Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#351      
Illinois or UNC... What if AS is tired of taking real classes? We all know what kind of courses they offer athletes in Chapel Hill :sneaky:
Frustrated Buzz Lightyear GIF
 
#352      
After all of the certainty with Stojakovic for days, this feeling of floating in limbo with him (he is coming here? he is not coming here?) is driving me crazy.

Sooo.... where do we stand with Storr? 🤪🤪
 
#353      
In a fantasy world, we get a "boom" soon, and it's Boogie! And we are all surprised and dancing in the streets of our respective hometown.

Then, we get a third confirmation through a "boom" that AS commits to the Illini.

In reality, I have a bad feeling. LOL!
I think Boogie will be in at least May or June. He'll go through the draft process (but can obviously make more coming back so we'll see).
 
#356      
That's the right attitude imo... someone will take the money
Absolutely. To be very clear, I think they are going to get Stojakovic. If God forbid that doesn’t materialize, they will find an excellent player from somewhere.

3 days ago I had never heard of Petrovic. The staff has contingency plans in place just in case.
 
#359      
So true. I have seen some criticism of Illinois for not having recruits in on visits and I guess why do people care? The amount after the dollar sign is all the (top)players are looking at. The school, tradition, coach, education, facilities...does any of it even matter?
I have the same question. There was a time when recruits actually factored in academics as part of their decision. I know that was the case with Dave Downey, a high school classmate of mine. That turned out to be a terrific recruiting class--Burwell, Small and Downey. They won the conference as seniors, and advanced to the NCAA tourney. Back then, the only way to make the tourney was by winning your regular season conf. title.
 
#360      
Kennard Davis to BYU

We weren't really recruiting him, but was a guy I really liked
 
#362      
I mean...yeah? You could get some comparable Illini fan basketball players on your team and play them significant minutes from year 1 and suffer 2-3 years of no NCAA tournament because those players aren't ready to be dawgs in the B1G. Let's say I am wrong and they lead us on an incredible run in year one. Do you seriously think, in this day and age, that they will stay for year 2 if Duke or Florida make significantly better offers? I don't think you will see the level of loyalty you expect from "kids who grew up being Illini fans."

IMO, a funeral needs to be had for this kind of thinking. The '03-'04 roster would not have all stayed to make a natty run if this was the environment. Dee and Deron would have played for KU at the very least and Weber probably wouldn't have been the replacement due to his feelings on this new era as well. Just let it die, people. The cat is out of the bag, and all that remains is a bunch of benjamins.

The best you can do is recruit the players you have to come back, see who comes back, then tout your success to the potential transfers. Roster building is huge because development is on a 1-year curve, not 3-4 as in the past. Nothing is guaranteed. I trust Brad to build a successful roster. I trust our recruiting coaches to get the kind of guys to the table that we need. I don't trust the in-game coaching yet, but I hope it can get solved, too.

The point is, what you are asking for can not exist anymore. Every year is a new team. Try to get to know them as early in the season as you can. KJ and Will hold a place in my memory, not for longevity, but for what they accomplished in their brief time in the Illini uniform. TSJ was the same story with a bonus year. Enjoy the unexpected extras and be excited that the team you root for is no longer hunting for options; options are coming to them.

Embrace the new team, experience joy that players like it here enough to return (sometimes), and enjoy this great time to be an Illini fan where both basketball and football are relevant.

Sorry for the long post, I definitely digressed. Go Illini!
 
#365      
One thing that really bothers me is that I don't think he needs a UNC visit at all. He's presumably already visited there once or twice.
 
#368      
Its not a big deal...either he comes or doesnt. I trust in Brad. We will be great either way!
I believe he is using illinois to just get a bigger check somewhere else. He might not even start at Kentucky and the ACC is not the conference it used to be.
 
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#371      
While I am not in favor of telling AS to take it or leave it, I think it might be wise for the Illini to offer him and Watkins their best offer. Then, sign whichever one accepts (if either do.) Various sources say that the Illini are on Watkins final 3 list, along with UK and Louisville. I would be ok with either signing, although JMHO is that Watkins might be the better fit.
 
#374      
Never will I forget that day in '63. It was the one day I was pulling for the Hoosiers. At their game in Bloomington against an Ohio State team led by AA Gary Brads, I had been invited along with a teammate that had signed with the Hoosiers. We sat at the half court line with our elbows on the raised floor of their old Field House. The Hoosiers had not one starter over 6'5", but between Tom and Dick VanArsdale, along with Jon McGlocklin, they physically banged on Bradds in every way and opportunity. They also ran at every opportunity to try to wear him out. We kept in touch with the Illini game with a transistor radio...receiving quizzical looks for our cheering when the Illini closed their game during a late timeout by OSU. But they were Hoosier fans so they will never understand.

An interesting note to that championship season is that the Illini lost to OSU twice even though, with Bill Burwell and Skip Thoren, they were better suited to handle Bradds than the Hoosiers...or so it seemed. I am still convinced both Van Arsdales would have been legendary in the NFL as tight ends... they were not good shooters but quite willing to bomb away.

Anyway, just offering as a pleasing diversion from the angst of this purgatory.
 
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