Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#328      
Indy Illini Fan
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr? said:
how about Ali Dibba from Southern Illinois? He's rated as the top avaiable transfer, and you can sell Domask coming over from SIU.
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Rather have Jones …

Proven rebounder … Tough … Plus shooter …

Also - Don’t rule out Monsanto …

Tyler wants to run the shoot 3s offense … That’s fine … Bring in some guys who can freaking shoot it …

 
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#329      
the juiceman cometh
Indy Illini Fan said:
Rather have Jones …

Proven rebounder … Tough … Plus shooter …

Also - Don’t rule out Monsanto …

Tyler wants to run the shoot 3s offense … That’s fine … Bring in some guys who can freaking shoot it …

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Does Monsanto have any eligibility left? Looks like he's already played at least 11 games in 5 seasons, and an article from March 2024, when he entered the portal last time, says he has 1 year of eligibility left (which he of course exhausted this past season).
 
#330      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
jones would definitely be my No. 1. best all around player of the guys mentioned, and the 2 years eligibility part does it for me.

retention was such a pivotal component of this offseason. idc what you think about morez, retention of your top 2 biggest pillars of the team in Ky and Tomi is a huge deal. anyone who thinks otherwise is just playing deelu.
 
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#331      
Indy Illini Fan
the juiceman cometh said:
Does Monsanto have any eligibility left? Looks like he's already played at least 11 games in 5 seasons, and an article from March 2024, when he entered the portal last time, says he has 1 year of eligibility left (which he of course exhausted this past season).
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Potential for a waiver there … I’ve heard he’s got another year … Could just be agent talk …

I know we’ve been active in reaching out to portal prospects … Specifically Keonte Jones …
 
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#332      
Fly Illini Fly!
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
jones would definitely be my No. 1. best all around player of the guys mentioned, and the 2 years eligibility part does it for me.

retention was such a pivotal component of this offseason. idc what you think about morez, retention of your top 2 biggest pillars of the team in Ky and Tomi is a huge deal. anyone who claims otherwise is just playing deelu.
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most of all we just need someone who can guard. there's not one plus defender on this team right now outside of Boswell. Maybe Stojakovic.
 
#333      
Captain05
#335      
ColSLU69
PepeSilvia said:
I think he compares pretty well to a guy like Isaac Mckneely(or Lee Humphrey if you wanna go back a few years).

He never looked small on the court to me but like a legitimate 6'5(a lot of those guys get listed at 6'6 or 6'7). He's not a great athlete or 1 on 1 defender but he's a capable team defender(UCSD was great defensively and he was a part of them swarming teams on defense), but I do think he's quick enough to keep guys in front and would be fine sacrificing some size to bigger wings.

Offensively he can put the ball on the floor a bit(especially with how hard defenses have to closeout on him) and while I don't think he's going to finish at the rim around power conference 7 footers he is extremely capable of knocking down floaters and mid range jumpers.

Yeah if you just look at his 3pt percentage it doesnt jump out but he had the ultimate green light and it's on a ton of volume.

This year he shot 37.7% on 8.9 attempts per game. 8.9 attempts. He was also shooting 39.8% on 8.7 attempts before the postseason but had a rough 3 game stretch going 2-10, 1-6, and 3-15 from 3. People may point to the 3-15 from 3 against Michigan but the rims for the tourney were awful and it seemed like every team was shooting poorly. It's not like he couldn't get separation or open looks against Michigan they just weren't falling and he also managed to put up 25 pts and 9 rebs while being basically their only offense threat(Tait Jones couldn't score on their size).

Also, the year before he shot 41.3% from 3 on 7.3 attempts per game playing as the 6th man(proven capable shooter in a bench role). He also won the college three point contest this year.

