Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Retro62]

I probably could have dropped this in a dozen places on this thread, but couldn't decide where, so I'll let it stand by its lonesome. My feeling about high school players taking off to prep schools reminds me of an old classmate in the theatre program who took improv classes at Second City in Chicago. He said he really didn't learn much because everyone was more interested in getting attention than actually working together. That's how I feel about young players today. I don't know that I blame them, I blame the system. Which also ties into the complaint about foreign players--they just learn better fundamentals.

 

[HailtotheChief]

I'm just saying that (and what you're saying too) to illustrate that we will not win any recruitments where money is a leading motivator.

Maybe money in the long term is why many came back in 2025 and others have even after they graduate. Fletch and what the program has to offer players can in the end help them earn more money in the long term. They may be able to go get more now elsewhere but when they believe in and know the process here it's possible they feel they can earn more eventually by staying. I believe for many of them that is the case. Ayo, TSJ and even Domask have other options but feel this is the best place to be in the off season to get ready whenever they can come back.

 

[Combo]

No guarantee they stay the same player. Many guys flip a good situation for an unideal one (just for the cash), and it backfires.

Of course - from a long-term perspective, it may not be a wise decision. But if all one is concerned about is grabbing whatever cash you can as soon as possible, hitting the portal every year makes sense.

 

[NarrowJ]

There also has to be positives to not having a team full of guys who are mainly motivated by $$$$

 

[Joel Goodson]

There also has to be positives to not having a team full of guys who are mainly motivated by $$$$

big time, IMO

 

[BrownTown]

There also has to be positives to not having a team full of guys who are mainly motivated by $$$$

It's just really rare that a guy who transfers every year has the kind of year to year progress that you see with multiple years of continuity. The 2nd year bump is a real thing and their is a reason behind it.

Sure the is better hitting the open market every year but the difference in staying in a system multiple years, showing growth and becoming a team leader? Kind of immeasurable. I know that the NBA Draft is moreso how your size, shooting, athleticism, and talent projects. But how hard is it to pick up where you left off in a completely new league every year? Where would a guy like Storr be if he stayed in Wisconsin instead of bag hopping?

If you are a NBA Draft type talent, being in a system multiple years where you can learn, grow, and physically thrive can make up the couple million dollars of NIL difference. The gap between second round and mid to late 1 is sizable. A guy like Tomi staying at Illinois, physically developing and becoming his potential could very well bump him into the late teens/20s.

If that bump to the 1st round and the professional growth helps you get to that second contract? That money, even for a 9th or 10th guy on the bench is verifiably insane.

Just my .02.

 

[skyIdub]

Yeah money doesn’t equal happiness.

I’m still motivated by pizza and girls.

 

[Combo]

It's just really rare that a guy who transfers every year has the kind of year to year progress that you see with multiple years of continuity. The 2nd year bump is a real thing and their is a reason behind it.

Sure the is better hitting the open market every year but the difference in staying in a system multiple years, showing growth and becoming a team leader? Kind of immeasurable. I know that the NBA Draft is moreso how your size, shooting, athleticism, and talent projects. But how hard is it to pick up where you left off in a completely new league every year? Where would a guy like Storr be if he stayed in Wisconsin instead of bag hopping?

If you are a NBA Draft type talent, being in a system multiple years where you can learn, grow, and physically thrive can make up the couple million dollars of NIL difference. The gap between second round and mid to late 1 is sizable. A guy like Tomi staying at Illinois, physically developing and becoming his potential could very well bump him into the late teens/20s.

If that bump to the 1st round and the professional growth helps you get to that second contract? That money, even for a 9th or 10th guy on the bench is verifiably insane.

Just my .02.

That was the point of my original post. Being in one system for 2+ years where you can grow and develop may be worth forgoing more in the short-term. But a a lot of people aren't going to look at the big picture. If one is focused only on getting the most money they can right now, hitting the portal every year is probably the way to go.

 

[BrownTown]

That was the point of my original post. Being in one system for 2+ years where you can grow and develop may be worth forgoing more in the short-term. But a a lot of people aren't going to look at the big picture. If one is focused only on getting the most money they can right now, hitting the portal every year is probably the way to go.

I was agreeing and expanding.

The situation that I think is the most beneficial to hit the open market every year would be if you project as a G League/Euro League guy. Bouncing around may be the long term financial move. It's certainly case by case.

 

[Mapman]

Yeah money doesn’t equal happiness.

I’m still motivated by pizza and girls.

 

[BalloonsTheElephant]

I think we are past the peak. The true game changers -- the top 5-10, sure lottery picks -- will continue to get paid, and paid well. Anyone who needs development is going to get a lot less. A euro pickup (-ic), or a transferring upperclassman will usually perform better, for less, and with likely with less attitude (including parental attitude).

We will see next year. I certainly hope so.

 

[IlliniFan42]

Yeah money doesn’t equal happiness.

I’m still motivated by pizza and girls.

I think someone once said "First you get the money, then you get the pizza, then you get the girls" or something like that

 

[the juiceman cometh]

I think someone once said "First you get the money, then you get the pizza, then you get the girls" or something like that

Nailed it.

