Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#403      
ChiefGritty
SCDerby said:
I'm here for all the questions because to understand how and why this is all happening you need to understand landscape and power players in European basketball.

One of them (probably the biggest one) is an agent of all these guys, think NBA Rich Paul but somehow more powerful. Petrovic, Mirkovic, both Ivisic twins are his clients, heck even Peja Stojakovic have connections to him. He also holds one of the biggest talent academies in Europe where he plucks players from that region (Balkans) and some from outside willing to come and work and compete in pro league against grown men while getting opportunity and minutes, something that is very rare for a young player in Europe to get, regardless how talented and good you are - your role will depend on how you produce against those grown men with plenty of things going against you not even counting lack of experience. Most of them just want an opportunity to showcase their game and no disrespect, most of them will come rather to play against guys their age than get bullied by older players and screwed on every 50-50 call against them.

Whats good for Illini is establishing some kind of cooperation with this guy, because he can get things done and fast. I'd look for Underwood to be a guest on annual coaching clinic organized in Serbia soon. Forging more connections with people there also helped Kentucky who got Petrovic's teammate from this season Andrija Jelavic commited (nice stretch PF with ball skills, fluid game and athleticism). Calipari was a guest there and less than a month later Zvonimir Ivisic commited to Kentucky to play for him. People are catching on fast but its good to get there earlier, think euro guys come kinda cheaper than portal players especially considering some money thrown around for players which really didnt showed much going around asking for some crazy $$. Ex-Yugoslavia is popular among them because they likely wont ask much, they've basketball culture on lock most of them are players with good fundamentals and it doesnt hurt thats place where one of the tallest people in Europe live. Average height for men where i live is something more than 6ft (I'm 6'6'' and yet im not even tallest guy in my friend group).
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Thank you for this info.

You just can't overstate the size of this opportunity. Strike this iron HARD while it's hot. The early mover advantage here is huge.
 
#404      
pruman91
foby said:
Season 6 Nbc GIF by The Office


Happy Earth Day!

BTW it's also my birthday, and I'd like a Big AS commitment please.
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brenner01.gif
 
#406      
HensonHall71
BillyBob1 said:
Like Sarr?
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Exactly - We're doing the poaching now! In all seriousness these top players over there are all represented by the same agency, so it's not like they are a secret, but it does seem like we put a lot of time into Sarr, thought we had a deal done in March and then his team keeps shopping and doubles the price they want

In that regard, Petrovic seems like a cheat code for college basketball in this current environment, you can get a high impact 22 year old starter for ~$1.5M vs. the crazy numbers being thrown around for role players or $3.5M+ that Dame Sarr's team is asking for essentially a freshman with a lot of upside, but likely is one and done and won't impact winning as much as Petrovic next year
 
#408      
2X2L
According to Ancestry.com I am 2% Balkan.

So I say with great pride:

"Salutska.Willkommen. Que pasa? Pradzivy gloshnik mustonye da Champagne devenska treponskic!"

Translation: Welcome, score points, defend, don't rely on the 3. First round of brewskis on me - if you can find me!
 
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#413      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
LvilleILL1 said:
There is your reason for why they backed off of Miller. About 1.5 for a way better player. Like I said, if they can land Andrej, they will be done.
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I know its very unlikely, but anything can happen, if will wanted to come back will they still have a place for him? seems like they've spent quite a few $$$
 
#417      
ChiefGritty
SCDerby said:
I'm here for all the questions because to understand how and why this is all happening you need to understand landscape and power players in European basketball.

One of them (probably the biggest one) is an agent of all these guys, think NBA Rich Paul but somehow more powerful. Petrovic, Mirkovic, both Ivisic twins are his clients, heck even Peja Stojakovic have connections to him. He also holds one of the biggest talent academies in Europe where he plucks players from that region (Balkans) and some from outside willing to come and work and compete in pro league against grown men while getting opportunity and minutes, something that is very rare for a young player in Europe to get, regardless how talented and good you are - your role will depend on how you produce against those grown men with plenty of things going against you not even counting lack of experience. Most of them just want an opportunity to showcase their game and no disrespect, most of them will come rather to play against guys their age than get bullied by older players and screwed on every 50-50 call against them.