Sorry for the essay but I think McGhie would be an incredible 6th man type to bring off the bench(especially when you need a jolt). I think he could legitimately shoot 45% + from 3 if he was getting the type of open looks Ben was getting last year. Plus, I think he would get peppered with open looks playing alongside Petrovic, Boswell, Stojakovic and good passing euro bigs. If the Illini are going to run the same system as last year offensively, I don't know if you could find a more perfect fit. He should also have 2 more years of eligibility(COVID year at Western Carolina and 2 years at D2 before 2 seasons at UCSD).
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Pepe, it looks to me (on ESPN) like Tyler McGhie was at Western Carolina in 20-21, and at UC San Diego in 23-24, and 24-25. I always wondered where he played in 21-22 and 22-23. Is that the "2 years at D2" you refer to above? (If so, at what D2 school, if you know?) Do you think that he still has a year of eligibility left? If so, I think that McGhie would be a great addition to the Illini. Not only could he now fill some of the roles that Rodgers was supposed to do this coming season, but he would also provide quality depth/insurance at Guard behind Petrovic (assuming he becomes eligible) and Boswell.
 
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#338      
BashCtIllini
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
www.espn.com

Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones - UC San Diego Tritons Guard - ESPN

View the profile of UC San Diego Tritons Guard Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Since we are at it in the Big West, any chance this guy has eligibility?
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#340      
ColSLU69
Indy Illini Fan said:
Potential for a waiver there … I’ve heard he’s got another year … Could just be agent talk …

I know we’ve been active in reaching out to portal prospects … Specifically Keonte Jones …
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I know that Damari Monsanto played only 11 games for Wake Forest in the 23-24 season. But if (as you say) he could get a waiver from the NCAA, and since (like you said) Tyler will be running (again) a high-volume three-point-shooting offense, then I think that adding an experienced 6'6" Guard like Monsanto, who shoots (MAKES!) 40+% on 3s and 90+% on FTs, would be a great addition for the Illini.

But if Illinois wants to directly replace a player like Ty Rodgers, then I agree that F Keonte Jones (Cal State U Northridge) would be the perfect addition. Not only is the 6'6" Jones a tenacious rebounder (9.0/game) and a good passer (4.1 assists/game), he's also a solid defender. Plus, as it's been pointed out, Jones played 3 years of Juco ball before playing 2 years at CSUN, so he would have 2 years of remaining eligibility.
 
#341      
PepeSilvia
ColSLU69 said:
Pepe, it looks to me (on ESPN) like Tyler McGhie was at Western Carolina in 20-21, and at UC San Diego in 23-24, and 24-25. I always wondered where he played in 21-22 and 22-23. Is that the "2 years at D2" you refer to above? (If so, at what D2 school, if you know?) Do you think that he still has a year of eligibility left? If so, I think that McGhie would be a great addition to the Illini. Not only could he now fill some of the roles that Rodgers was supposed to do this coming season, but he would also provide quality depth/insurance at Guard behind Petrovic (assuming he becomes eligible) and Boswell.
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McGhie played 2 years at Southern Nazarine University which is the D2 I was referring to. He should have 2 years of eligibility left because 20-21 at Western Carolina was the COVID year so that doesn't count. Then with the Diego Pavia stuff the d2 years don't count(same reason Humrichous is back), so he should have 2 years left after his 2 years at UC San Diego.

Honestly with the Ty injury sounding pretty major I think they need to pivot to Keonte Jones(as much as I love Mcghie). Jones is a 6'6 wing that can defend and is a monster on the boards and he would really help replace what we would lose without Ty defensively and on the boards.

I'm pretty sure the Illini have 14 players on the roster so they can only add one more. However if I'm wrong and they can actually 2 then I would love McGhie and Jones.
 
#344      
PepeSilvia
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
www.espn.com

Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones - UC San Diego Tritons Guard - ESPN

View the profile of UC San Diego Tritons Guard Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Since we are at it in the Big West, any chance this guy has eligibility?
Click to expand...
UH Hilo is D2 so he should be able to play 2 more years if he wants to play. Could potentially go pro internationally.

I think he's too small for the Big10 though. Monster mid major big but just not big enough for power conference bigs. He really struggled with Michigan's bigs along with SDSU and UCI(UCI had a German 7 footer).
 
#345      
PepeSilvia
Fly Illini Fly! said:
most of all we just need someone who can guard. there's not one plus defender on this team right now outside of Boswell. Maybe Stojakovic.
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I agree completely but I think Zvonimir could potentially be a plus defender.

He's a very fluid and mobile 7 footer with long arms. If he continues to get stronger with Fletch he could provide a level of rim protection that we haven't seen since Egwu.
 
