Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Fly Illini Fly!]

LMAO. It’s so incessantly comical… rinse and repeat, year in and year out. Literally a month ago people were convinced to die on a hill claiming he was the boom/bust of the whole offseason… now that he’s gone make up every silly argument imaginable to support the just as idiotic claim of “oh not a good fit, we didn’t need/want him anyways.”

He’s a stud… would’ve been a VG get… still ended up with a roster good enough for top 2 or 3 in the big ten… why is it so hard to just book the loss and move ahead??

 

[3nDGuy]

It seems like most responders thinks Illinois needs more depth at guard. They may be overlooking the fact that our two (USA) freshman are both pretty highly regarded guards and it it is reasonable to expect that one or both will be able to provide quality minutes (and may even surprise the naysayers!)

Don't think either of them were recruited to help us win now. I can see Brandon Lee playing a freshman Alan Griffin type role for us this year, 5-10 minutes a game, providing a spark off the bench.
Wagler will need some time with Fletch before we can trust him to contribute meaningful minutes.

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

LMAO. It’s so incessantly comical… year after year, rinse and repeat. Literally a month ago people were convinced to die on a hill claiming he was the boom/bust of the whole offseason… now that he’s gone make up every silly argument imaginable to support the just as idiotic claim of “oh not a good fit, we didn’t need/want him anyways.”

He’s a great player… would’ve been a VG get… still ended up with a roster good enough for top 2 or 3 in the big ten… why is it so hard to just book the loss and move ahead??

Because we have nothing else to talk about.

 

[NarrowJ]

LMAO. It’s so incessantly comical… rinse and repeat, year in and year out. Literally a month ago people were convinced to die on a hill claiming he was the boom/bust of the whole offseason… now that he’s gone make up every silly argument imaginable to support the just as idiotic claim of “oh not a good fit, we didn’t need/want him anyways.”

He’s a stud… would’ve been a VG get… still ended up with a roster good enough for top 2 or 3 in the big ten… why is it so hard to just book the loss and move ahead??

lol that’s quite a temper tantrum

You don’t have insult anyone who doesn’t share your opinion, I happen to think Sarr would’ve been a great add and wanted him very badly prior to landing Andrej… but as things are now he would be an awkward add that causes a logjam at the guard/wing position

It’s my opinion and I don’t really expect to be made fun of or called idiotic for having that opinion… also remember that Illinois backed off of Sarr once we targeted Andrej so Brad and staff apparently shares my opinion (and so maybe it’s not idiotic at all)

Maybe go have a nap and come back when you’re in a better mood jfc

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

LMAO. It’s so incessantly comical… rinse and repeat, year in and year out. Literally a month ago people were convinced to die on a hill claiming he was the boom/bust of the whole offseason… now that he’s gone make up every silly argument imaginable to support the just as idiotic claim of “oh not a good fit, we didn’t need/want him anyways.”

He’s a stud… would’ve been a VG get… still ended up with a roster good enough for top 2 or 3 in the big ten… why is it so hard to just book the loss and move ahead??

The funniest part would be how almost all of these claims would’ve turned into All American campaigns had we landed him.

As a interesting tidbit, since we are on this topic, how would we rank Dix/Stoj/Sellers/Sarr/Petrovic/Mirkovic? In that order for me.

 

[hodgesonfire]

It’s funny how a foreign freshman guard starts last year and two domestic guards are in the team and have mostly been ignored

 

[hooraybeer]

The funniest part would be how almost all of these claims would’ve turned into All American campaigns had we landed him.

As an interesting tidbit, since we are on this topic, how would we rank Dix/Stoj/Sellers/Sarr/Petrovic/Mirkovic? In that order for me.

ranking dix as the best player in that group is exactly the type of pot stirring this thread needs right now

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

lol that’s quite a temper tantrum

You don’t have insult anyone who doesn’t share your opinion, I happen to think Sarr would’ve been a great add and wanted him very badly prior to landing Andrej… but as things are now he would be an awkward add that causes a logjam at the guard/wing position

It’s my opinion and I don’t really expect to be made fun of or called idiotic for having that opinion… also remember that Illinois backed off of Sarr once we targeted Andrej so Brad and staff apparently shares my opinion (and so maybe it’s not idiotic at all)

Maybe go have a nap and come back when you’re in a better mood jfc

Lol who offended you though? and I don’t believe the staff pivoted to Andrej because they thought any less of Sarr as a player or person. It was because Stoj was quite frankly the better option and possibly at a more sensible price. I’d be very surprised if Brad would just turn Sarr down if he had the choice, and I’m almost certain he doesn’t share the sour grapes nature of this board every time a player commits elsewhere.

