Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[lstewart53x3]

The question isn't really what we're capable of doing at the maximum, we don't go crazy in bidding wars and are always willing to wait it out for other players. Or at least that has been our practice in the past.

Premium article but worth the subscription on how our staff evaluates and values prospects:

One-on-one with Neel Ganta, the man leading Illini's offseason efforts: 'You have to find undervalued assets'

Illini director of player personnel Neel Ganta discusses how his NBA background impacts Illinois' roster-building and the Illini's approach this offseason.

247sports.com

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

I personally have a hard time wanting to spend tons of money on a freshman who might not be here as a sophomore...

...but KEATON WAGLER

I'll say this year's freshman class with Wagler, Flemings, Acuff, Boozer, Dybansta, etcetera has me not 100% confident in this mindset, though

Only one of those frosh has lead his team to the Final Four, though. It’s all about the ROI.

 

[ImGonnaBeILL]

No one in America has a bigger sell right now than Illinois in backcourt. It sells itself

-Final Four
-Led by a freshman guard who is one of the best finds in college basketball history
-4 backcourt/wing 1st round picks in 3 years

If any kid isn't sold with that, then the fit wasn't meant to be

 

[FI_890526]

Any way Illinois can match/keep up/outbid Texas Tech at the moment?

Not sure they can outbid them but Illinois has more to sell.

 

[FI_890526]

I personally have a hard time wanting to spend tons of money on a freshman who might not be here as a sophomore...

...but KEATON WAGLER

I'll say this year's freshman class with Wagler, Flemings, Acuff, Boozer, Dybansta, etcetera has me not 100% confident in this mindset, though

Coleman is really good. Worth the $, IMO.

 

[Kent123]

What are the chances we keep Wagler? If the NIL is flowing can we be competitive to a first year lottery pick salary? Love to have him another year

 

[Scoregasm]

Not sure they can outbid them but Illinois has more to sell.

Eff yeah we do, if any recruit can't see that, then we don't want them here as well.

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

I’m onboard with a bidding war for Coleman as long as we retain veteran pieces - Mirk, Andrej, Ivisic Bros, Ty, Lee (I’m still a stan, sue me)

If multiple of those players leave, and depending on who, I start to feel different.

 

[OnlyOrange]

Not sure they can outbid them but Illinois has more to sell.

Not too surprised by this - I had heard several times that the NIL era will be kind to Texas Tech, and so far it's starting out that way given what they did in football this year as well as basketball (had Toppin stayed healthy.......). They must have some wealthy donors.

 

[ChiefGritty]

Not too surprised by this - I had heard several times that the NIL era will be kind to Texas Tech, and so far it's starting out that way given what they did in football this year as well as basketball (had Toppin stayed healthy.......). They must have some wealthy donors.

Cody Campbell, former TTU football player turned oil billionaire, is the driving force there. And current events are enhancing his net worth even further.

 

[Joel Goodson]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039372118547128784

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039383287416987951

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

Coleman is really good. Worth the $, IMO.

I don't know. Unless it's an absolute sure fire hit that they're going to be a guaranteed difference maker, I'm focusing on a proven portal player UNLESS they're willing to potentially come off the bench, in which the cost wouldn't be that outrageous anyway.
Unfortunately, the portal makes staffs have to decide who they want to keep off of their current roster, who they want to bring in via the portal and what HS players they want to bring in.

Keaton is a unicorn. He's probably the biggest value of any player in the country. Could you imagine his cost if he were to go into the portal this year or if he had those expectations coming out of HS? Unless you had Kentucky money, you couldn't field a team around him.

We have a lot of decisions to make and I'm sure some won't be very popular. As fans, we've fallen in love with players who've gotten us to a Final Four. As a staff, you want to get right back there in 26/27 and make it work with a finite amount of funds.

I'm not sure what he's asking for, but I'm not replacing any of our players for a HS kid unless it's a Dybansta/Acuff kind of guy and even then, that type of player won't fit into Brad's system unless he'll share the ball.

What these coaches go through and the decisions they have to make..... it's rough.

 

[the juiceman cometh]

Not too surprised by this - I had heard several times that the NIL era will be kind to Texas Tech, and so far it's starting out that way given what they did in football this year as well as basketball (had Toppin stayed healthy.......). They must have some wealthy donors.

