I'll admit his demeanor comes across as "off" on TV, but I decline to read anything specific into that. Booth is currently not good at college basketball; but does have some raw athletic talent and a good three point stroke.

In general, If a scholarship player meets the minimum requirements, and wants to return; I think it's tough to not renew him. This is still a reasonable facsimile of college ball.

it probably shouldn't matter if a decision potentially pisses off a parent, even an influential parent. In the real world; it might be a good idea to avoid that if possible. Note the word potentially. Does anyone know what Calvin Booth is thinking?

 

[One Man Fast Break]

I disagree. I think it's a good team but I think it's a 4 seed caliber roster(solid floor but lacks upside and it's missing a true difference maker). Sure it should compete in the Big10 but the Big10 is always full of good but not great teams.

Indiana will be getting Tucker DeVries and will have plenty of money to add talent. Michigan will be coming off a good season. MSU is MSU, Purdue will return everyone, and so on.

It’s folly to think we can just pull a new first team All American in the portal with regularly. It happened once and was mostly luck as we were that (in-state) player’s second choice.

 

[othawhitemeat]

I think he has just as big if not slightly bigger of an impact than Will did this season.

I am high on Sarr, but the last 6 weeks of Will offensively was pretty elite. I think we asked too much of Riley/KJ as freshman. If we don't ask as much of Sarr as we did of Will/KJ, I do think he can be more consistent cause his athleticism is elite. I just don't want to undersell how good Riley was the last 2 months and also put expectations of Sarr being that high. However, he is freaking athletic and seems like a smart player (just read he has to be more consistent).

 

[BashCtIllini]

Crazy how much the CBB world has changed in just a few years. Differences in roster construction approach jump out in this graphic.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1904514856478445808

I noticed 69% (haha) of the starters are from power conferences. And many of the mid-major guys were superstars at their level.

I get a little uneasy when I see all these mid-major guys thrown out as potential transfers. Most guys don't just step up in level and not miss a beat. I'd typically prefer another high major transfer.

 

[One Man Fast Break]

The big ten made it a conference wide policy a Decade ago that student-athletes have four year guaranteed scholarships as long as they remain in good standing with the university and athletic department. However, Booth is already in the transfer portal which means Illinois has no obligation to bring him back. In general in these days of portaling and Illinois generally not using all their scholarship spots as is (which I think is now 15, it used to be 13 and even very deep teams only really play 9 with maybe two more “in the wings” if injury hits) there really shouldn’t be an incentive to force anyone out if they are content to hang around with no assurances of a role.

 

[CoalCity]

It's just you

 

[HensonHall71]

I am high on Sarr, but the last 6 weeks of Will offensively was pretty elite. I think we asked too much of Riley/KJ as freshman. If we don't ask as much of Sarr as we did of Will/KJ, I do think he can be more consistent cause his athleticism is elite. I just don't want to undersell how good Riley was the last 2 months and also put expectations of Sarr being that high. However, he is freaking athletic and seems like a smart player (just read he has to be more consistent).

I see your point, and I would love to have Will back if he doesn’t get first round guarantees - but also remember Will was a non factor for a long stretch of the season- even in the last two months, how many of those games did we really “need” him to win the game? Maybe OSU and Purdue he was key to us winning, other than that, his good games tended to be in our blowout wins, even how good he was against Xavier, everyone was good that game.

I think Sarr impacting winning as much as Will is realistic, he might not have as many 20 point games but he can do it all on the basketball court, and is more mature/playing at a higher level coming in

 

[PepeSilvia]

I noticed 69% (haha) of the starters are from power conferences. And many of the mid-major guys were superstars at their level.

I get a little uneasy when I see all these mid-major guys thrown out as potential transfers. Most guys don't just step up in level and not miss a beat. I'd typically prefer another high major transfer.

To play devils advocate a bit, Mark Sears started at Ohio, Johni Broome started at Morehead State, Chaz Lanier at North Florida, Wolf at Yale, Nelson at North Dakota, and so on.

Those are some of the best players in the country and have led their respective teams. Then even last year you had Knecht, Domask, UConn had Newton and Spencer.

 

[RockfordIllini]

I am high on Sarr, but the last 6 weeks of Will offensively was pretty elite. I think we asked too much of Riley/KJ as freshman. If we don't ask as much of Sarr as we did of Will/KJ, I do think he can be more consistent cause his athleticism is elite. I just don't want to undersell how good Riley was the last 2 months and also put expectations of Sarr being that high. However, he is freaking athletic and seems like a smart player (just read he has to be more consistent).

Agree on Sarr. I think we need to have a Morez like role for him next year. That is, very limited and focused only on what he does well. For Morez that was rebound, protect the rim, guard like crazy. For Sarr that’s probably guard your tail off, get out in transition, and maybe have some Tre White like cuts to the basket. Keep it super simple and I think it increases the odds of him excelling.

 

[PrandonBaul]

Any talk of Jamir Watkins hitting the portal? I remember there being interest last year. Would be a pretty nice addition on the wing. Turns 24 in July.

