Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[EmpoweredIllini]

To play devil's advocate. When was the last time a shooter transferred to Illinois and improved their 3pt%?

this was brought up a couple months ago and i had put together a graphic... its a little dated now (Humrichous, Jake Davis and Andrej have since increased thier percentage while Z has went down.. so 3 guys went up and one went down so this probably looks even better now, but:

summary of this imo is theres a negligible dip overall (and could be attributed to many guys moving up a level from midmajor to high major ball)

 

[EmpoweredIllini]

statistically VERY similar..

View attachment 48022vsView attachment 48023

andrej with the huge edge in win shares and ft percent (something everyone here loves)

but averaging 13-14 pts on a top 10 team is much harder to do than averaging 16 pts on a team thats under .500 (13-17) in a subpar conference

objectively andrej is the far better player, but we also have to make the money work so if we need salary space to grab a dynamic playmaking guard or something then it would make sense

 

[bleedorange and blue]

Sorry … Yes - I think Ty is back …

Will he play?

 

[BashCtIllini]

To play devil's advocate. When was the last time a shooter transferred to Illinois and improved their 3pt%?

Boswell was like a 38-39% 3pt shooter at Arizona and has been awful at Illinois. Stojakovic looks terrible from 3 this year and was around 32% his first years on higher volume. Ben and Davis were both worse in their first year.

Plummer is really the only transfer shooter that lived up the hype in recent memory. Guerrier actually shot the ball pretty well, and White improved a little bit from Louisville but then took a huge jump this year for Kansas. Even, DGL is now shooting 42% from 3 on nearly 7 attempts per game this year after shooting 22% and 25% in two years at Illinois.

Jake Davis.

Though I will say, Davis gets a ton of wide open looks. He probably shoots over 70% when he gets an open look, and 30% or less when he has someone harassing him. But it's equaling out to 41% on almost 120 attempts.

 

[jamarvelous31]

andrej with the huge edge in win shares and ft percent (something everyone here loves)

but averaging 13-14 pts on a top 10 team is much harder to do than averaging 16 pts on a team thats under .500 (13-17) in a subpar conference

objectively andrej is the far better player, but we also have to make the money work so if we need salary space to grab a dynamic playmaking guard or something then it would make sense

Before you get too carried away there... Win shares is impacted by wins, so yes it's harder to get points on a successful team, but you're more likely to have higher WS since there's more wins to 'share'. FT% sure, but Haralson gets to the line twice as frequently so it's a wash.

Haralson as a FR is doing way better on a similarly bad team at similar points in his career. It's damning to Andrej that a similarly ranked player 2 years younger is largely matching his production. That said, they're both inside the 3 chuckers with limited defensive or rebounding value. I'd pass (something Andrej won't do).

 

[jjv0004]

Last minute flip alert … Sounds like Bama is taking Richardson vs waiting on Holt and potentially losing both …

Oats finds a way …

Check out dad's response to Tipton.................

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029656602823823412

 

[HailtotheChief]

To play devil's advocate. When was the last time a shooter transferred to Illinois and improved their 3pt%?

Boswell was like a 38-39% 3pt shooter at Arizona and has been awful at Illinois. Stojakovic looks terrible from 3 this year and was around 32% his first years on higher volume. Ben and Davis were both worse in their first year.

Plummer is really the only transfer shooter that lived up the hype in recent memory. Guerrier actually shot the ball pretty well, and White improved a little bit from Louisville but then took a huge jump this year for Kansas. Even, DGL is now shooting 42% from 3 on nearly 7 attempts per game this year after shooting 22% and 25% in two years at Illinois.

You left out likely the most obvious player who went off after they left from deep and really in every area, Podz.

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

statistically VERY similar..

View attachment 48022vsView attachment 48023

Should also note …

One is a freshman … One is about to be a senior …

Think Jalen is only going to get better …

 

[I-L-L 1318]

Certa averaging 1.8 rebs in 26 mins? If he were to transfer and wind up here, Brad is going to have a field day getting him to go to the glass

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

Should also note …

One is a freshman … One is about to be a senior …

Think Jalen is only going to get better …

Haralson would be close to a homerun in my book. We're talking about a true freshman averaging 16/4/3 on 51% overall shooting. He's also a big ballhandling guard which Brad loves.

He's got a 23-point game against SMU, a 25-point game vs NC State, a 20-point (2OT) game against Virginia, 18 versus Miami.

I'm surprised he hasn't shown more passing chops early on, but might just be fit.

