Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#1,479      
I'm sure Andre wants to be paid well, but with who his dad is does he really need to chase the biggest bag? Seems like he would chase the best development and winning more, but what do I know.
This. We all can be keyboard warriors, but until any of us are in their(and they're family's shoes), it's a pure guess. I have no clue what it's like to have four or five guys, all putting $2M, $3M, etc in my face and telling me different stories. They all have a pitch.

Then, there's an entity with the potential to put $7M in your pocket every year for the next 3 or 4 years. You've got people selling you on that.

If I TRY to put myself in Drej's position and I can get $2.5M and know my surroundings vs $3M and am not familiar, I go with what I know. However, of someone rolls in and offers me $4M and guarantees me that I'll be featured.....see ya.

Obviously Drej's situation is different than everyone else's because his old man has generational money. For MANY of these guys, they have only one bite at the apple to secure that type of money because they won't be in the NBA and most won't have a 10+ year career in basketball. They'll have to work real jobs and will have to make a real living like the rest of us. Sucks to put this pressure on a 18-22 year old, but agents, NIL, transfer ability and the courts created this mess. They all got what they wanted, but at what cost?
 
#1,480      
I kinda would hope he doesn't do a big brand deal like the Boozer brothers or some of the other players in the past who did (Flagg, etc.), because that doesn't feel like his "brand." Him staying locked in while playing even while playing well, not showing emotion, and just having poise struck me as a kid that doesn't want flash but let his ball skill speak for itself. Could be unpopular opinion, but kind of loved Keaton not being too flashy and just being a hardworking non-show-boaty kid.

Someone comes to you with a boatload of $ to do a 30 second ad and you turn it down because “that’s not my style”?
 
#1,482      
It depends what Andrej is doing. If he’s putting his name in to get feedback, that process is quick.

If he’s genuinely looking to make the jump and is going through the combine, workouts for teams, etc. then, in my opinion, you’d have to move on. The full process takes much longer and you can’t afford to wait.

To put it in simpler terms, is he just looking for feedback, or is he looking to bolt NO MATTER what the feedback says?
I mean, it's not that simple of an either/or. The deadline to withdraw and return to college is May 28. Some players want to go through the process of working out for scouts and get a really good feel for where they'd be at before deciding. For example, Yaxel withdrew from the draft on May 27. He had already committed to Michigan, but there was no guarantee he was going to actually play for them. Michigan was willing to throw boatloads at him and then also go get Mara and Morez, which would have been a good front court if Yaxel bolted. Do we have the money to do the same -- get a Stoj replacement and then also pay Stoj if he comes back? Would we be able to get both players to agree to that? Somehow I don't think it would work out the way it did for Yaxel and UM.
 
#1,485      
Keaton Wagler returning would be the most shocking thing I’ve ever seen, and I have seen a donkey jump off a diving board.
Great, now I have this stuck in my head:

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#1,486      
I don't understand why Keaton would come back to college at all. He will be a top 10 pick for sure and arguably a top 5 pick. It makes zero sense for him to come back to college. He has nothing to prove at all.
Maybe he likes playing college basketball and wants to enjoy not being to much of an adult lol. Plenty of dudes played more than 1 year of college ball that could have been a high draft pick.
 
#1,488      
I think we need to pony up what he made last year - asking him to take a pay cut is not valuing him and he could easily get it in the market given how he finished the year- he was a big part of us winning in the tournament.

The sell to him is he can make more money coming back than being a second round pick and next years draft is much weaker - so come back, be more featured next year and be a first round pick with a guaranteed contract - that has to make sense to Peja and his team. In terms of portal - does he really want to try his 4th school in 4 years not knowing how he would fit with a new team/system. It seems he would have everything in front of him here.
adding a final four bonus to his past salary is the least we can do. im sure Underwood and his staff got one.
 
#1,489      
Quinn Costello (6'10" power forward) and Brandon McCoy (combo guard) did not commit to Michigan to sit on the bench. I assume Morez is going pro and McCoy starts by the time January rolls around. Michigan is bringing in the number 2 recruiting class in the country. I am not sure how Dusty May is going to keep all their players happy, especially if Morez, Cadeau and McKinney return. I assume Mara is as good as gone. I am also pretty sure Dusty told Costello that Morez was going to the NBA but who knows. Maybe his NBA feedback is not good. I am afraid Dusty May can recruit like John Calipari and can also coach.
 