 

[NarrowJ]

It’s folly to think we can just pull a new first team All American in the portal with regularly. It happened once and was mostly luck as we were that (in-state) player’s second choice.

He also averaged 9 ppg the year before he transferred here. Guys can develop into 1st Team AA players. This is the just the last 2 seasons:

2025: Johni Broome started off at Morehead St for 2 seasons, Sears started at U of Ohio for 2 seasons (avg 8ppg as FR), Smith did not avg double figures as a FR, Walter Clayton started out at Iona (avg 7ppg as FR)

2024: Edey avg 8 pts 4 reb as a FR, Knecht started out at Northern Colorado (avg 8 ppg as a FR), Newton started out at East Carolina (avg ~10 ppg across FR/SO years), Jamal Shead avg 3 ppg as a FR

 

[mhuml32]

House Settlement might be on shakier ground right now, but that needs to play out. That said, with the potential House Settlement deadline, we could see a lot of price increases for this summer as schools try to skirt House and pay before its start date.

 

[alexander58]

Hey insiders: Is a Hansberry return possible?

 

[NarrowJ]

Dame sarr para tres, levanta! Talk about length and above the rim hops!
Those announers really bring it! So many good lines

LOL yes! Had the volume off when I was watching it last night... those commentators go hard asf

 

[Gregjacksonfan]

Completely disagree, we played our best ball vs Arkansas, Oregon, Indiana, Michigan, Xavier. Those games Morez was a change of pace back up big or didn’t even play. Our offense is 5 out. Obviously Morez is great in the dunkers spot but our ceiling is capped with Morez on the floor compared to Coleman type at the 4. Obviously Morez is extremely valuable and you have to keep him at all costs but him starting contradicts our offensive scheme a little

Our offensive scheme ? High pick and roll with 4 guys standing. That’s why we shot 35 3’s a game. Morez if here will start for us.

 

[Dee_4_Three_83]

Offensively, he consistently comes hard off the screen looking to shoot.

Defensively is where he’s not really the type I go for because he frequently gives up the backdoor.

Are we just getting these out of our system or will this be the norm? If it's the latter (and I suspect it will be), hard pass on this player. I don't think I can handle the incessant double entendres. : )

 

[BashCtIllini]

To play devils advocate a bit, Mark Sears started at Ohio, Johni Broome started at Morehead State, Chaz Lanier at North Florida, Wolf at Yale, Nelson at North Dakota, and so on.

Those are some of the best players in the country and have led their respective teams. Then even last year you had Knecht, Domask, UConn had Newton and Spencer.

Yes and they were superstars at their level. That was my point.

But Also, Sears is in his 3rd year at Alabama. He went from 19.6 ppg to 12.5 his first year at Alabama. 40.8% from 3 to 34.5%. Broome is in his 3rd year at Auburn. He transferred over pretty well, but his stats took a small dip when he transferred up.

The point is, it's hard for mid-major guys to step up and not miss a beat. Sure some guys do it, but they tend to be the exception to the rule. So if you are looking to build up a team through mid-majors, do not pencil in their prior year stats.

If we're smart we abandon the hockey line change rosters. We have a core of returning and developing players. Then supplement with transfers. It looks like Underwood has finally gotten that message and we're going to return a strong core for next year.

 

[Get yourself a new map]

Thanks for posting. Great highlights. Is this Barca’s A team or something else?

#22 in those clips is Jabari Parker. Barca has like 6-7 dudes who played multiple years in the NBA.

 

[Snoopy]

Our offensive scheme ? High pick and roll with 4 guys standing. That’s why we shot 35 3’s a game. Morez if here will start for us.

Shhhh! You aren't allowed to say that out loud. Party line: Our offense is a work of true genius, based on the latest NBA tends and analytics, featuring all sort of subtle advanced techniques. If don't see that you aren't qualified to post and certainly aren't a member of Brad's family.\s

 

[SVSTORM]

Zoom today with Dix?

 

[NarrowJ]

Zoom today with Dix?

 

[Bleedorangeandblue44]

As much as we can't stand Fran, Underwood always spoke well of him. (of course underwood is really good at saying the right things to the media)

Wonder though how much Brad and staff have gotten feedback from Fran about Dix, how much if any that has factored into their pursuit.

Looking forward to seeing what the roster looks like. All sounds promising so far, count me in for bringing that nucleus back with Ty/Davis in a bench role and then adding Dix, Sarr and Big Z. Would be really excited about that, seems like we have a really solid mix of experience and talent and depth at every position. From the Sarr highlights though, I see another RJ Melendez like technical coming

 

[MikeTisdale]

Take it easy Jeffrey Toobin

 

[LvilleILL1]

Is this a personal liking or a staff target as well?

Yes, could be a pivot if they don't land Dix.

 

[BrownBoxSpecialist]

Sounds like we’re going to suck next year with these guys that we are targeting…awful