Oil money. All the more reason to support planet-friendly renewable energy sources.

 

[TheGreatDebate]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039372118547128784

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039383287416987951

Yeah! Who is he sending next?

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

I’m onboard with a bidding war for Coleman as long as we retain veteran pieces - Mirk, Andrej, Ivisic Bros, Ty, Lee (I’m still a stan, sue me)

If multiple of those players leave, and depending on who, I start to feel different.

Which one of those guys is going to give up minutes? How much are they going to command? How much is Coleman going to command?

I look at that roster and while I'm sure that Drej understands why he's coming off the bench(coming back from injury, not upsetting the chemistry, etc), there is absolutely no chance that he comes back without a 100% guarantee that he starts and is guaranteed to be ball dominant. He's a good guy, he's got a great family, but cost and status mean a lot. It's the nature of the beast. How much does Mirk cost? The Ivisic's....not cheap. You didn't even mention Jake. You're good losing him? This Final Four run increased the value of these guys significantly.

So, unless we have donors that are willing to put us in a top 5 spending category and we have some players that are willing to be role players(again) and we have some high profile recruits(Coleman) that are willing to not be be guaranteed thing.....it won't work.

To me, if you're going to stretch the budget, you have to find a replacement that is going to step into Keaton's role. There is absolutely nobody out there who can do that that wouldn't be a fortune. We flat out lucked into a "cheap" superstar. Our staff knew he'd be good, but not what he's turned into.

I don't envy this staff for having to make the decisions ahead. You've fallen in love with this roster, as have all of us. How can we not? We're in a Final Four. We've grown attachments and we'll be heartbroken if any leave. It's the nature of this beast. Brad and Co have the same problem, but they're(all coaches) graded on winning. This is big business. Have to find 5 + 3 that accept the roles that they're put in. It's amazing how valuable Ben H and Jake D became. They've been critical.

 

[joeybcrazy13]

 

[steelmen72]

Lousy coach but fantastic recruiter. Seen this so many times over the decades.

Obviously, money is a huge factor - does Missouri really have that much?

What makes Gates a fantastic recruiter? Martin brought in more highly regarded recruits than Gates has done so far. Missouri will overpay for their players. Crowe father has known Gates since their playing days overseas but Crowe and Bryant will receive a bid NIL package. Missouri has a commitment from Scotty Adkinson from the 27 class. Gates will be in the same situation as Rutgers with Harper and Bailey with not enough good veteran players around Crowe and Bryant. Crowe is coming to put up shots and numbers and go to the league. Personally, I wouldn't go after Coleman. Illinois has already signed 2 freshman guards and Petrovic and Lee might come back. Illinois needs at least 2 proven veteran guards from the portal. Striking lighting in the bottle twice with a recuit like Wagler is highly unlikely.

 

[RJK01]

Lousy coach but fantastic recruiter. Seen this so many times over the decades.

Obviously, money is a huge factor - does Missouri really have that much?

I thought one of Sam Walton's son in law's was a big donor to Mizzou.

 

[Scoregasm]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039372118547128784

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039383287416987951

So it's obvious we have an in with Misko, but will we get first dibs on his stars or will it be us competing withe the rest of CBB?

 

[PepeSilvia]

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Wilkins is a dude.

 

[PepeSilvia]

Coleman is really good. Worth the $, IMO.

If McCasland is bidding for them then he probably is.

 

[sacraig]

Brad, Orlando, and Geoff will not wait around. Nor should they. Wait too long and you run the risk of missing out on other great fits.

Hopefully Quincy won’t see any reason to visit anywhere else.

Quincy?

 

[BillyBob1]

Bidding war between Illinois and Texas Tech for Quentin Coleman. Back and forth they go.

No more Miznoz?

 

[CleverHandle1]

as good as Coleman is, I don't see us waiting on him. if he doesn't commit pretty soon (a week?), I reckon we're moving on

I'll add, that I doubt he's gonna find an overall better situation. we'll see

That's what "Elite" programs do.

 

[skyIdub]

Quincy?

Our new ME?

Iykyk