Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

I wonder where Dame Sarr ends up - it's been an odd set of circumstances to say the least. As far as I can tell, we thought we had a deal around ~$1.5M in March (which would have been top of the market last year). He then gets locked out of his home team at Barca for playing in the Hoops Summit without their permission, we thought we still had a deal around $2.5M as his team wanted more money as others got involved. When the price got above $3M we backed out and focused on Andrej given he's more valuable to winning at that same price tag and has the college experience.

Then Sarr seamingly rose up draft boards but he ended up not putting his name in the draft, Duke being rumored as the leader, but likely out now that they got Coward, Kentucky and USC would seem to be out now based on what they've brought in, BYU might have unlimited resources, but I'm not sure his team would want him playing next to Dybantsa if they want him to improve his draft stock.

Given he's not going through the draft process I'm surprised he hasn't committed to a school yet - maybe his team is still trying to drive up the price, which is logical or maybe it's just Oregon now that all the other schools that were rumored to be in on him likely focused elsewhere just like we did.

I'm still holding out hope for one more big piece and getting more money from donors given we have a chance to be FF good, with another big addition. If Sarr's price becomes more realistic as suiters drop out ($2.5-$3.0M), he would be a perfect complement on the wing to Andrej - he brings the defense, length, athleticism and given he's now 6'8", he can guard the stretch 4 type players on the perimeter. I'm sure a proven college player is easier to get donors excited about but Sarr has built enough of a name now and the fact he brings what we lack in athleticism and defense, it might be a compelling sell

Another top level wing player would really make us one of the best teams in the country imho. like, potential 1 seed level good. doesn't have to be a wing (like boogie fland; not a wing) but would prefer it to be a wing. just another top-level big fish. i know they're pricey, and i know some think we're done from the $$$ side of things, but the truth in this day and age is you can always go back to the donors if you have the right recruit and situation to sell them on. Basically what our insiders have stated throughout.

In the ideal world:

 

[NarrowJ]

I'd lean more towards that 9 mil number now

Still think we did really good!!

 

[ChiefGritty]

We do this every year then guys get injured, sick, or whatever.

And as has been pointed out often, most coaches, for good reasons, prefer a tighter rotation.

The perennial combo of "this is the deepest team we've ever had" and "insiders, pretty please with gumdrops are you hearing anything about our highest priced addition still being on the way?" is always funny.

Looks like Purdue and MSU are the teams to beat. I like where we stand.

If Oscar Cluff and TKR can mesh successfully (a legitimate question IMO) Purdue is going to rinse everybody.

I like us, Michigan, OSU and UCLA better than MSU, but I was extremely wrong about MSU last year, we shall see. The angry elf ain't dead yet.

 

[the juiceman cometh]

RE: conversations about where we stand nationally with NIL, I have seen multiple articles talking about the "$10 million club," and most reports I have shown as of a few days ago had 8 schools in that club. That club would now include us.

While there might be a "jumble" of teams around that top 10 cutoff, I think it is safe to say that we are closer to top 10 NIL than top 25-40 as some had speculated a week or two ago.

On the other hand, when Norlander reported on teams spending a couple weeks ago, there were 10 teams on the $10 million list, and 14 teams on the $8 million list. We were on neither.

The $10 million club: College basketball's portal recruiting hits unthinkable levels of financial chaos

The price of talent is spiking to record amounts -- again -- now with hundreds of millions at stake in college hoops' unregulated economy

www.cbssports.com

I know Stojakovic has since then added a bunch to our spending and I think it's very possible we passed every team on the $8 million list, and some on the $10 million list, and are now top-10. It's also possible a bunch of those teams pass us before it's all said and done. And then it's possible we pass them right back if we add another piece (although it appears we are tapped out).

I think it's impossible to know exactly where any given program stands. I think we have very good resources. Probably 2nd tier resources, right behind the programs that are grabbing everyone in sight (like Duke, Louisville, Kentucky). I also think that 2nd tier we are in is very crowded. Probably like 20 teams in that tier. My problem with the "top-10 NIL" has always been (1) this blind acceptance of it as fact despite the very murky world of NIL, and (2) the straight line drawn between that statement and the expectation for "top-10 results." How much of a difference does being top-10 NIL really mean if there are another 15-20 programs within essentially the same bracket?

