That’s fair. Draft stock, versus what he could do by coming back… is different talking point.
If it’s questioning his value, or referring to not wanting him back, then it’s nonsense.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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If it’s questioning his value, or referring to not wanting him back, then it’s nonsense.
Did you not catch the Mirk comments in the article about him where he complained that in shooting drills they had his group up against Jake, Ty and Andrej. Maybe Ty making some progress in that area. Lord knows he has had plenty of practice time.
Ha, sure, but that’d go for all players. Cronin got absolutely nothing out of Mara and Buyuktuncel, the former who is going to be a top 20 pick and was incredible from the moment he left UCLA, and the latter who turned into a solid B1G starter once he, well, left UCLA.
DICKnaggie
- Champaign
The discourse this afternoon is fascinating. We have a top seven lottery pick considering coming back and a guy who is on zero draft boards potentially trying to go pro. It's not even LAD!
The one thing I still can't wrap my head around with Michigan winning it all and the tear they're on, is we all realized how freakin terrible Juwan Howard was and yet somehow only scratched the surface. I mean Dusty's good, but my god did Howard suck. I miss those days.
He was 20 - 82 3pt shots in 34 games - He shot 31% from 3pt as a sophomore So we are clear about all this, the difference for the entire season btw 24% and 31% on 82 shots is 5 made 3 pointers... for the entire season.
Andrej 58% from 2 pt range and 81% from FT line last year. Those are the reasons why he is having NBA discussions. And btw Andrej going down that track only helps him and Illinois. It in no way means he will be declaring and staying in the draft.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
NBA sons seem to have a way of making what seem to be really bad draft entry decisions and then somehow getting more opportunities than you'd think.
That's a very sophisticated family in terms of the business of basketball, they're not gonna be rash.
We should pay up.
Come back make a ton of money and work on your game. Next years draft is also much weaker
Yeah, I can't say it makes complete sense to me, but apparently NCAA FT% is more correlated with future NBA 3pt% than NCAA 3pt%
It seems clear enough, doesn't it? Andrej needs to siginficantly improve his 3-point shooting accuracy in order to succeed at the NBA level. Doesn't matte how or where he accomplishes this, but he needs to do so.
Because no one plays defense in the NBA, not in the regular season anyway.
Perhaps this: 3 point shots resemble, somewhat, fixed-range, face-up shots. Fade-aways, turn-arounds, pull-ups off the dribble, runners, et cetera are more different.
I agree. He doesn't have a 3 pt shot right now. What NBA team is going to take him outside of the first 40 picks? He's basically a slightly worse version of what TSJ was after his junior year. This is a loaded draft too. Maybe if it was a weaker draft, Andrej would have a chance at the end of the 1st round/beginning of the 2nd round. He would be wise to stick around for his senior year and make the type of jump TSJ made
The same could be said for TSJ after his junior season but that doesn't mean he was ready for the NBA. Even after his All American senior season, he had to work his way up through playing in the G League all last year before the T-Wolves gave him some consistent opportunities in the big league. Andrej would be playing in the G League if he came out. Better he continue to develop here and elevate his game to the next level. This isn't even a 50/50 decision IMO. Andrej is not there yet and I think he knows it too
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
right. job's not finished
Definitely agree. He's a plus-player in so many areas, but he's gotta shoot at least 32-34%. If he comes back & puts up 18/8, leads the team deep into the tourney, I think he has a chance to be a high first-rounder b/c of the upside. Get that shot worked out & sky's the limit.
Let me be clear: I was probably a touch harsh. Andrej is a very good college player, and I hope he returns.
The NBA game is a three-point shooting extravaganza, and that is not something Andrej does well. His skillset does not fit the NBA, unless his outside shooting improves dramatically.
Andrej is currently #72 in ESPN’s top 100 post Tournament rankings. Interestingly, Tomi and Kylan are in the mid 60s. Z is at 81.
The NBA game is a three-point shooting extravaganza, and that is not something Andrej does well. His skillset does not fit the NBA, unless his outside shooting improves dramatically.
Andrej is currently #72 in ESPN’s top 100 post Tournament rankings. Interestingly, Tomi and Kylan are in the mid 60s. Z is at 81.
I could be premature on this but what the ****
If people on this board were to look at the NIL opportunities Illini players have been afforded during longer tourney runs (2024 and 2026) and then look at the revenue share for Illini Basketball in 2025 - 2026 they are going to find we were either number 1 or 2 in terms of total revenue.
The guiding principal here is that last year's team was just that, A TEAM not 10 individuals, student managers, film staff, assistant coaches and management staff. They were a TEAM.
So the compensation components come down to 4
(1) Overall Program donation and revenue divided amongst current players
(2) NIL individual
(3) NIL collective
(4) Retention and the how well this team (with the current group ex- Keaton, Kylan and Ben) can progress or what is more commonly known as "the money multiplier" where under certain circumstances more money can be had in Champaign next year than anywhere else.
How the current group gets paid (AS A TEAM) and what they feel needs to be recruited (or already has been recruited) will determine whether they stay or go.
There is alot more money and potential being in a top 5 program that has the ability to get the Final Four - than hitting the bid in the transfer portal.
If this team stays together, I don't see the coaching staff taking a large splash monetarily in the portal unless the entire group is behind it. That is the level of TEAM this group is. But I just don't see anyone in the portal, that supports paying more than who is here and or that is going to have the ball in their hands as often as Keaton Wagler.
To borrow the phrase from Dennis Miller "That's just my opinion and I could be wrong."
If we look at the incoming transfers Brad and his staff have brought in, they have only paid up a couple of times in 6 years. But the players brought in were for the most part a step up from those departed. Very few (Andre and TSJ being 2 of them) were "name players."
Dre is a career 30% from 3 but really had a dip this year. He needs to come back. If he could shoot 35% from 3 next year with his ability to get go the rim he would be tough.Come on back Dre and climb that draft ladder.
jmwillini
- Tolono, IL
You said it more eloquently than I did. Beautifully put.
Wagler staying really makes no sense. He could have a sophomore slump (doubtful of course), get injured, etc.
He needs to work some on his explosion as NBA athletes are obviously on another level and I could see him struggling a bit with that until he’s fully developed his body. But I think it’s better for him to work on that every day in practice at the NBA level than at the college level. And, I could also see his stock taking a hit for some scouts if he came back and he didn’t come back with more explosion. Being a year older also never helps draft stock.
He needs to work some on his explosion as NBA athletes are obviously on another level and I could see him struggling a bit with that until he’s fully developed his body. But I think it’s better for him to work on that every day in practice at the NBA level than at the college level. And, I could also see his stock taking a hit for some scouts if he came back and he didn’t come back with more explosion. Being a year older also never helps draft stock.
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