 

[jacekpardol]

ranking dix as the best player in that group is exactly the type of pot stirring this thread needs right now

This is what every recuiting service says though so either the age old "the board know better then the consensus" is true or the recruiting services are ranking on something other than future production/contribution to a team.

 

[NarrowJ]

Lol who offended you though? and I don’t believe the staff pivoted to Andrej because they thought any less of Sarr as a player or person. It was because Stoj was quite frankly the better option and possibly at a more sensible price. I’d be very surprised if Brad would just turn Sarr down if he had the choice, and I’m almost certain he doesn’t share the sour grapes nature of this board every time a player commits elsewhere.

We agree

But there’s no sour grapes, I think Sarr will be a very good college player (if only for one season) and I’ve repeated that ad naseum

 

[FrankNitty30]

LMAO. It’s so incessantly comical… rinse and repeat, year in and year out. Literally a month ago people were convinced to die on a hill claiming he was the boom/bust of the whole offseason… now that he’s gone make up every silly argument imaginable to support the just as idiotic claim of “oh not a good fit, we didn’t need/want him anyways.”

He’s a stud… would’ve been a VG get… still ended up with a roster good enough for top 2 or 3 in the big ten… why is it so hard to just book the loss and move ahead??

This makes no sense. Almost no one is saying they would not have taken him or even currently take him. But we don’t NEED him. I think it is comical that only the extreme narrative is called out, when maybe a handful of people hold the opinion that “Sarr wasn’t wanted anyway, and therefore we are better off without him”.

It is ok to be “meh” about not getting Sarr AND simultaneously think he could have definitely helped us AND think he will be a lottery pick in the 2026 draft AND think he might not be good enough to start for us this year.

All of that can be true simultaneously.

 

[tatupu70]

This makes no sense. Almost no one is saying they would not have taken him or even currently take him. But we don’t NEED him. I think it is comical that only the extreme narrative is called out, when maybe a handful of people hold the opinion that “Sarr wasn’t wanted anyway, and therefore we are better off without him”.

It is ok to be “meh” about not getting Sarr AND simultaneously think he could have definitely helped us AND think he will be a lottery pick in the 2026 draft AND think he might not be good enough to start for us this year.

All of that can be true simultaneously.

Sarr would have started.

 

[blackdog]

This makes no sense. Almost no one is saying they would not have taken him or even currently take him. But we don’t NEED him. I think it is comical that only the extreme narrative is called out, when maybe a handful of people hold the opinion that “Sarr wasn’t wanted anyway, and therefore we are better off without him”.

It is ok to be “meh” about not getting Sarr AND simultaneously think he could have definitely helped us AND think he will be a lottery pick in the 2026 draft AND think he might not be good enough to start for us this year.

All of that can be true simultaneously.

The post you are replying to was a strawman argument from the start, ridiculing a statement or point that nobody made.

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

The funniest part would be how almost all of these claims would’ve turned into All American campaigns had we landed him.

As a interesting tidbit, since we are on this topic, how would we rank Dix/Stoj/Sellers/Sarr/Petrovic/Mirkovic? In that order for me.

Are you Jaylin Sellers' agent?

 

[CoalCity]

It’s funny how a foreign freshman guard starts last year and two domestic guards are in the team and have mostly been ignored

If they were projected lottery picks like the foreign freshman guard instead of projected projects they'd probably be getting a lot more attention.

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

He was injured all of last season. the last time sellers truly played college basketball (23-24), he was very good. Actually more productive than a guy like Josh Dix. He’ll very possibly be a 1st team Big East caliber player this year for Providence. Don’t think it would have been too much of a stretch to say he could’ve been our best player. Was just forgotten on because he sat out all of last year. Would have been one of the most coveted players of the season he had in ‘24 was in ‘25.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Sarr is a great prospect. He would play a lot and likely play really well anywhere he decided to go. I don’t think anyone is arguing that.
AS doesn’t have the amount of athleticism that Sarr does, (Very few in college ball do) so he is not the NBA prospect that Sarr is at this point.
That said, I think the question of who will be a better basketball player this season is legitimate.
AS is a much more complete offensive player, and prior to his commitment, we needed a guy who can just go get a bucket. I’m not sure Sarr is that guy on offense yet.
Stojakovic is an experienced high major NCAA basketball player. Sarr is likely to have some growing pains through his first year. (Our elite freshmen certainly did last season.) I expect Andrej to be more consistent.
Would Sarr’s defense make more impact than AS’s offense? Maybe? maybe not…

It’s not a crazy position to take, just because Sarr is projected to be drafted higher.

