Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#857      
PepeSilvia
ChiefGritty said:
As I have said in the past when both that program and that coach have been questioned, Pat Kelsey at Louisville is going to be a fit and a success story.

That's the kind of coach UNC refused to consider, and they will regret it. Louisville lost the press conference but will win the war.

And if I'm not mistaken, Louisville is the largest metro area in the US where college basketball is the biggest game in town.
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I liked Kelsey a ton at Winthrop and Charlotte but he hasn't exactly been fantastic at Louisville. I get it can take some time but the ACC has been pretty weak outside Duke(this Virginia team that got a 3 seed in the tourney probably would have finished like 9th or 10th in the Big10 - legitimately maybe the worst 30 win power conference team I've seen).

He has a ton of money and he's got made some big signings but he hasn't really built a complete roster and I've thought both of him Louisville teams were soft. I get it can take time to build a program but I would have expected better results with the resources there and lack of competition in the ACC.

The guy UNC should have went out got is Schertz imo. That offense is beautiful and the guy knows how to build a roster.
 
#859      
Boomauer
Indy Illini Fan said:
Good players want to play with good players …
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Swipe Up Ntt Indycar Series GIF by INDYCAR
 
#861      
AirTran
With Vaaks coming in, Brad would normally have someone else leave to stay at 14 scholarships. The next players
EmeraldCityIllini said:
I saw quite a few saying "Illini fans have a higher sense of their program than reality".

Now, most writers did all believe we were most certainly a better program than what we had been during end of Weber and Groce years.
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Based on what I read - the only other guard Illini are in pursuit of is Prophet Johnson from Sacramento State. Same AI search that came up with Vaaks yesterday. The info states the lllini activity with Johnson is about 48 hours behind where they were with Vaaks, but is picking up.
 
#865      
PepeSilvia
HailtotheChief said:
And the guys we are retaining would be up there too!
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It would be nice to get an announcement but no news is also kind of good news on that front.

With Vaaks on board now, if they can retain Mirk, Stojakovic, Tomi, and Z and potentially add Blackwell you're looking at a team that could be the preseason #1 and definitely the best offense in the country.
 
#867      
EmeraldCityIllini
AirTran said:
With Vaaks coming in, Brad would normally have someone else leave to stay at 14 scholarships. The next players

Based on what I read - the only other guard Illini are in pursuit of is Prophet Johnson from Sacramento State. Same AI search that came up with Vaaks yesterday. The info states the lllini activity with Johnson is about 48 hours behind where they were with Vaaks, but is picking up.
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Are you some kind of Prophet?
 
#869      
Ga65
HensonHall71 said:
That's likely the #1 preseason team, or at least top 3 depending on how others fill out their roster. A couple of thoughts on team make-up
1) The offense will be elite elite - our efficiency would likely shatter what it was this year which was #1 all time most of the year, slipping ot #2 at the end
2) Andrej becomes critical to retain in this lineup - not only his ability to get to the rim and finish, but his defense will be sorely needed, he's the only on-ball defender that can stay in front of someone on this entire roster (except Ty, if he stays). So while we can replace Andrej's scoring it will be really hard to replace his overall skill set, which makes him a high priority to retain in my mind
3) Morillo - I was super impressed with him last night - Brad certainly has a type! - positional size, great court vision, pick and roll player who can get to the rim and pull up from three. On the downside, he couldn't stay in front of anybody defensively (mind you he was going against quicker, smaller 5 star guards) and struggled a bit when the quicker guards got up in him (similar to Keaton this year), but the upside is tremendous with this kid and he'll play right away
4) Coleman - we need someone who's a steady ball handler and on ball defender - I wonder with a summer of Fletch he can become that, he can already stroke it and will be a player from day 1, but we need that skills set and don't have it if Lee leaves, so in an ideal world he gives us that
5) PF reserve spot - it's not obvious who will get the ~10 minutes to back up Mirk, maybe it's Jake and/or Morillo on any given night in a small ball lineup, or maybe we see the twin tower lineup a little more this year in those few minutes, but we don't truly have that Ben replacement for his minutes.
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Agree with all and believe part of the sell to Z is getting Ben’s minutes. Solid unless we have injury to Mirk, Tomi or Z. OK with Ty on smaller 4’s but a problem with many. Like to retain Lee and Ty for defensive purposes.
 
#873      
BTM33
I'll say this...

Vaaks is...electric offensively. I am NOT making the 1 v 1 comparison on a talent level, but in a play style level...he plays LIKE Luka Doncic. Passes with both hands, bullets to teammates, plays with flair and creativity.

BUT

I won't lie to anyone including myself...he is baaaaaaaaaaad on the defensive end and I can't overlook it. They'll need to work with him off the jump on that end. Im not saying it cant happen, but he cannot guard like he did at Providence here.
 
#874      
AirTran
It would be nice to get an announcement but no news is also kind of good news on that front.

With Vaaks on board now, if they can retain Mirk, Stojakovic, Tomi, and Z and potentially add Blackwell you're looking at a team that could be the preseason #1 and definitely the best offense in the country.
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I agree with you except on Blackwell. But I have already written my piece so will leave it right there.
 
#875      
EmeraldCityIllini
BTM33 said:
I'll say this...

Vaaks is...electric offensively. I am NOT making the 1 v 1 comparison on a talent level, but in a play style level...he plays LIKE Luka Doncic. Passes with both hands, bullets to teammates, plays with flair and creativity.

BUT

I won't lie to anyone including myself...he is baaaaaaaaaaad on the defensive end and I can't overlook it. They'll need to work with him off the jump on that end. Im not saying it cant happen, but he cannot guard like he did at Providence here.
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At 6'7" and with some quickness. He has no excuse to be as bad as he was at Providence.

And Blackwell doesnt have an excuse for that matter, either.

But hey, we were saying similar things about Andrej. Im with you though. I was jaded by the POA defense this year.
 
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