 

[Iamgroot]

No guarantee they stay the same player. Many guys flip a good situation for an unideal one (just for the cash), and it backfires.

Case in point Coleman Hawkins. He got a bunch of money to go to ksu and was on a horrible team and you could tell in his interviews it was a really rough year for him.Money is great but it isn't everything. I truly wonder if Coleman could redo last season if he would've stayed a illini for less or if he would've still went to ksu for the money

 

[Barfolomew]

I think someone once said "First you get the money, then you get the pizza, then you get the girls" or something like that

Yeah, I seem to recall Louisville tried recruiting the other way around and it turned out to be problematic for them.

 

[the juiceman cometh]

Case in point Coleman Hawkins. He got a bunch of money to go to ksu and was on a horrible team and you could tell in his interviews it was a really rough year for him.Money is great but it isn't everything. I truly wonder if Coleman could redo last season if he would've stayed a illini for less or if he would've still went to ksu for the money

Yeah, but people make sacrifices for money all the time. I know a lot of former big law lawyers who basically stayed until they paid off student debt and hit a certain amount of savings. That usually meant at least staying a few years past the point in which they knew it wasn't for them. They hated their time at big law but I don’t think they'd do it differently if they had a chance.

 

[HereSoIDontGetFined]

Yeah, but people make sacrifices for money all the time. I know a lot of former big law lawyers who basically stayed until they paid off student debt and hit a certain amount of savings. That usually meant at least staying a few years past the point in which they knew it wasn't for them. They hated their time at big law but I don’t think they'd do it differently if they had a chance.

Yeah I have a buddy who left his job for another 15% doing the same work at a subsidiary of Boeing, only to be unhappy the entire time and then got laid off 18 months in. He regrets leaving but ended up somewhere he really likes now.

 

[Rebounding Dog]

Sometimes....the grass is greener.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Case in point Coleman Hawkins. He got a bunch of money to go to ksu and was on a horrible team and you could tell in his interviews it was a really rough year for him.Money is great but it isn't everything. I truly wonder if Coleman could redo last season if he would've stayed a illini for less or if he would've still went to ksu for the money

Maybe... but considering he just signed a G-League contract for about 45K. I'd wager accepting the couple million he got from KSU is not high on his list of things he'd do differently.

 

[dwpittman]

I was agreeing and expanding.

The situation that I think is the most beneficial to hit the open market every year would be if you project as a G League/Euro League guy. Bouncing around may be the long term financial move. It's certainly case by case.

Speaking of improv... Yes, and...

 

[Illini-Rule]

Sometimes....the grass is greener.

Green grass can be hard light.

 

[Combo]

Maybe... but considering he just signed a G-League contract for about 45K. I'd wager accepting the couple million he got from KSU is not high on his list of things he'd do differently.

Agreed. Hate to see him in a different uniform, but it was a great decision for him.

 

[BrownTown]

Maybe... but considering he just signed a G-League contract for about 45K. I'd wager accepting the couple million he got from KSU is not high on his list of things he'd do differently.

He is definitely a tweener where it made sense for him to hit the "free agency". Though from interviews that Coleman has given...Their was belief he was going to be drafted in the second round had he went to the League. It's A LOT easier to stay in the league once you have been drafted vice UDFA. Do I think he had staying power either way? No. He's 6'7.5 and plays a stretch 4.

I believe the 2nd round guarantee was if he had stayed in the draft after his junior year. (Believe he mentioned GSW as the suitor)
Maybe someone with inside knowledge could tell us where he would have went if he stayed in after his senior year but I doubt it was any better than 50s.

Of note....once he came back for the AND it definitely did not work out in his favor performance wise...it was all but a footnote that his NBA dreams were done.

 

[Combo]

He is definitely a tweener where it made sense for him to hit the "free agency". Though from interviews that Coleman has given...Their was belief he was going to be drafted in the second round had he went to the League. It's A LOT easier to stay in the league once you have been drafted vice UDFA. Do I think he had staying power either way? No. He's 6'7.5 and plays a stretch 4.

I believe the 2nd round guarantee was if he had stayed in the draft after his junior year. (Believe he mentioned GSW as the suitor)
Maybe someone with inside knowledge could tell us where he would have went if he stayed in after his senior year but I doubt it was any better than 50s.

Of note....once he came back for the AND it definitely did not work out in his favor performance wise...it was all but a footnote that his NBA dreams were done.

Guys with their eye on the league usually believe they'll be drafted higher than they will be. And agents/advisors whispering in their ear only reinforce that belief.

That may be a positive of NIL/pay for play. Kids may not be so gullible as far as where, if at all, they'll get picked in the draft.

 

[BrownTown]

Guys with their eye on the league usually believe they'll be drafted higher than they will be. And agents/advisors whispering in their ear only reinforce that belief.

That may be a positive of NIL/pay for play. Kids may not be so gullible as far as where, if at all, they'll get picked in the draft.

You're absolutely right. I'm just taking him at his word. (Believe it was an interview with Sleeper's Media last summer) Can't honestly say I ever saw him as league bound.