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Some more names …

Rodney Rice - Men's Basketball - USC Athletics

Rodney Rice (1) Guard - 2025-26: Made the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watch List… started in the first six games of the season… av...

usctrojans.com

Xavier Edmonds - Men's Basketball - TCU Athletics

Xavier Edmonds (24) F - 2025-26 | JUNIOR SEASON ALL-BIG 12 THIRD TEAM… Played in all 35 games and made 34 starts… Started every game except the season-opener...

gofrogs.com

Jovan Milicevic - Men's Basketball - Xavier University Athletics

Jovan Milicevic (24) Forward - 2025-26 AT XAVIER Second on the team in scoring at 12.4 ppg., including 21 points in the win over Marquette in the BIG EAST To...

goxavier.com

Jamier Jones - Men's Basketball - Providence College Athletics

Jamier Jones (5) Forward - HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Oak Ridge High School (Fla.)...Averaged 20.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.2 steals his senior yea...

friars.com

Aiden Sherrell - Men's Basketball - Alabama Athletics

Aiden Sherrell (22) Forward - NIL Opportunities 2024-25 Played in 36 games off the bench, averaging 3.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game Scored ...

rolltide.com

Stefan Vaaks - Men's Basketball - Providence College Athletics

Stefan Vaaks (7) Guard - 2024-25 (BC Kalev/Carmo): Played internationally for BC Kalev/Carmo (Tallinn, Estonia) in the Latvia-Estonia Basketball League in 20...

friars.com

 

[Illiniforlife]

Some more names …

Rodney Rice - Men's Basketball - USC Athletics

Rodney Rice (1) Guard - 2025-26: Made the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watch List… started in the first six games of the season… av...

usctrojans.com

Xavier Edmonds - Men's Basketball - TCU Athletics

Xavier Edmonds (24) F - 2025-26 | JUNIOR SEASON ALL-BIG 12 THIRD TEAM… Played in all 35 games and made 34 starts… Started every game except the season-opener...

gofrogs.com

Jovan Milicevic - Men's Basketball - Xavier University Athletics

Jovan Milicevic (24) Forward - 2025-26 AT XAVIER Second on the team in scoring at 12.4 ppg., including 21 points in the win over Marquette in the BIG EAST To...

goxavier.com

Jamier Jones - Men's Basketball - Providence College Athletics

Jamier Jones (5) Forward - HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Oak Ridge High School (Fla.)...Averaged 20.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.2 steals his senior yea...

friars.com

Aiden Sherrell - Men's Basketball - Alabama Athletics

Aiden Sherrell (22) Forward - NIL Opportunities 2024-25 Played in 36 games off the bench, averaging 3.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game Scored ...

rolltide.com

Stefan Vaaks - Men's Basketball - Providence College Athletics

Stefan Vaaks (7) Guard - 2024-25 (BC Kalev/Carmo): Played internationally for BC Kalev/Carmo (Tallinn, Estonia) in the Latvia-Estonia Basketball League in 20...

friars.com

Rodney Rice, sign me up along with Jovan and Aiden, especially if we lose the twins.

 

[Heisenbobble]

Some more names …

Rodney Rice - Men's Basketball - USC Athletics

Rodney Rice (1) Guard - 2025-26: Made the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watch List… started in the first six games of the season… av...

usctrojans.com

Xavier Edmonds - Men's Basketball - TCU Athletics

Xavier Edmonds (24) F - 2025-26 | JUNIOR SEASON ALL-BIG 12 THIRD TEAM… Played in all 35 games and made 34 starts… Started every game except the season-opener...

gofrogs.com

Jovan Milicevic - Men's Basketball - Xavier University Athletics

Jovan Milicevic (24) Forward - 2025-26 AT XAVIER Second on the team in scoring at 12.4 ppg., including 21 points in the win over Marquette in the BIG EAST To...

goxavier.com

Jamier Jones - Men's Basketball - Providence College Athletics

Jamier Jones (5) Forward - HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Oak Ridge High School (Fla.)...Averaged 20.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.2 steals his senior yea...

friars.com

Aiden Sherrell - Men's Basketball - Alabama Athletics

Aiden Sherrell (22) Forward - NIL Opportunities 2024-25 Played in 36 games off the bench, averaging 3.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game Scored ...

rolltide.com

Stefan Vaaks - Men's Basketball - Providence College Athletics

Stefan Vaaks (7) Guard - 2024-25 (BC Kalev/Carmo): Played internationally for BC Kalev/Carmo (Tallinn, Estonia) in the Latvia-Estonia Basketball League in 20...

friars.com

Some of those names will be getting PAID if they transfer. I'll be curious to see what IL's NIL budget will be and if they can compete with the money machine programs (including BYU ... ugh).

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Rodney Rice, sign me up along with Jovan and Aiden, especially if we lose the twins.

I'd be sick to my stomach if we lose the twins.

 

[Kernal12]

Rodney Rice, sign me up along with Jovan and Aiden, especially if we lose the twins.

