Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#702      
Fr8trn16
BTM33 said:
It is just...so great that we can stop waiting around for this. We're gonna have a good team...
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Drama Yes GIF by Mammoth Screen
 
#703      
Fly Illini Fly!
LvilleILL1 said:
Massive commitment!!

Here is what happened to the best of my understanding:

Andrej's visit was fantastic. At the end of the visit, he verbally committed to the staff in some form. The staff's read off of it was that an announcement was imminent, but that obviously did not happen. Over the last few days, tons of schools tried to call and pry him off of his verbal to Illinois. Obviously, in this day and age, nothing is official until it's public.

I do think he took the time to think through his options. Might have felt he got caught in the high of his visit, and he did hear other schools out. However, like I said the past few days, not much changed overall in this recruitment. Illinois was always the leader throughout the entire time from the minute he hit the portal.

I think this was a recruitment where certain schools tried to create more buzz/drama that was not really there to get rid of the Illinois momentum.

Brad and OA need to be praised for this one. Prying this kid off of the west coast was no easy feat. Andrej loves the sell that the staff gave to him. The opportunity to play with the Ivisic brothers up front along with two guards like Kylan and Petrovic is going to open up so much for him. He hasn't been able to play with these level of players in college yet.

Peja LOVED Brad from what I heard. That played as big of a deal as any in this recruitment imo.

The staff went away from Sarr once they got word that Andrej was 100% hitting the portal. Sarr's price also played a role in that choice/his NBA interest, but I alluded to the mystery man a couple weeks before he hit the portal. People can say pivot this pivot that etc, but this was one of if not their top target this offseason.

I will go into what they might add in the next post if they add any more, but I think we have a legit top 15 team right now. This team should be way more consistent next year, has lots of talent and size. I think the ceiling will depend on a couple of different guys developing/taking jumps.
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#705      
OrangeKrush1981
HensonHall71 said:
Just because he’ll be one of the best guards in the country next year is why we’d be interested- there is mutual interest and OA has been talking with his team- OA recruited him to Kentucky originally. It wouldn’t be pushing out Petrovic just having multiple guards who can handle, pass and shoot, we’re probably a guard short right now to really feel set

Fland is focused on the draft, similar to Watkins, you don’t hear much in their school lists yet but they are both projected 2nd rounders who would make a lot more money going back to college
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I wish we had another guard too, and we could get one (for the bench). But Boswell, Petrovic and Fland is not going to work, minutes-wise in my view. Back in the 1980's - sure that would have worked. But now, I think one of those three guys leaves instantly.
 
#707      
Second place is 1st loser
RabidDawgClassic said:
I once played a game of 21 with a couple of brothas from Gary. After not guarding me initially and after I nailed a few threes, one of my opponents shouted to the other “get out there and guard him! That’s Larry Bird!”

I contend that’s the highest compliment a black man can give a white man in the basketball court.
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You've reached heights seldom seen. Were you wearing a headband and high riding shorts?
 
#708      
LvilleILL1
In terms of what they may add, I think one more is possible:

I put the Jovic video out there earlier. There is legit interest from both parties, but Illinois has to balance a couple of things:

The small small smalll chance Will decides to come back. Again, very tiny, but there is a scenario where it could happen. Very unlikely though.

Do they want to add an athletic 4 like Jovic or a backup guard that can knock down shots/defend for that lost spot? If it's a guard it would either be a euro or a cheaper portal guy. Have to find the right fit there.

Right now we are looking at (It's April and how guys perform will change this):

Petrovic (30 minutes), Kylan (5 minutes)
Kylan (30 minutes), Lee/Ty (5 minutes)
Andrej (33 minutes) Ty (7 minutes)
Mirkovic (15 minutes) Zvonomir (10 minutes) Ty (5 minutes) Ben (10 minutes)
Tomi (30 minutes) Zvonomir (10 minutes)

Wagler, Lee, Jake, and JJ as deeper rotation guys.


Again this is a pure guess on April 28th. Like I said, chance to add one more.
 
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#710      
Oldskoolkoach
LvilleILL1 said:
Will go into it more later, but expectations are sky high next year.

Second weekend/beyond or bust. Old team that has high end talent and is very deep.
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We done, or looking for a couple million dollar type guys still? Not my money, spend it all
 
#711      
OrangeKrush1981
LvilleILL1 said:
Right now we are looking at (It's April and how guys perform will change this):

Petrovic (30 minutes), Kylan (5 minutes)
Kylan (30 minutes), Lee/Ty (5 minutes)
Andrej (33 minutes) Ty (7 minutes)
Mirkovic (15 minutes) Zvonomir (10 minutes) Ty (5 minutes) Ben (10 minutes)
Tomi (30 minutes) Zvonomir (10 minutes)
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As an outside observer, I expect (based on today's knowledge) a minutes-breakdown exactly like the above.
 
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#712      
Fly Illini Fly!
LvilleILL1 said:
In terms of what they may add, I think one more is possible:

I put the Jovic video out there earlier. There is legit interest from both parties, but Illinois has to balance a couple of things:

The small small smalll chance Will decides to come back. Again, very tiny, but there is a scenario where it could happen. Very unlikely though.