#1,490      
There are things being worked on that would make it less shocking.....I still don't think he comes back.
People would have said it was "crazy" or "shocking" that Keaton chose to play with his local AAU team rather than a shoe-circuit AAU team a few years ago. He and his family are clearly willing to make the "shocking" short term decision if they weigh things differently.

I just wonder if things happened so fast this year that it's hard for Keaton and his family to even get their heads around everything to make the jump. His dreams may have only extended to big-time college basketball and not really the NBA as of less than a year ago. To now have to turn right around and start doing workouts for NBA teams and grinding for the draft ... I could see Keaton deciding to just make $4-5 million having a ball playing college hoops for one more year while he gets stronger, etc.
 
#1,492      
As of this moment I don't think they would enter the portal, just received the draft feedback. Tomi could go overseas and play though as well.
Isn't it incredible with what happens after about 72 hours after the season ends? All of the good feelings, attachment to the fans, attachment to the program, attachment to the coaches.....it all goes into the toilet. I still remember Tre White after we lost to Kentucky. We were going to run it back. Then......Kansas.

As fans, we need to really embrace the fact that the name on the front of jersey means absolutely nothing for most, if not all teams. How guys like Izzo and Painter pretty much skip the portal lure is beyond me, yet they continually get guys as freshmen, they develop them and they continue to win.

Our off-seasons have been complete chaos. I thought that we might be able to minimize that this year, but nope....the roller coaster continues.
 
#1,493      
Someone comes to you with a boatload of $ to do a 30 second ad and you turn it down because “that’s not my style”?
People do it all....the....time. If you already have the money rolling in, why promote something you don't believe in or get in business with untrustworthy people?
 
#1,495      
There are things being worked on that would make it less shocking.....I still don't think he comes back.
A sophomore year Keaton is something I have literally not even let cross my mind since I just assumed there was a less than 0% chance, but ... man, would he be a beast.

P.S. It feels really good to have your main priority in the offseason be retention ... because you're a frickin' Final Four team. This is really the first offseason of the Underwood Era where I haven't been that excited about adding FROM the portal simply because I LOVE our returning pieces! Obviously, I really like the idea of adding players that make us even better and/or replace lost production from guys like Boswell and probably Wagler ... but man, there is something intangible about this group that is REALLY valuable and not worth messing up if we can help it! Love the news that we are actively working to secure the return of our Balkan Boys!
 
#1,496      
One other thing Keaton might be factoring in is the number of games played in college vs nba. Yes, I get all the money arguments....but hear me out.

In college, Keaton could play half as many games in a shorter season and for someone as young as him the extra year of physical development without the constant wear and tear of an nba season might actually be beneficial to him. He gets a year to beef up, improve his shooting, makes a huge bag anyway, and gets to be BMOC on a national level.

I mean heck, if the Boozer brothers can get paid by State Farm, why couldn't Keaton cash in on a big endorsement deal while still playing in college?

I still think he goes pro, but there are at least some legit angles for leaving the door open a crack. JMO.
With us playing at State Farm Center, I've always wondered why State Farm wouldnt try to feature an Illini in their commercials. Keaton coming back would make that a real possibility. Hell, he can even buy car insurance from Jake Davis.
 
#1,498      
Lol … It’s crazy how many people read this board and just post it as their own …

Sometimes I just want to post something crazy inaccurate just to see how many people bite …
Do it!

Brad Underwood stepping into Associate role with 3 co-head coaches O.A., Geoff, and Tyler. Each will be head coach for 1/3 of games and practices. Brad will grade out and recommend next head coach.

Also, bringing in Dybantsa, Acuff, Wagler back, Graham Ike, and Fears.
 
#1,499      
There are things being worked on that would make it less shocking.....I still don't think he comes back.
I’ve wondered about his shoulder health going into the draft. I’m sure that has nothing to do with it..
 
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