Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#701      
ColSLU69
DB11Headband said:
Remaining budget here is way too high. At this time ~4MM remaining
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I would hope that the Illini could lock up SF Andrej Stojakovic (quickly) for approximately $2.5M, lock up SG Kennard Davis Jr for approximately $1.0M (or less), and lock up backup PG Samage Teel for approximately $500,000 (or a lot less). That's $4.0M max for 3 very good players that fit specific needs for this Illini team. That would also leave Illinois (per the earlier post) with $1.0M - $1.5M for an additional move or two. For example, add SG Adam Miller for $1.0M (or less). Also, Illinois could check on 6'8" 210-pound North Florida Freshman Forward Josh Harris as a potential transfer target. I have no idea what his asking price would be, but he has good measurables, and he has 3 years of eligibility left. His numbers at UNF his freshman year were 13.4 points/7.1 rebounds/0.6 assists. And he shot 55.7/33.3/69.5 for the season.

How about Boswell/K Davis/Stojakovic/Mirkovic/T Ivisic as starters? And Teel/Miller/Rodgers/J Harris/Z Ivisic as the second unit? With Lee/Wagler/J Davis/Jakstys as additional bench players.
 
#702      
OrangeKrush1981
I am somewhat encouraged that Underwood has pulled back from Sarr, and even Miller. Why? One interpretation of the last few days results is that Underwood is making very smart calculations about player committment (or lack thereof) to team, and also more realistic assessment of the contribution that a wildly-talented but totally-inexperienced freshman (e;g., Sarr -- like Will this past year) can make as a potential alpha scorer.

I am not confident about any of this. Just hopeful.
 
#703      
IlliniFan42
ChiefGritty said:
I mean I'm just reacting to a few highlight videos but that's enough to see that he's pretty explosive.


Is that the question or am I dealing with the mythological elite talent in AJ Storr that's hiding somewhere with Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster?
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Thank you Gritty! But AJ's talent is in another team!
 
#704      
ColSLU69
NJB Illini said:
Watched Andrej Stojakovic a fair amount, the kid has the “volume scorer” gift. Sometimes takes too many difficult shots, the staff can help him clean that up. Also think he benefits greatly by the passers on our team. He can be a big time scorer in the Big Ten.

Also, don’t let anyone tell you he isn’t an athlete. He can jump. He also is a good shot blocker. Not necessarily a great defender, but he can defend when he wants.

Really good positional size and great ability to create his own shot. Also think his shooting numbers jump next year, Cal just asked too much of him. Honestly, would be a stretch on the budget but he would be GREAT next to Sarr.
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I agree with your scouting report on Stojakovic. I think that he would be even better playing for the Illini next season. I can envision him making 2nd or 3rd team All-Big Ten next season.

But I just can't see the Illini also being able to afford adding Sarr to their roster if they add Stojakovic. Or Watkins. Or Haggerty.
 
#705      
OrangeKrush1981
That is not explosive at all. Stojackovic has very good agility, fine footwork, a little bounce, outstanding hand-eye coordination.

He is not explosive.
 
#706      
Second place is 1st loser
Everything that you wonderfully said and what you beautifully hope is 10000% moot and unrealistic until:

1)We find out what fair compensation is via the marketplace

AND

2)Can we afford that market?

We can't change the system. The toothpaste is out of the tube. Players might love the program, but they'd be stupid to not value the money more. It's a one time shot(a four year window) for these kids.

True loyalty to a program is over. We thought that Purdue had that "culture" until we found out that Braden Smith is about to cash a 5M check. If we would have gone to 6M, he'd be on our roster.
 
#707      
Yes33
He would be stupid to come back here. We didn’t respect his game enough the first time to give him a chance, why would anyone expect anything different.
 
#708      
NarrowJ
ChiefGritty said:
I mean I'm just reacting to a few highlight videos but that's enough to see that he's pretty explosive.


Is that the question or am I dealing with the mythological elite talent in AJ Storr that's hiding somewhere with Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster?
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He fools you with the athleticism, especially defensively. Guys think they are about to get a clean look but he is long and covers ground so quickly to contest.

I see some strong passing ability there as well, however the assist rate tells me his tendency is to score. That can be tough to change and I'd err on the side of not trying to force that, but if he wants to do it, it looks like he certainly can.

Like you said earlier, nothing back-to-the-basket there for him. Everything is off of drives. He does show a Will Riley like ability to quickly change direction with the ball at his size and he showed a few nice hesitation moves as well.

So yeah, nothing like MD but maybe he can add some of that? Again, I'm getting too invested in a kid who just entered the portal and things can change with a single zoom call. Hope he wears an Illinois jersey next season.
 
#710      
SkyysNotFalling
NarrowJ said:
He fools you with the athleticism, especially defensively. Guys think they are about to get a clean look but he is long and covers ground so quickly to contest.

I see some strong passing ability there as well, however the assist rate tells me his tendency is to score. That can be tough to change and I'd err on the side of not trying to force that, but if he wants to do it, it looks like he certainly can.

Like you said earlier, nothing back-to-the-basket there for him. Everything is off of drives. He does show a Will Riley like ability to quickly change direction with the ball at his size and he showed a few nice hesitation moves as well.

So yeah, nothing like MD but maybe he can add some of that? Again, I'm getting too invested in a kid who just entered the portal and things can change with a single zoom call. Hope he wears an Illinois jersey next season.
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His game reminds me a lot of Will.
 
#714      
NarrowJ
SkyysNotFalling said:
His game reminds me a lot of Will.
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Yeah, definitely agree. After watching more vids he reminds me more of Will Riley than Marcus Domask.

Will's assist rate skyrocketed late in the season, maybe if Andrej comes they can work on that with him as well.
 
#716      
SkyysNotFalling
NarrowJ said:
Yeah, definitely agree. After watching more vids he reminds me more of Will Riley than Marcus Domask.

Will's assist rate skyrocketed late in the season, maybe if Andrej comes they can work on that with him as well.
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I’d love to see this kid coming off of horn sets that we ran for Will so much the second half of the season.
 
#718      
ColSLU69
No Stojakovic? No Watkins. No Haggerty. No Sarr. All the more reason to sign some other players... ASAP. Josh Harris (North Florida). Adam Miller (Arizona State). Kennard Davis Jr (SIU). Samage Teel (Indiana State). Isaiah Swope (St Louis U).
 
#719      
Second place is 1st loser
Five Big Ten schools mentioned in that article and sadly, but after seeing this off-season play out, not surprisingly.....our beloved are nowhere to be found.

We'll probably never get our top targets, our secondary targets or maybe even our third, but that next level is where we seem to be getting at least some sort of traction with.
 
#725      
ColSLU69
After Dix, Sarr, Ian Jackson, Watkins, Haggerty, et al... does this surprise anyone re Stojakovic???
 
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