Do they want to add an athletic 4 like Jovic or a backup guard that can knock down shots/defend for that lost spot? If it's a guard it would either be a euro or a cheaper portal guy. Have to find the right fit there.

Right now we are looking at (It's April and how guys perform will change this):

Petrovic (30 minutes), Kylan (5 minutes)
Kylan (30 minutes), Lee/Ty (5 minutes)
Andrej (33 minutes) Ty (7 minutes)
Mirkovic (15 minutes) Zvonomir (10 minutes) Ty (5 minutes) Ben (10 minutes)
Tomi (30 minutes) Zvonomir (10 minutes)

Wagler, Lee, Jake, and JJ as deeper rotation guys.


Again this is a pure guess on April 28th. Like I said, chance to add one more
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Legit top 5 team if Will does comes back (I know it's unlikely).
 
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#714      
PepeSilvia
ColSLU69 said:
So... the Illinois 25-26 roster, as of now, has 12 scholarship players, and up to 15 are allowed. Brad has always said that he wants to keep at least one scholarship open in case of a midseason transfer. (This year, he might also want to keep one open in case Will Riley returns to the Illini.) Those 12 players are as follows:

Z Ivisic
T Ivisik
J Jakstys
B Humrichous
D Mirkovic
A Stojakovic
J Davis
T Rodgers
K Wagler
J Lee
M Petrovic
K Boswell

How many more players will Illinois sign? What positions will they play?
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I believe they gave AJ Redd a scholarship.

I'd bet on one more addition which would leave one spot open. I'd like to see a physical wing/forward with defensive versatility because I think that type of player would complement the roster well.

I'm curious if we will see multiple redshirts this year. I assume that one of Wagler or Lee likely redshirts, does Jake Davis redshirts if they bring in another wing and Hum comes back?

I'm probably greedy and it's unrealistic but with Stojakovic on board I still think Watkins is the dream addition that puts the entire roster over the top. Right now I think they are probably a top 11-20ish team and we will see how guys develop and the teams comes together but Watkins would vault them into the best team in the country mix.
 
#715      
DICKnaggie
HensonHall71 said:
Just because he’ll be one of the best guards in the country next year is why we’d be interested- there is mutual interest and OA has been talking with his team- OA recruited him to Kentucky originally. It wouldn’t be pushing out Petrovic just having multiple guards who can handle, pass and shoot, we’re probably a guard short right now to really feel set

Fland is focused on the draft, similar to Watkins, you don’t hear much in their school lists yet but they are both projected 2nd rounders who would make a lot more money going back to college
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Thanks for the reply. I still have questions about fit and roles. We need a lights out shooter or a long athletic 4. Fland isn't either, but what do I know?
 
#721      
PasadenaIllini
HensonHall71 said:
Just because he’ll be one of the best guards in the country next year is why we’d be interested- there is mutual interest and OA has been talking with his team- OA recruited him to Kentucky originally. It wouldn’t be pushing out Petrovic just having multiple guards who can handle, pass and shoot, we’re probably a guard short right now to really feel set

Fland is focused on the draft, similar to Watkins, you don’t hear much in their school lists yet but they are both projected 2nd rounders who would make a lot more money going back to college
Click to expand...
If they are able to somehow add Fland, this upcoming season will undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated of all time.
 
#722      
IllGuardU
LvilleILL1 said:
Massive commitment!!

Here is what happened to the best of my understanding:

Andrej's visit was fantastic. At the end of the visit, he verbally committed to the staff in some form. The staff's read off of it was that an announcement was imminent, but that obviously did not happen. Over the last few days, tons of schools tried to call and pry him off of his verbal to Illinois. Obviously, in this day and age, nothing is official until it's public.

I do think he took the time to think through his options. Might have felt he got caught in the high of his visit, and he did hear other schools out. However, like I said the past few days, not much changed overall in this recruitment. Illinois was always the leader throughout the entire time from the minute he hit the portal.

I think this was a recruitment where certain schools tried to create more buzz/drama that was not really there to get rid of the Illinois momentum.

Brad and OA need to be praised for this one. Prying this kid off of the west coast was no easy feat. Andrej loves the sell that the staff gave to him. The opportunity to play with the Ivisic brothers up front along with two guards like Kylan and Petrovic is going to open up so much for him. He hasn't been able to play with these level of players in college yet.

Peja LOVED Brad from what I heard. That played as big of a deal as any in this recruitment imo.

The staff went away from Sarr once they got word that Andrej was 100% hitting the portal. Sarr's price also played a role in that choice/his NBA interest, but I alluded to the mystery man a couple weeks before he hit the portal. People can say pivot this pivot that etc, but this was one of if not their top target this offseason.

I will go into what they might add in the next post if they add any more, but I think we have a legit top 15 team right now. This team should be way more consistent next year, has lots of talent and size. I think the ceiling will depend on a couple of different guys developing/taking jumps.
Click to expand...
Thanks for taking the time to let us know how it all happened. Also, thanks to all the others who took the time to keep us informed 👏👏👏
 
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