 

[HensonHall71]

I'd love Sarr too but I think he may be too expensive. Now Luka Bogavac would be nice and Indy hinted about him slightly. I've watched this a few times and at 6'5" he is a versatile wing. If the price is right.

I agree, I'd love Luka too - having seen more of his tape now, he would be instant offense off the bench and a great shooter and big ten ready now. But to set expectation that's really all he is, a scorer primarily through his shooting - he doesn't rebound, defend or create opportunities for others. For the role he would play with us next year, he would slide in perfectly as a rotation SG

 

[Illini92and96]

If our players were cheeses, what cheese would each one be? Would those cheeses complement each other? Would we need to recruit new cheeses to round out the menu?

Would we still be Swiss cheese on defense?

Limburger cheese on defense, because we stink.

 

[illinifan1971]

Hoping Will Riley returns!

 

[Bert2022]

No better #1 post. Love it and TF! That dude...even before Ayo, brought a swagger and tenacity we hadn't seen in a long, long time. His jersey will probably never hang anywhere but in our hearts. Always keeping him in the resurgence conversation....TF 4Ev. My man.

 

[HailtotheChief]

I agree, I'd love Luka too - having seen more of his tape now, he would be instant offense off the bench and a great shooter and big ten ready now. But to set expectation that's really all he is, a scorer primarily through his shooting - he doesn't rebound, defend or create opportunities for others. For the role he would play with us next year, he would slide in perfectly as a rotation SG

I haven't seen enough to make a statement about his defense but he has some size and quickness. Those are attributes that should help him be a decent defender but I haven't watch him in an actual game. His shooting numbers are very good at 49%, 41% and 88% this year.

 

[Bret Bielema's Burner]

No commitments in the B1G yesterday, but I did add Ben to our returning players:

B1G Roster Tracker

docs.google.com

Looking through the other B1G rosters, its amazing what we have on board for next year while only spending $7-9M (per 0440's post yesterday saying about $8M 'give or take 1M')

I'd lean more towards that 9 mil number now

0440 said yesterday we are between 7 and 9 mill

Last week it was reported there were over 15 teams that spent over 10 mill

I believe Buschon was the beat guy who has us at 25-40th

We will continue to move down as other teams spend money and fill out rosters

Really impressive job putting this roster together imo

https://twitter.com/x/status/1917750479670632551

Matt Norlander making it seem like we are quite easily over $10 mil.

 

[NarrowJ]

On the other hand, when Norlander reported on teams spending a couple weeks ago, there were 10 teams on the $10 million list, and 14 teams on the $8 million list. We were on neither.

The $10 million club: College basketball's portal recruiting hits unthinkable levels of financial chaos

The price of talent is spiking to record amounts -- again -- now with hundreds of millions at stake in college hoops' unregulated economy

www.cbssports.com

I know Stojakovic has since then added a bunch to our spending and I think it's very possible we passed every team on the $8 million list, and some on the $10 million list, and are now top-10. It's also possible a bunch of those teams pass us before it's all said and done. And then it's possible we pass them right back if we add another piece (although it appears we are tapped out).

I think it's impossible to know exactly where any given program stands. I think we have very good resources. Probably 2nd tier resources, right behind the programs that are grabbing everyone in sight (like Duke, Louisville, Kentucky). I also think that 2nd tier we are in is very crowded. Probably like 20 teams in that tier. My problem with the "top-10 NIL" has always been (1) this blind acceptance of it as fact despite the very murky world of NIL, and (2) the straight line drawn between that statement and the expectation for "top-10 results." How much of a difference does being top-10 NIL really mean if there are another 15-20 programs within essentially the same bracket?

Yeah the main thing with these estimates is that’s all they are: estimates

Norlander can’t possibly know and is just guessing like everyone else is

Regardless of how much was spent, our roster is extremely good and thus expectations should be high imo

 

[Bbuck21]

I'd love Sarr too but I think he may be too expensive. Now Luka Bogavac would be nice and Indy hinted about him slightly. I've watched this a few times and at 6'5" he is a versatile wing. If the price is right.

I guess the name is close enough.

