Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#126      
Fighter of the Nightman
I know a lot of it is speculative and we have seen a range of estimates for where Illini Basketball NIL ranks nationally ... but the range has been relatively tight from just inside the top 10 to in the #16-20 range (at least from what I can recall). We have also heard indications that there has been a VERY significant increase in our donors' appetite to open up their checkbooks after the Final Four run.

I'll defer to the insiders, of course, but I have to believe we are now clearly in the top 10 or very close nationally* as far as our NIL war chest goes.

* It's also my impression that there could be a pretty large group of programs all within a tight range, making the difference between #8 and #18 somewhat small and very volatile by season?
 
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#127      
Mobi
Offering Blackwell has no impact on keeping or losing Mirk
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It should not but does that mean Mirk and every other starters outside of Davis should get at least $3M to come back?
 
#128      
logjam
BuckDitkis said:
Why didn’t I just choose to be good at basketball; am I an idiot?
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Humor Boomer GIF
 
#129      
Illini2010-11
Emerson Bigguns said:
I can't imagine Blackwell would take our bag over Duke's if he didn't think our front court was going to be really, really good...
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He did also say that he wanted a chance to win a championship, and Scheyer's teams tend to choke in the tourney.

If he wants to win, then the orange and blue would look like a prime opportunity (plus it is where Daddy played).

Come Here Lets Go GIF by The Late Late Show with James Corden
 
#130      
jrichisamazing
ChiefGritty said:
On some level there's just a broader story about bigs translating from Europe better than guards, especially smaller craft and feel guys like Petro.

The last couple decades in the NBA are full of Euro guards who left a short legacy of awesome Youtube compilations and terrible advanced metrics.

I do believe going full Balkan could work in the Big Ten, I don't think it's impossible, but I'm not sure Brad and Tyler are the guys to do it, and we're winning so much already that there's no reason to go crazy risking it.

My guess is Petro goes right back to being a terrific player back home.
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I'm curious to see how Omer Mayer does for Purdue. He showed glimpses this season. Now that Braden and Co. are gone, will he excel in a bigger role?
 
#132      
Fighter of the Nightman
Emerson Bigguns said:
I can't imagine Blackwell would take our bag over Duke's if he didn't think our front court was going to be really, really good...
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Agreed. I'd never discount how easy it is for all of us to want more and more money, but ... at some point you are making several million dollars, and other factors start to matter quite a bit. If we offered Blackwell $5 million and Rutgers came in at $6 million but had no supporting pieces, I don't think he'd be an automatic Scarlet Knight, lol. I would guess that a lot of these guys want to get over a certain threshold that they (or their agents, lol...) think is "fair," but they also all were kids once who shot baskets in the driveway and reamed of being in the Final Four and winning a National Championship.
 
#133      
BalloonsTheElephant
The biggest win from getting Blackwell as our 1A target is that it allows us to start focusing on retention and portal acquisitions with more purpose and clarity. I know he's not a typical PG, but we have plenty of options that will be able to lead the offense, including him.

Blackwell and Coleman is a pretty good trade for Keaton and Kylan. If you keep Andrej, Mirk, and Tomi/Z, that's a very good team.
 
#136      
ChiefGritty
AnnoyedWithGarza said:
Are giving him the cognitive test before the offer is official?
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illini0440 said:
You really don’t like the fit you?
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It's tempting to analogize Blackwell to AJ Storr, but whereas Storr is and always was just kind of a fundamentally selfish basketball player, I definitely see Blackwell as merely a guy whose best attribute is scoring, I'm much less worried about his fit.

illini0440 said:
Offering Blackwell has no impact on keeping or losing Mirk
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You can say those words until you're blue in the face, it doesn't make that reality. OF COURSE both sides care about who their teammates will be and how much money they will be making.
 
#137      
Illini2010-11
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Agreed. I'd never discount how easy it is for all of us to want more and more money, but ... at some point you are making several million dollars, and other factors start to matter quite a bit. If we offered Blackwell $5 million and Rutgers came in at $6 million but had no supporting pieces, I don't think he'd be an automatic Scarlet Knight, lol. I would guess that a lot of these guys want to get over a certain threshold that they (or their agents, lol...) think is "fair," but they also all were kids once who shot baskets in the driveway and reamed of being in the Final Four and winning a National Championship.
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Well he would have the chance to win a championship in the College Crown with a losing record as a team...and he did say he valued having a chance at winning a championship.
 
#138      
Altuve27
One more note on why retaining Andrej is important: Trotter mentions in his podcast with Werner that there just aren’t many great options to fill Stojakovic’s position. He mentioned a handful of names he was underwhelmed by. He talked about how that year 2 jump for a transfer is a real thing, and that there is a high probability Illinois would be getting a better version of AS next season.