#346      
ColSLU69
Fly Illini Fly! said:
24 years old... don't even think he's in the portal.
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20-21: played 1 game at Hawaii Hilo. 21-22: played 3 games at Hawaii Hilo. 22-23: Did Aniwaniwa Tai-Jones play anywhere??? 23-24 and 24-25: the 6'6" Guard from New Zealand played at UC San Diego. His numbers were good, but he shot a lower volume of 3s at a lower percentage made than Tyler McGhie.
 
#347      
I-L-L 1318
PepeSilvia said:
I agree completely but I think Zvonimir could potentially be a plus defender.

He's a very fluid and mobile 7 footer with long arms. If he continues to get stronger with Fletch he could provide a level of rim protection that we haven't seen since Egwu.
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Agreed and I think continuity, health and a new scheme will greatly help Tomi at the defensive end. Maybe not a plus defender, but should be much stronger defensively this year.
 
#348      
ColSLU69
PepeSilvia said:
McGhie played 2 years at Southern Nazarine University which is the D2 I was referring to. He should have 2 years of eligibility left because 20-21 at Western Carolina was the COVID year so that doesn't count. Then with the Diego Pavia stuff the d2 years don't count(same reason Humrichous is back), so he should have 2 years left after his 2 years at UC San Diego.

Honestly with the Ty injury sounding pretty major I think they need to pivot to Keonte Jones(as much as I love Mcghie). Jones is a 6'6 wing that can defend and is a monster on the boards and he would really help replace what we would lose without Ty defensively and on the boards.

I'm pretty sure the Illini have 14 players on the roster so they can only add one more. However if I'm wrong and they can actually 2 then I would love McGhie and Jones.
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Does playing at D2 or D3 not count for eligibility? I know that Juco does not count. And I'm pretty sure that NAIA ball (D! or D2) does not count. But I wasn't sure about D2 or D3 NCAA ball counting re eligibility.

And I agree with you that Keonte Jones would probably be the perfect late addition following the Tyler Rodgers injury. I hope we can get him! But the only thing in the back of my mind that worries me is what I perceive as a lack of depth at Guard behind Boswell, probably Petrovic, and maybe Lee.
 
#349      
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?
ColSLU69 said:
I know that Damari Monsanto played only 11 games for Wake Forest in the 23-24 season. But if (as you say) he could get a waiver from the NCAA, and since (like you said) Tyler will be running (again) a high-volume three-point-shooting offense, then I think that adding an experienced 6'6" Guard like Monsanto, who shoots (MAKES!) 40+% on 3s and 90+% on FTs, would be a great addition for the Illini.

But if Illinois wants to directly replace a player like Ty Rodgers, then I agree that F Keonte Jones (Cal State U Northridge) would be the perfect addition. Not only is the 6'6" Jones a tenacious rebounder (9.0/game) and a good passer (4.1 assists/game), he's also a solid defender. Plus, as it's been pointed out, Jones played 3 years of Juco ball before playing 2 years at CSUN, so he would have 2 years of remaining eligibility.
Click to expand...
So this means Humrichous has 2 years too, no? Eligibility is an adventure.
 
#350      
the juiceman cometh
PepeSilvia said:
McGhie played 2 years at Southern Nazarine University which is the D2 I was referring to. He should have 2 years of eligibility left because 20-21 at Western Carolina was the COVID year so that doesn't count. Then with the Diego Pavia stuff the d2 years don't count(same reason Humrichous is back), so he should have 2 years left after his 2 years at UC San Diego.
Click to expand...

PepeSilvia said:
UH Hilo is D2 so he should be able to play 2 more years if he wants to play. Could potentially go pro internationally.

I think he's too small for the Big10 though. Monster mid major big but just not big enough for power conference bigs. He really struggled with Michigan's bigs along with SDSU and UCI(UCI had a German 7 footer).
Click to expand...

D2 and D3 do still count towards eligibility. The Pavia stuff was in regards to players who competed at non-NCAA schools, like JUCO and NAIA. BH played NAIA, not D2 or D3, which is why he still has eligibility. D2 and D3 are both still within the NCAA structure.
 
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