Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#301      
ChiefGritty
chrisRunner7 said:
Portal Carousel + Euro Express to be more accurate...

For those of you debating Illinois' NIL resources, I kind of think both sides can be right. Wouldn't surprise me if Illinois is right around #10 in NIL but also wouldn't surprise me if 10-20 other schools are right there with Illinois with similar resources, thus making it more difficult to just swoop in and get whoever we want. There might not be a huge gap between #10 and #30.
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This is almost certainly the truth, and then you always have to add the variability factor, it changes by the day as one wallet opens and another closes.

There is not a stable equilibrium in this market at all. But Illinois is clearly a strong player, and we've allocated our resources pretty wisely where a lot of other schools have flushed huge stacks of money down the toilet.

Dame Sarr would be a gigantic coup. I'm not wildly optimistic there, but I have faith that our fallback plans would be well thought out and well resourced from there.

LvilleILL1 said:
Illinois meeting with Dame Sarr and his camp tomorrow most likely. Need him to not go crazy tonight.
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You can just kinda feel that Sarr and Riley both feel that this is their moment to become NBA players. Money can only go so far to turn that around, especially if they're right, which at least Riley sure seems to be.
 
#304      
TheGreatDebate
ColSLU69 said:
If Tomi, Big Z, Mirkovic, and 6'6" Ty are the only Bigs for the Illini, I think the team will not be good in the frontcourt in the upcoming season. I think the Illini could/should get another solid 6'7"-6'9" Big via the portal, one who would be better than the 5th/6th Big you refer to, yet still an affordable player. (Before they're all gone.)
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Those 4 are light-years better than the 3 we trotted out this year (Tomi, Morez and Ben). But I agree, thats why I said they would like another serviceable big.
 
#305      
IlliniCaboose
LvilleILL1 said:
Illinois meeting with Dame Sarr and his camp tomorrow most likely. Need him to not go crazy tonight.
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Calm Down Season 2 GIF by The Lonely Island
 
#306      
blackdog
ColSLU69 said:
I'm also hoping that Jakstys can be a contributor up front this coming season. That would help a lot. But did an insider previously state at some point that JJ would NOT be ready for big minutes next season?

You're right. We probably do have more acute needs than a PF. Do you think that Sarr is supposed to be the SF you mention? Or perhaps the SG?

I think that a backup PG is a huge need also. Not just a backup Guard that can dribble! We need someone that can be a floor general when Boswell is resting, or if Boswell is out with an injury or illness.
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I would very much not expect Jakstys to contribute but at least he probably would be more reliable than Booth to soak up 2-3 minutes to give someone a breather or if they get in big foul trouble.
 
#308      
HailtotheChief
ColSLU69 said:
Are people really underrating Storr's skillset and athleticism? Or are they mostly considering his attitude, his lack of defense, his bad shooting efficiency, his poor assist numbers, and the fact that he's been on 3 teams in 3 years of college, preceded by his attending numerous high schools prior to College? With his skillset, and his allegedly affordable asking price, why is it that other schools have not already inked a Storr transfer?
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If he sucked so bad how come he was all B10 2 years ago. He is a great slasher, cutter, gets fouled, and he is better than Jake, Ty, and Ben. He is likely trying to get the most he $$ he can and be in a better system. He is still the same guy many wanted last year and likely fit our system better with the twins and Boz than anyone currently on our roster.
 
#310      
HensonHall71
LvilleILL1 said:
Illinois meeting with Dame Sarr and his camp tomorrow most likely. Need him to not go crazy tonight.
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I really think Sarr would greatly improve his draft stock after a year in college- his measurables are great 6’7.5” with a 6’11” wingspan and I’m sure his jumping and speed tests will be very good. It’s showing what he can do against a high level of competition for a sustained period that would skyrocket his stock right now. Which he would get a chance to show in college. I’m sure some NBA team might take a flyer on him late first round or early second round if he went this year, but waiting a year and being a lottery pick is so much more lucrative.

Will I think has the opposite decision, his measurables likely won’t be great and he’s already shown what he can do on the court so he likely wouldn’t improve his stick much coming back
 
#311      
ColSLU69
Let's assume for a moment (just for fun?) that Ian Jackson does NOT commit to Illinois, that Dame Sarr does NOT commit to Illinois, and that Will Riley does NOT return to Illinois next season. What should the Illini be doing NOW (and moving forward) vis-a-vis recruiting under those circumstances, either regarding high school kids or via the transfer portal? We really don't know how much money Illinois would have to spend moving forward. Nor do we know what various and specific recruits would require for a commitment. So, this exercise will take some guessing, and some projecting, by us Illini fans. Let's also assume for now that the players committed to the Illini are Tomi, Big Z, Jakstys, Mirkovic, Jake Davis, Ty, Boswell, Brandon Lee, and Keaton Wagler... that's 9 players. It's my understanding that a team, if it so wishes, has 15 scholarships that it can fill. It's also my understanding that Illinois/Brad always likes to keep at least one scholarship open. That would mean that Illinois needs to fill 4 or 5 more scholarships for the 25-26 season.

