sacraig
- The desert
Hummer’s backup??
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
- Status
It would be nice to get 2 or 3 of those guys but if this plays out anything like last year we won't fill our roster out till the end of the portal with mostly our third and fourth choices for each spot. Even so, we may still get some good quality players to go along with our returning core.
Yeah. Those days are gone. It’s all about money. But I have to be honest. I would leave for $1.8 million if I had no NBA future. The college years are his time. I guess the thing that has surprised me most with college basketball today is how deep the pockets are for donors. People across the country have money to burn at 10-15 times what I thought before all this started. As long they continue to pay so much players will move. Why agree to contracts when you can make more if you improve and get huge offers? Why stay for less? These kids are only young for a while and will never make money like this outside college basketball.
What do I know.... but getting all six seems highly unrealistic. Gimme 3 maybe 4 and I'd be ecstatic.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
If Tomi, KJ and Will were our third and fourth choices, I think we’ll be okay.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
from ESPN: Dainja averaged 14.6 pts and 7.4 rebounds and shot under 59% from the free throw line.
Good season sure, but not 18 and 9, plus nearly 70% FT
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
That’s true. The time constraint really adds pressure to maximize earnings while you can. If you aren’t an NBA guy, you have 4 years to make as much as possible, which in the case of Morez, is 7 or multiple 7 figures per year. Some might not have the opportunity to earn like that again for the rest of their lives. So I understand the desire to fight for every dollar.
The downside is, it’s destroying the game and if the sport erodes too much, it’ll ruin this opportunity for future generations of players.
Last year, TSJ, Coleman, Domask, Guerrier, Goode, Harmon all graduated. BU wanted to upgrade/recruit over Sincere, Hansberry (who had back issues) Ty and DGL, so Chester quit and took Hanberry and Sincere with him. We recruited over Ty (with Tre) so he redhirted. Leaving us with DGL. Not sure how BU was to retain a bunch of people from last year's team.
He had the important retention from the prior year - TSJ and Coleman _ and got to the Elite 8.
I am sure JW knows exactly what happened with Morez - and 98% of you on this board do not.
Guarantee that it wasn't because Ben started. Morez was a 5 - he was recruited over with Tomi, who turned out to be a very good player, probably MVP of the team.
The statements from the father just seems like an excuse to take the bigger bag than Illinois was offering. Morez is worth more to other teams than to Illinois, because we focus on a 5 out style. Like Ty or Dain, Morez is just not the right player for that scheme. Maybe he could have been if given the chance - maybe he could shoot 35% from 3 on volume.
Not sure we get Tomi back, but only because he may go to the NBA. That would be three guys to the NBA - and again, how do you retain those guys?
As for everyone complaining that we still have Hamer, and TU, it is still early. JW and BU will be having a lot of conversations. I don't see BU letter a problem fester, if there is a problem. Will leave that up to JW, because he actually knows something about what is really happening - not basing his opinions off of message board hot takes.
Do you know what I remember about Meyers time as an illini? Him crying on the bench at Nebraska. That's his lasting impression. I guess that counts as a game highlight. Goes to show you, you can't coach size.
I mean... I'd willingly take him over Ben (who was a starter majority of the year). 40% shooter; can make open threes - simple, but what this team seriously lacked this past season.
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I wouldn’t be shocked if the entire roster enters the portal and Illinois ends up being one of the worst teams in the big ten next season. It sounds like that’s where it’s headed. Donors won’t donate especially if everyone leaves. This is an absolute disaster. Money doesn’t matter if players don’t want to be here anyway.
Gotta lock this one up 
Rudy Gobert, Walker Kessler, Jarrett Allen are all current players that come to mind for me.
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I think this is one instance where we should have an advantage over Duke- Sarr and his camp want to come and give him the development and platform he needs to be a lottery pick next year- we literally just did that with KJ, took a second round pick and made him a lottery pick
At Duke, he’s going to be the fifth option? Does he even start? The Boozer twins, 2 other highly touted freshman, and everyone who returns from a loaded team this year who doesn’t go pro want to get theirs too and they will have more experience in the program. I get it, Duke is Duke, but it’s likely not the best destination for an international player wanting to come over and show what they can do- they don’t have a track record of that, we do
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Big Jack
- Decatur
Note just adding this to your comment. Anyone who thinks Morez was only recruited to rebound and dunk is sadly wrong. He had game to shoot 3s ( maybe not at 35%) but his shot is not horrible. He also has a decent short shot. It was clearly obvious to me and my friends that he was being held back by the staff and told his role was what it was. That is not how you coach and retain a potential All-American. If Morez actually did say he didn't want to end up like Kofi or Dain then the kid is a lot smarter than he has been given credit for. There is a pattern developing here and I don't like it.
Big Jack
- Decatur
Wrong! Morez was recruited to be a power forward. He has no possible NBA future playing center. He was sold on being a future Karl Malone type of player not Shaq. Ben is who was brought in. Ben is who started over him not Tomi. Morez was a fill it 5, just like Coleman was the past 4 years. JW does know the story as u mention but so do some on here. All I can say is money talks!
To BU’s credit, they did seem to shift the offensive approach towards the end of Feb.
But how come we never (rarely) see designed sets or out of bounds plays setting up easy buckets for bigs? See this play from Houston
I agree. I would like to see a coach that has schemes to fit the players we have. Having set plays where everyone works together to get each other open I would think would make everyone feel more involved/utilized as opposed to just standing around outside the 3 pt line. My issue with the Kofi comment is that if you didn’t want to end up like him then why come here to begin with? Refresh my memory did he already sign a LOI prior to Kofi leaving? Kofi did get a banner hung….
Big Jack
- Decatur
Yes I do believe he signed during Kofi's time here. Also these kids don't care about having a banner hung, all they set their sites on is playing in the NBA. I loved Kofi but but it was clear he would never play there. One dimensional player. Morez was promised and wanted more, oh an extra bag of cash for papa.
We are Iowa now.
Started last year…out offense the other team.
This year tried to, but offense not as consistent and defense appeared worse.
How much was Ben NIL? Booth nil? What’s the gap with Hawkins (plus add roster filler with very low nil). Mil? Now you’re asking boosters this year to pony up for the same with Morez/tomi.
Up to the staff to figure these things out. Roster construction has had obvious faults last few years that fans can see. Freshman backcourt. Then no pg last year. This year felt staff got a pass and it didn’t mesh well lacking a 4man and veterans.
Hawkins has his faults but would’ve been great on this team at the 4, and needed his intangibles with leadership and accountability, as funny as it is to say now but that’s growth and maturity on his part.
There has been a history of players leaving and transferring after just 1 year with Brad. There is a distinctive smell about this. There is no way Brad should let Morez walk. He is the only physical player on the team! Whitman needs to have a chat with Underwood now and find out if there is a skunk in the wood pile!
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
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