Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#1,201      
Noblesville Illini
Combo said:
Eddie is one of my all-time favorite Illini. That said, who in Chicago fits the bill? I would love to add some quickness because, as has been pointed out, quick guards have given us fits the last couple years.

Makes me think back to the days when 3 of our starters would from Chicagoland, another from Peoria, and maybe one out-of-state kid.

Now we're more likely to get a guy from Croatia as we are from the state of IL.
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Q Coleman is from O’ Fallon, IL!
Dance Fun GIF by Fighting Illini Athletics

That’s something!
 
#1,203      
March2TheArch
If you watched the top teams this year a key ingredient was converting offensive rebounds into putback dunks or converting steals into breakaway dunks.

As long as the team continues to lack that vertical pop, we’ll continue to lose to teams like UConn.

Clingan two years ago and the athletic guys dunking all over us during the 30-0 run. Florida’s athletic frontline with Condon and Haugh. Mara/Morez this year with a several athletic wings in Yaxel, Roddy, McKenney, and, even, Nimari who could dunk. Arizona and Duke’s athleticism with Pete, Awaka, Sarr, Evans, etc. So many PLUS athletes.

You simply have to acknowledge that athleticism, size, and power were the backbone of the TOP teams in the country. Purdue was preseason #1 lacking that element and you saw how their season went.

Just food for thought.

Wagler raised the ceiling of our team tremendously. With him gone, I think it’s important to maintain perspective. Even with a Vaaks or Blackwell I see this team being a second weekend team. A favorable draw could once again help us get to the Final Four.

But if you require a team of Yaxel, Mara, Morez, and a meteoric PG like Cadeau to win a Natty. Or the UConn 2024 team. That’s not what our team is shaping up to be in 2026.

There is a clear gap of athleticism and physicality. All it will take is a poor shooting performance like UConn to knock us out in the 2nd round, Sweet 16, or Elite 8.

- - -

Happy to be wrong.
 
#1,208      
Oracle21
IlliniUnited said:
Ben was not a guard. Vaaks is. He facilitates offense. Ben didn’t.
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I’m only taking pure stats/production. Not how they do it. Vaaks of course is more similar in playing style to KJ. I’m not arguing how they play. I’m talking about what shots you’d expect them to shoot on offense, and who they can guard, whether they can switch on defense. I hope we get Blackwell bc I don’t see how this works:

1- Vaaks
2- Davis
3- Stojakovic
4- Mirkovic
5- Tomi

You need someone that can guard an opposing team’s PG.
 
#1,211      
fatboyslim
I’m only taking pure stats/production. Not how they do it. Vaaks of course is more similar in playing style to KJ. I’m not arguing how they play. I’m talking about what shots you’d expect them to shoot on offense, and who they can guard, whether they can switch on defense. I hope we get Blackwell bc I don’t see how this works:

1- Vaaks
2- Davis
3- Stojakovic
4- Mirkovic
5- Tomi

You need someone that can guard an opposing team’s PG.
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It's almost like Quentin Coleman and Ty Rodgers don't exist
 
#1,212      
rtbritt
LuckyIllini said:
I’ll probably catch some flak for this but Vaaks doesn’t look like he can beat anyone off the dribble. Slow footed with finesse.
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Luka Doncic beating many off the dribble with his athleticism and speed?

I get what you're saying, but if his game isn't to beat people off the dribble, he'll do what he is good at, I'd assume. He was a freshman who averaged 15+ ppg.
 
#1,213      
jamie13197
Great start, now please keep our core men. I would go for Zavier Men's out of Wisconsin. Kid is super athletic and will end up being a beast. Love our 2026 guards coming in.
 
#1,214      
Combo
Oracle21 said:
I’m only taking pure stats/production. Not how they do it. Vaaks of course is more similar in playing style to KJ. I’m not arguing how they play. I’m talking about what shots you’d expect them to shoot on offense, and who they can guard, whether they can switch on defense. I hope we get Blackwell bc I don’t see how this works:

1- Vaaks
2- Davis
3- Stojakovic
4- Mirkovic
5- Tomi

You need someone that can guard an opposing team’s PG.
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Well I finally (sort of) agree with you now that you're admitting they are very different players.