Whats good for Illini is establishing some kind of cooperation with this guy, because he can get things done and fast. I'd look for Underwood to be a guest on annual coaching clinic organized in Serbia soon. Forging more connections with people there also helped Kentucky who got Petrovic's teammate from this season Andrija Jelavic commited (nice stretch PF with ball skills, fluid game and athleticism). Calipari was a guest there and less than a month later Zvonimir Ivisic commited to Kentucky to play for him. People are catching on fast but its good to get there earlier, think euro guys come kinda cheaper than portal players especially considering some money thrown around for players which really didnt showed much going around asking for some crazy $$. Ex-Yugoslavia is popular among them because they likely wont ask much, they've basketball culture on lock most of them are players with good fundamentals and it doesnt hurt thats place where one of the tallest people in Europe live. Average height for men where i live is something more than 6ft (I'm 6'6'' and yet im not even tallest guy in my friend group).
Click to expand...
Thank you for this info.

You just can't overstate the size of this opportunity. Strike this iron HARD while it's hot. The early mover advantage here is huge.

Fly Illini Fly! said:
Even with potentially landing Andrej? That's a very bolded statement. I honestly have little to no clue on these Euro prospects so label me on board.
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Andrej is probably somewhat more talented than Petrovic, certainly the more eye-catching athlete, but you just can't overstate the age/development/provenness advantage Petrovic has.

(I am overstating "you can't overstate" lol. You can't!)

grue2 said:
I think Mihailo is a great get. Expectations should be a bit tempered. The Adriatic is a 4th tier Euro league. All of Trent's numbers went up ~50% vs. playing for IL. Adjusting Mihailo's numbers similarly gets 9.5 PPG, 4.9APG, 1.9RPG for 28mpg.
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It's not the best European league by any stretch, but it's a very high quality one. I don't know what "4th tier" even means.

Trent only played 16 games there and then transferred to another league within the same season. You're over-reading that comparison.
 
#419      
jsmoke2215
So do I parlay the first step with the Cubs/Dodgers first 5 Under tonight? Sounds like that's what you're saying. I'm in!
 
#420      
SoILIllini
FightinIllini30 said:
I see Petrovic as a more mature and polished version of KJ. I hope that’s what he ends up being

To clarify I think when KJ is 22 he will be much better than Petrovic but as far as next year goes, I think we’ll have a PG who is more consistent and under control
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He's a "bell curve" KJ.

He won't(hopefully) have the mind numbing turnovers but also won't have the amazing step back 3s or get your own shot fade aways in the paint..

But he will consistently and effectively run the offense
 
#421      
Johnny Lawrence
the juiceman cometh said:
Fair enough. It's an ugly business at times and I agree sometimes the juice is not worth the squeeze, as it appears was the case here. But one day there might be a guy worth this particular headache, or a similar headache, and BUs history tell me he's open to that as well, which is good.
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Seems insignificant with all that is going on here today but I would be remiss if I did not note that the user name does not check out.
 
#422      
and 69 others
SCDerby said:
I'm here for all the questions because to understand how and why this is all happening you need to understand landscape and power players in European basketball.

One of them (probably the biggest one) is an agent of all these guys, think NBA Rich Paul but somehow more powerful. Petrovic, Mirkovic, both Ivisic twins are his clients, heck even Peja Stojakovic have connections to him. He also holds one of the biggest talent academies in Europe where he plucks players from that region (Balkans) and some from outside willing to come and work and compete in pro league against grown men while getting opportunity and minutes, something that is very rare for a young player in Europe to get, regardless how talented and good you are - your role will depend on how you produce against those grown men with plenty of things going against you not even counting lack of experience. Most of them just want an opportunity to showcase their game and no disrespect, most of them will come rather to play against guys their age than get bullied by older players and screwed on every 50-50 call against them.

Whats good for Illini is establishing some kind of cooperation with this guy, because he can get things done and fast. I'd look for Underwood to be a guest on annual coaching clinic organized in Serbia soon. Forging more connections with people there also helped Kentucky who got Petrovic's teammate from this season Andrija Jelavic commited (nice stretch PF with ball skills, fluid game and athleticism). Calipari was a guest there and less than a month later Zvonimir Ivisic commited to Kentucky to play for him. People are catching on fast but its good to get there earlier, think euro guys come kinda cheaper than portal players especially considering some money thrown around for players which really didnt showed much going around asking for some crazy $$. Ex-Yugoslavia is popular among them because they likely wont ask much, they've basketball culture on lock most of them are players with good fundamentals and it doesnt hurt thats place where one of the tallest people in Europe live. Average height for men where i live is something more than 6ft (I'm 6'6'' and yet im not even tallest guy in my friend group).
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Do you have eligibility? What is your 3-point percentage?
 
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