 

[NarrowJ]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1917750479670632551

Matt Norlander making it seem like we are quite easily over $10 mil.

I said this already but Norlander does not have a bunch of Illinois insider info that nobody else has, especially folks close to our program (which he’s not)

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

If we were to go big fish with the final spot, what are the potential possibilities (or are there any). just boggie fland? Euro? Transfer?

 

[Bigtex]

Last year everyone was talking about how deep the team was too. Doesn’t mean it’s true.

last year most were talking about the team being the MOST Talented team.

 

[illini0440]

I said this already but Norlander does not have a bunch of Illinois insider info that nobody else has, especially folks close to our program (which he’s not)

We're all just guesstimating as no one knows the exact numbers everyone got.

I will say Kylan had offers from multiple SEC schools for over 600k more than he got here and he decided to stay. KB is a good kid.

 

[illini0440]

last year most were talking about the team being the MOST Talented team.

NBA scouts think were the most talented in B1G this year

 

[NarrowJ]

We're all just guesstimating as no one knows the exact numbers everyone got.

I will say Kylan had offers from multiple SEC schools for over 600k more than he got here and he decided to stay. KB is a good kid.

If I had the type of FU money where I could do it, I’d cut him a 600k check yesterday lol

Stuff like that is great to hear, you should be able to get a little hometown discount on guys and not have them constantly looking for a bigger bag

 

[Ogre Battle]

Hoping Will Riley returns!

Yep, I have vibing for a while now that Will returns! I also feel that KJ goes lower in the draft, too.

 

[Bret Bielema's Burner]

Shad or Tony Khan if you are reading this… you know what to do…

It’s a shame the faculty have voted against his honorary degree twice now.

 

[RockfordIllini]

For Sarr, I think we were envisioning a Will Riley type bag (adjusted for inflation) and role. Credit to the kid he blew up and if reports are true his price tag jumped over $3M.

And if we are spending $3M on one player, that player has to be our best player/alpha scorer. And while I love Sarr’s potential, to me he still looks pretty raw such that any team where he’s the alpha is likely to be inconsistent and will have an early exit from the tourney. Maybe some teams can afford to spend $3M plus for a 3rd/4th option but not us at this point.

If the market for Sarr has softened to the point where he’s back at that frosh Riley+ price tag, I would take him in a heartbeat and I would be optimistic donors could find another $1.5M ish to get Sarr as our 6th/7th man.

Assuming we didn’t have a falling out over $$, it does seem like Sarr and his camp have positive feelings about Illinois such that if we are close on $$ he might still choose us.

 

[JBfor3]

Will would be such a good fit with this roster. My hopes are low but out of curiousity - when would people in Will's position pull out of the draft if they do?

 

[illini0440]

For Sarr, I think we were envisioning a Will Riley type bag (adjusted for inflation) and role. Credit to the kid he blew up and if reports are true his price tag jumped over $3M.

And if we are spending $3M on one player, that player has to be our best player/alpha scorer. And while I love Sarr’s potential, to me he still looks pretty raw such that any team where he’s the alpha is likely to be inconsistent and will have an early exit from the tourney. Maybe some teams can afford to spend $3M plus for a 3rd/4th option but not us at this point.

If the market for Sarr has softened to the point where he’s back at that frosh Riley+ price tag, I would take him in a heartbeat and I would be optimistic donors could find another $1.5M ish to get Sarr as our 6th/7th man.

Assuming we didn’t have a falling out over $$, it does seem like Sarr and his camp have positive feelings about Illinois such that if we are close on $$ he might still choose us.

We dropped out on Sarr because we wanted Andrej.

 

[Brosky]

I'd love Sarr too but I think he may be too expensive. Now Luka Bogavac would be nice and Indy hinted about him slightly. I've watched this a few times and at 6'5" he is a versatile wing. If the price is right.

This guy is really, really FAST! I'd take him in a heartbeat.

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

No commitments in the B1G yesterday, but I did add Ben to our returning players:

B1G Roster Tracker

docs.google.com

Looking through the other B1G rosters, its amazing what we have on board for next year while only spending $7-9M (per 0440's post yesterday saying about $8M 'give or take 1M')

The roster we have currently is nearly $11 million …

That’s what I got told this AM …