Here are some suggestions that I would have:
Senior PG Samage Teel, Indiana State, 6'2" 185-pounds, 16.9 points/4.1 rebounds/5.2 assists, and 47.3% FGs/34.7% 3-pointers/78.7% FTs.
Sophomore SG Kennard Davis Jr, SIU-Carbondale, 6'6" 215-pounds, 16.3 points/4.9 rebounds/2.6 assists, and 45.5% FGs/37.6% 3-pointers/76.3% FTs.
Sophomore SF LeJuan Watts, Washington State, 6'6" 233-pounds, 13.7 points/6.7 rebounds/4.4 assists, and 54.9% FGs/42.2% 3-pointers/73.4% FTs.
Junior PF Jamichael Stillwell, Milwaukee, 6'8" 225-pounds, 13.0 points/10.7 rebounds/1.4 assists, and 46.8% FGs/28.6% 3-pointers/56.2% FTs

That makes 13 scholarship players. My preferred starting lineup would be Boswell, K Davis, Watts, Stillwell, and Tomi. (Although Brad would most likely have a different decision! LOL) With Teel, Rodgers, J Davis, Mirkovic, and Big Z as my second unit. And with Lee, Wagler, and Jakstys as additional bench players. I think that first unit would be good on both O and D, they have athletes, good shooting, and rebounding. Plus, lots of toughness. I would like to think that the Illini could afford to sign these four players. And that Brad could blend the entire roster into a very good team.
 
#312      
IlliniGreen
ColSLU69 said:
I think the Illini already have two solid big men...Tomi and Big Z... that can shoot 3s.
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I do believe they need a big with some weight that can bang. We all no Z is a twig and clean get backed down by bigger men. Tommi also.
Someone that would be happy to still be in Big 10 but going to the dance. Pretty reasonable price I bet.
 
#314      
HailtotheChief
PepeSilvia said:
I think a small forward that can basically play the 4 is the ideal fit. Basically someone big and strong enough to hold up inside on defense while playing on the perimeter offensively.

Everyone seems to have gone radio silent so I have no clue what's going on but I would be ecstatic with Jamir Watkins, Sarr, and a big guard (I also like Coward a ton).
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I'd love someone like our former Illini Eddie Johnson at the three would be a good fit! Put up 45 a couple times during his long NBA career. Anyone know of any like him? !
 
#315      
ColSLU69
Okay, I'd also add transfer Guard Jemel Jones to my proposed 25-26 Illinois roster! He's 6'4" tall, a Chicago kid, who averaged 18.9/3.6/2.1 last season while shooting 47.8/35.2/85.7 for Cal State Bakersfield. That's my 14-man roster! With an open spot for a possible mid-season transfer.
 
#316      
Illini92and96
HailtotheChief said:
If he sucked so bad how come he was all B10 2 years ago. He is a great slasher, cutter, gets fouled, and he is better than Jake, Ty, and Ben. He is likely trying to get the most he $$ he can and be in a better system. He is still the same guy many wanted last year and likely fit our system better with the twins and Boz than anyone currently on our roster.
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I don’t have an opinion on storr, but if he doesn’t get assists, takes bad shots, and doesn’t play defense that seems to be in the “I’m out to get mine” mindset. Combined with switching teams every year could suggest he is either never happy, wears out his welcome, or a combo of the two. If a team is focused on chemistry it seems like a ton of red flags.
 
#317      
CoachHooleyHoo
Iamgroot said:
www.si.com

Illinois Basketball Is Turning to a High-Scoring Transfer Portal Guard

The Illini have reached out to Jemel Jones, a 6-foot-4 guard who averaged 18.9 points at Cal State Bakersfield last season
www.si.com www.si.com
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I dont mean to keep doggin on this dude, but I am not understanding this at all. I know he put up big scoring average, but his game is horrendously ugly. He's quick but not really athletic and his shot is slow and weird. I don't see any way his game translates to the B1G even as a bench player. But what do I know.
 
#318      
ColSLU69
IlliniGreen said:
I do believe they need a big with some weight that can bang. We all no Z is a twig and clean get backed down by bigger men. Tommi also.
Someone that would be happy to still be in Big 10 but going to the dance. Pretty reasonable price I bet.
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Tomi is listed as 7'1", 230 pounds, by ESPN. Big Z is listed as 7'2", 245 pounds, by ESPN. I would hope that Fletch could add some weight to each brother, while also adding a lot more strength. And they give Illinois 10 fouls to use at the Center position!;)
 
#319      
CoalCity
After he tried a pass to himself off the backboard in a B1G tournament game instead of looking for a teammate I had seen enough of Mr. Storr.

A delusional mom doesn't help either.

Taking him would be an act of desperation IMO.
 
#322      
HensonHall71
ColSLU69 said:
If Tomi, Big Z, Mirkovic, and 6'6" Ty are the only Bigs for the Illini, I think the team will not be good in the frontcourt in the upcoming season. I think the Illini could/should get another solid 6'7"-6'9" Big via the portal, one who would be better than the 5th/6th Big you refer to, yet still an affordable player. (Before they're all gone.)
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I think Cedric Coward would be exactly what we need as the versatile PF to play against the smaller 4 men. He’s only 6’6 but has a 7 ft wingspan and is strong enough to guard bigger guys. I just think he solves a lot of holes for us and can play on the wing if we go big. I hope we make him a priority, even if we have to overpay to get him. If we get him and Sarr and defense and athleticism improve dramatically and we can go with more of a pure shooter at SG and don’t need to break the bank there

Here’s a good write-up on Coward
edemirnba.substack.com

Cedric Coward Scouting Report

Shooting prowess combined with toughness, physicality, and multipositional defense is what makes Coward an NBA-ready prospect. But what will his role be? What's the long-term potential? Find out below
edemirnba.substack.com edemirnba.substack.com
 
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#325      
LvilleILL1
ColSLU69 said:
If Tomi, Big Z, Mirkovic, and 6'6" Ty are the only Bigs for the Illini, I think the team will not be good in the frontcourt in the upcoming season. I think the Illini could/should get another solid 6'7"-6'9" Big via the portal, one who would be better than the 5th/6th Big you refer to, yet still an affordable player. (Before they're all gone.)
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That's one of the best front courts in the conference next year.
 
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