Isaac then talked about how this is where you really have to weigh what you value as you construct your roster. He stated Illinois undoubtedly wants to retain Mirk and Tomi. If they were to spend big money on Blackwell, then does Andrej’s price tag fit with your roster build?

Tough decisions to be made. It was a very interesting discussion.
 
#141      
IllinitripleJ
Mobi said:
Duke is not going to feature him but we will. I like our chance if we offer enough.
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Why is Duke even bothering with Blackwell? They have guards Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr and Cayden Boozer returning for next year. They were ranked numbers 17, 81 and 19 coming out of high school. Sarr will be possibly the best defensive guard in the country next year. Plus Duke is bring in two top 15 freshmen guards next year ranked in the top 15. I have my doubts that Duke is interested in Blackwell. Why would they with all the talent they have at guard next year?
 
#142      
jrichisamazing
Fighter of the Nightman said:
I know a lot of it is speculative and we have seen a range of estimates for where Illini Basketball NIL ranks nationally ... but the range has been relatively tight from just inside the top 10 to in the #16-20 range (at least from what I can recall). We have also heard indications that there has been a VERY significant increase in our donors' appetite to open up their checkbooks after the Final Four run.

I'll defer to the insiders, of course, but I have to believe we are now clearly in the top 10 or very close nationally* as far as our NIL war chest goes.

* It's also my impression that there could be a pretty large group of programs all within a tight range, making the difference between #8 and #18 somewhat small and very volatile by season?
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IMO the opening the checkbook narrative is way way way over blown. Like you said, it's all speculative from our point of view. But there are many reasons for schools to open their checkbook. Have a good coach that you are trying to keep from getting poached? Open the checkbook. Successful season leading to increased optimism? Open the checkbook. Just hired a new coach? Open the checkbook. Etc, etc.

Long story short, everyone invested in winning is opening their checkbook. Otherwise, you get left behind.

I guess the only outliers, would be a place like Kentucky where the donors aren't impressed with Pope so they hold their money back to prove a point. But I assume the minute that happens, Pope would be gone and the money would come right back for the next coach.
 
#143      
Illinisnake
Not a huge fan of spending 4-5 million on one person but hopefully it pans out. And I guess I better get used to it since that's the way the game is trending.

We need subtraction first though.
 
#145      
AnnoyedWithGarza
You really don’t like the fit you?
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I honestly love the fit. I believe he can be a guy that we can count on as a closer, and he is a legacy. I want us to get him.

If we really lean on that test as much as it was made out to be, wouldn't we want him to take it before we offer him $5 million?
 
#147      
EmeraldCityIllini
IllinitripleJ said:
Why is Duke even bothering with Blackwell? They have guards Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr and Cayden Boozer returning for next year. They were ranked numbers 17, 81 and 19 coming out of high school. Sarr will be possibly the best defensive guard in the country next year. Plus Duke is bring in two top 15 freshmen guards next year ranked in the top 15. I have my doubts that Duke is interested in Blackwell. Why would they with all the talent they have at guard next year?
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Sarr is more of a wing. And I think he’s a lot better than boozer.

Foster, Blackwell, Sarr with Boozer getting most backup minutes makes sense to me. Khamenia departing opens up more mix and match time.

That said, with foster and boozer I certainly don’t think the amount of onball minutes are there nearly as much as what Illinois offers. But I’m making assumptions Blackwell wants more onball reps.

Also. Perhaps most important. Because Duke can
 
#148      
PeoriaIllini03
IllinitripleJ said:
Why is Duke even bothering with Blackwell? They have guards Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr and Cayden Boozer returning for next year. They were ranked numbers 17, 81 and 19 coming out of high school. Sarr will be possibly the best defensive guard in the country next year. Plus Duke is bring in two top 15 freshmen guards next year ranked in the top 15. I have my doubts that Duke is interested in Blackwell. Why would they with all the talent they have at guard next year?
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Based on my limited X scrolling, Duke is not certain that Sarr or Boozer are coming back. Even if they do, neither of those players are experienced scorers. Very good players, but Blackwell can get you a bucket anytime. Changes the ceiling for their team for sure.
 
#150      
illini0440
IllinitripleJ said:
Why is Duke even bothering with Blackwell? They have guards Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr and Cayden Boozer returning for next year. They were ranked numbers 17, 81 and 19 coming out of high school. Sarr will be possibly the best defensive guard in the country next year. Plus Duke is bring in two top 15 freshmen guards next year ranked in the top 15. I have my doubts that Duke is interested in Blackwell. Why would they with all the talent they have at guard next year?
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Because Duke can spent 30 million dollars a year on a roster and not bat an eye
 
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