Would you have rather had Dylan Harper or Walter Clayton Jr. last season? One is an elite prospect and the other was just a really great college basketball player.

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

He was injured all of last season. the last time sellers truly played college basketball (23-24), he was very good. Actually more productive than a guy like Josh Dix. He’ll very possibly be a 1st team Big East caliber player this year for Providence. Don’t think it would have been too much of a stretch to say he could’ve been our best player. Was just forgotten on because he sat out all of last year. Would have been one of the most coveted players of the season he had in ‘24 was in ‘25.

Not to go down a Dix versus Sellers rabbit hole seeing as neither one is on our team - but last time Sellers played he averaged the same points as Dix on a terrible UCF team, but that's where any debate stops. Sellers didn't pass, Dix averaged double the assists. Dix shot about 10% from 3 and the field so he was far more efficient. So not sure where the more productive thing is coming from - there's a reason Dix was commanding (and got) big money. And this is making a pretty big assumption Sellers is even remotely back to 100% - a massive IF.

All that said, if EITHER Dix or Sellers were our best player next season, we'd have big issues.

 

[skyIdub]

LMAO. It’s so incessantly comical… rinse and repeat, year in and year out. Literally a month ago people were convinced to die on a hill claiming he was the boom/bust of the whole offseason… now that he’s gone make up every silly argument imaginable to support the just as idiotic claim of “oh not a good fit, we didn’t need/want him anyways.”

He’s a stud… would’ve been a VG get… still ended up with a roster good enough for top 2 or 3 in the big ten… why is it so hard to just book the loss and move ahead??

What are your thoughts on cottage cheese?

 

[sacraig]

What are your thoughts on cottage cheese?

I could save money by just letting my milk spoil.

 

[GoodePodzMelendez]

Highest bidder

I would rather be on a team that will have a chance to go somewhere instead of taking the highest bid.

 

[PepeSilvia]

It seems like most responders thinks Illinois needs more depth at guard. They may be overlooking the fact that our two (USA) freshman are both pretty highly regarded guards and it it is reasonable to expect that one or both will be able to provide quality minutes (and may even surprise the naysayers!)

I think Illinois needs a secondary scorer on the wing that can create their own shot to completement Stojakovic(either a big combo guard or a legitimate wing).

I'm just now necessarily sold on either Boswell or Tomislav being guys that can create their own shot. Though Boswell did score a lot better down the stretch but I think both operate better as guys that capitalize off the attention guys defenses have to pay guys like Stojakovic this year or KJ/Riley last year.

I still think the roster is good but I think that second perimeter scorer is the missing piece from being a legitimate title contender and 1 seed. Options are pretty slim at the moment since Luis and Watkins stayed in the draft but maybe there is someone that's been overlooked(either in the portal or abroad).

 

[PepeSilvia]

Would you have rather had Dylan Harper or Walter Clayton Jr. last season? One is an elite prospect and the other was just a really great college basketball player.

To add onto this point. Terrence Shannon went 27th overall. Both KJ and Riley will likely go higher, so would you take either KJ or Riley over Shannon in college?

Honestly that was drafted last year would you take over Shannon? Edey? Maybe Clingan if the rest of your team is very good.

 

[AZILL]

To put some perspective on the Sarr/Dix/Sellers/etc.... ongoing debate. I feel like many posters are forgetting the fact that an early signee will influence who is signed afterwards. We are building a team and not striving for a BPA roster. An early signing by player S might mean we target players U & V, while an early signing by player T will necessitate signing players X & Y. Therefore comparing the value of players S & T AFTER the requisite complimentary players from pool U,V,X, & Y have been signed is kind of a silly exercise in futility to even engage in. It serves no other purpose than to put Illini fans at odds. SO STOP IT!!!