You're right - we could really good use a quick athletic guard that can defend quicker guards. Those types of players have killed us the last couple years.
 
#1,216      
FrankNitty30
hoopsfan47 said:
I do not see Vaaks as an upgrade over Ben. The only thing he can do or is willing to do is chuck more threes.

Now read closely. This does not mean he cannot learn to become a strong and valuable defender. Ben did, but Vaaks currently is not. That does not mean that he cannot become a valuable rebounder. Ben did, Vaaks currently is not. That does not mean he cannot learn to become elite at not turning the ball over. Ben did, Vaaks currently is not

But Vaaks likes to score and is a "pretty good" shooter. Can he provide 40% from the arc against B1G competition? We do not know, but we hope he can.

The point is if Vaaks can provide the contribution "to the team" that Ben provided this season, he will be a very good replacement. I am certainly not saying he can't be....but he currently is not. The fact is it would be easy to create a highlight film of Ben that would make you think Ben could not be replaced.

So my view of Vaaks is much the same as AS...show me on both ends....and Adrej certainly did. I hope Vaaks does also. And John Blackwell too while I am at it.
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Wow….

Vaaks averaged 16 a game in the Big East.

These two players are NOTHING alike.
 
#1,217      
theNewGuy
Just my 2 cents about Vaaks defense:
I think defense has a lot to do with culture.
If you don’t have a coach and or players that want to or demand playing defense, then why try?
I think with his traits, Vaaks can be a solid defender by just having underwood be his coach and play with guys who care about defense.
That providence team was bad defensively all around
 
#1,218      
Illini4Christ
Well I finally (sort of) agree with you now that you're admitting they are very different players.

You're right - we could really good use a quick athletic guard that can defend quicker guards. Those types of players have killed us the last couple years.
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Correct and I hope we get Jalen Cox for that very reason.
 
#1,219      
fatboyslim
Just my 2 cents about Vaaks defense:
I think defense has a lot to do with culture.
If you don’t have a coach and or players that want to or demand playing defense, then why try?
I think with his traits, Vaaks can be a solid defender by just having underwood be his coach and play with guys who care about defense.
That providence team was bad defensively all around
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I tend to agree. Attitude reflects leadership. If the coaches and veteran players don't emphasize playing and working hard on defense it will show for the whole team during a game.
 
#1,220      
Fly Illini Fly!
Oracle21 said:
Vaaks looks like a high volume 3 point shooter to me but not much else. I think he looks like a big upgrade over Ben.
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Oracle21 said:
I stand by my comment that Vaaks is a much higher usage Ben. Similar size, tons of 3s, and not much else. He doesn’t rebound at all. He is purely a floor spacing shooter.
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These quotes are so ignorant I'm not sure where to start lol.
Oracle21 said:
Ben shot 38/36/79
Vaaks shot 40/35/83

Ben total FGA: 183
3PTA: 158
86% of his shots were 3 point attempts

Vaaks total FGA: 380
3PTA: 260
68% of his shots were 3 point attempts

And just for comparison;
Wagler total FGA: 454
3PTA: 219
48% of his shots were 3 point attempts
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Question: why does someone's ability to facilitate the offense have zero impact on your evaluation?

Vaaks will be your primary ball handler. He's a GUARD -- PG / SG.

How many times did Ben ever handle the ball on the perimeter in his 2 seasons here?

.....

You're also straight up ignoring the most obvious stats that would dump your argument:

Ben had 30 total assists on the season; 0.8 per game. Vaaks had 99 total assists; 3.2 per game (led Providence).

Vaaks had an assist rate of 18.1%. Humrichous had an assist rate of 5.9%.

.....

Ben shot 24 free throws this year. Vaaks shot 112.

....

Ben took 25 2pt shots this season. Vaaks took 120.

....

Ben took 4 mid range shots on the season. Vaaks took 56.
 
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#1,224      
AnnaMay
Who does he got in mind for this year?

Weird tweet from him.
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Hate to say it, but this is obviously his way of saying the team is currently to white "euro" to him. Its like being on your grade school team and not being good enough, but mommy and daddy thinks you should get to play even if it makes your team worse.
 
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