Defer to the staff and their judgment of course, but I thought I heard rumors that Rice sort of checked out on USC this year ... not really that injured but decided to shut it down, didn't sound like an "every day guy." But he is a great player, and if the staff is convinced he fits our culture then absolutely go after him ... brings positional size, shooting and toughness.

 

[Bigtex]

If I see either twin in non-Illinois college basketball jersey again I'll be so sad

Don't know what Tomi is getting in NIL but based on the regression from last year - it is more than he is producing.

 

[AirNeazy]

I'm not gonna lie......I hope we don't just become a 40% better version of those Fran-era Iowa team. I understand spacing, hunting mismatches, and bombing from 3 is our offensive philosophy nowadays but stacking our team with finesse players who aren't great defenders but can shoot is just asking to eventually get punked by teams a-la Michigan this year. Plus when you overpay for these transfers whose only calling card is putting points on the board, what happens when they struggle on offense and can't contribute in other ways? You get stuck with Andrej earning a Pat Williams contract.

You need balance... we don't need a Cole Certa if Jake Davis is coming back....we need a Morez (as painful as it is for me to say that)

 

[EmpoweredIllini]

Before you get too carried away there... Win shares is impacted by wins, so yes it's harder to get points on a successful team, but you're more likely to have higher WS since there's more wins to 'share'. FT% sure, but Haralson gets to the line twice as frequently so it's a wash.

Haralson as a FR is doing way better on a similarly bad team at similar points in his career. It's damning to Andrej that a similarly ranked player 2 years younger is largely matching his production. That said, they're both inside the 3 chuckers with limited defensive or rebounding value. I'd pass (something Andrej won't do).

View attachment 48025
View attachment 48026

would never pencil a guy in for > 1 year given the current landscape, that would be a huge mistake

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Rodney Rice, sign me up along with Jovan and Aiden, especially if we lose the twins.

Jovan is a perfect fit for this offense …

We can also triple what he got at Xavier this year …

Rodney Rice as your go to scoring option isn’t a bad option …

Sherrell is asking for similar money to what Tomi is going to want … Not a bad option there either …

 

[Joel Goodson]

Some more names …

Rodney Rice - Men's Basketball - USC Athletics

Rodney Rice (1) Guard - 2025-26: Made the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watch List… started in the first six games of the season… av...

usctrojans.com

Xavier Edmonds - Men's Basketball - TCU Athletics

Xavier Edmonds (24) F - 2025-26 | JUNIOR SEASON ALL-BIG 12 THIRD TEAM… Played in all 35 games and made 34 starts… Started every game except the season-opener...

gofrogs.com

Jovan Milicevic - Men's Basketball - Xavier University Athletics

Jovan Milicevic (24) Forward - 2025-26 AT XAVIER Second on the team in scoring at 12.4 ppg., including 21 points in the win over Marquette in the BIG EAST To...

goxavier.com

Jamier Jones - Men's Basketball - Providence College Athletics

Jamier Jones (5) Forward - HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Oak Ridge High School (Fla.)...Averaged 20.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.2 steals his senior yea...

friars.com

Aiden Sherrell - Men's Basketball - Alabama Athletics

Aiden Sherrell (22) Forward - NIL Opportunities 2024-25 Played in 36 games off the bench, averaging 3.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game Scored ...

rolltide.com

Stefan Vaaks - Men's Basketball - Providence College Athletics

Stefan Vaaks (7) Guard - 2024-25 (BC Kalev/Carmo): Played internationally for BC Kalev/Carmo (Tallinn, Estonia) in the Latvia-Estonia Basketball League in 20...

friars.com

feed me (us), sir!

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Haralson would be close to a homerun in my book. We're talking about a true freshman averaging 16/4/3 on 51% overall shooting. He's also a big ballhandling guard which Brad loves.

He's got a 23-point game against SMU, a 25-point game vs NC State, a 20-point (2OT) game against Virginia, 18 versus Miami.

I'm surprised he hasn't shown more passing chops early on, but might just be fit.

I think he’s got superstar potential …

 

[Joel Goodson]

I think he’s got superstar potential …

that he's a Hoosier native makes it all the better

yeah, I'm petty

 

[pruman91]

A potential portal name to watch …

Jalen Haralson

fightingirish.com

I remember watching him in a FIBU tourney in the past......seemed to be a tough and high effort kid..............

 

[Illiniforlife]

Jovan is a perfect fit for this offense …

We can also triple what he got at Xavier this year …

Rodney Rice as your go to scoring option isn’t a bad option …

Sherrell is asking for similar money to what Tomi is going to want … Not a bad option there either …

You add those 3 guys and keep Mirk, Jake, and Ty. You got a good start. Just need another good scoring guard. But would be nice to have Rice, who has always crushed us. Also need a backup big considering we would be losing both twins.

 

[kyillinifan]

Keep Andrej. He will be even better next season.