Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#476      
MurphysBurger
So of this list from 2022 about the top 10 Illinois classes of the prior 20 years (so 2003-2022), Weber signed 1 of the top 9 (the 2003 guys all committed to Self, and he lost Charlie V from that group)

And again, as soon as Jerrance Howard took over recruiting, the talent level immediately changed, though Bruce wasn't willing to work with those players so it all fell apart.

I just want to break this down into 5 year periods, using the old RSCI top 100's which you don't see so much anymore but allows for apples-to-apples comparisons.

1999-2003:
#19 Dee Brown
#20 Brian Cook
#28 Rich McBride
#48 Deron Williams
#53 Brian Randle
#62 Roger Powell
#77 Nick Smith
#78 James Augustine
#86 Aaron Spears

2004-2008:
#49 Brian Carlwell
#65 Demetri McCamey
#77 Shaun Pruitt

2009-2013:
#24 Jereme Richmond
#29 Meyers Leonard
#35 DJ Richardson
#49 Brandon Paul
#57 Kendrick Nunn
#65 Mike Shaw
#66 Myke Henry
#69 Tracy Abrams
#70 Malcolm Hill
#78 Nnanna Egwu

2014-2018:
#32 Ayo Dosunmu
#38 Jalen Coleman-Lands
#46 Leron Black
#78 DJ Williams
#90 Mark Smith

2019-2023:
#29 Adam Miller
#32 Skyy Clark
#43 Kofi Cockburn
#45 Andre Curbelo
#57 Ty Rodgers
#58 Amani Hansberry
#77 Jayden Epps
#79 Brandin Podziemski
#81 RJ Melendez
#86 Sencire Harris
#98 Luke Goode

Hmm, now in which of those periods were we #1 the whole year and went to the Final Four as the toast of the sport and a team people are still talking about today?

Will Smith Reaction GIF
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I'm not sure what you are saying here. I agree Jerrance should still be an illini. 2012-2013 year 1 of Groce so still some Weber guys. Richmond Myers Paul Henry Nunn and Hill all had a taste.

Miller Clark curbelo hansberry eps podz RJ sincere Goode all gone. Some much faster than others. Brad has a way of running off talent as well. Kofi is lost in Japan and got fleeced as #1 seed by a Loyola kid who is probably selling insurance now.

Recruiting classes once NIL started can't really be compared to olden days....

The list has 2010 2011 & 2007 In the top ten 2010 & 2011 are top 4. All Weber years for the record.
 
#477      
MurphysBurger
Nunn, Paul, Cliff and Tate weren’t under Bruce. Thought Evan Turner was a lock until his dad got involved.
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That's my point. I forgot about that one. Add Jon Scheyer in an illini shirt behind Bill Murray.... We just had a really bad stretch. Just some bad luck with players. It sucked.
 
#478      
MurphysBurger
What? The pressure defense got left behind because the big10 calls those fouls way tighter than the Southland or the Big10.

Tyler was a sophomore in college so I don't think he was the one behind the change.
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I'll have to go find the article that speaks to this thread. How soon we forget he completely changed his style of play. And it was not immediately and there were talks of him not being the right fit. But I'm pretty sure Tyler had to show him the metrics that they played a lot better not fouling.

Maybe why Brad eventually put him in charge....
 
#479      
Tevo
If he wants to develop for a couple years then push for a role on a championship caliber team …

This is the spot for him …

If he wants to play right away … It ain’t …
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For a guy like Zens, would you say his best path then is to practice with this team, but see virtually no game time for two years, or go elsewhere, play some or a lot, and then consider transferring back (or wherever is best at that time)? Here he would learn the culture and system, but it seems like game experience is pretty critical to be a contributor as a Soph or Junior. Seems like you'd have to have a LOT of confidence in the improvement you'd make from practice alone, and that the coaching staff will support your growth for two years as a practice player.
 
#480      
Frank
Not relevant for our recruiting, but a few blast-from-the-past in-state names that are portaling:

Entered, uncommitted:
AJ Casey - Miami-->SLU-->Evansville -->??
JJ Taylor - Memphis-->UCF-->Northern Illinois -->??
James Brown - UNC -->??

Entered, committed:
Dai Dai Ames - Kansas State-->UVA-->Cal-->Tennessee
Cole Certa - Notre Dame-->Clemson
Jaden Schutt - Duke-->Virginia Tech-->Kansas State
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Man...JJ Taylor. What happened with him? I thought that kid was a surefire one-and-done. Had all the tools you'd want in a wing these days, then went to Kanye's school and was never the same...
 
#481      
MurphysBurger
Interesting…if Weber was a great recruiter and still lost so consistently, he must just be a bad coach, not a bad recruiter.
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Revionists history again

9 seasons 6 tournament appearances 1 sub500 season 2 season with less than 20 wins. That's not losing consistently...
 
#484      
Frank
I wouldn't mind losing Jake and Ty for Dozic. At the end you want the most talented roster.

Vaaks
Blackwell - Coleman
Stojakovic - Morillo
Mirkovic - Dozic
Tomi - Z

Pretty decent 9 deep.
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I'd take the continuity of those two over the hope of Dozic in a heartbeat. People always underestimate the value of some sense of roster continuity. I read/heard multiple comments from players and coaching staff talking about Jake Davis being a huge part of our locker room. One of the leaders in the players only meeting, along with Kylan. Both of those guys were returning guys. 50% of our main 8 were returners and we had strong pieces elsewhere on the team. We needed Kylan, Tomi, Jake, Ben, Ty, etc. as a foundation upon which we could integrate Wagler, Stoj, and Mirk and be successful. I know the roster above has decent continuity (3 of 5 starters and 1 reserve), but that's an entirely new backcourt. 5 of the 9 pieces are brand new. I would rather that the guys that are playing more limited minutes are guys we know are going to bleed ILL and make sure the new guys do the same or replace them in the lineup.
 
#485      
Tevo
goillini30 said:
And we'll always have this
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Two of the three most memorable assists in Illinois history, and both in the same game and both to Brian Cook.
(My third being Deron's back-spinning throw ahead to Dee after the mid-court steal against Arizona, to make sure the ball sat up nicely for Dee for the layup)
 
#486      
MurphysBurger
The funniest part of that video is Lucas Johnson jumping up and down on his one good leg. 😂
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I always advocate that we need a Lucas Johnson on our team. But these days he'd probably have too many flagrants.

That blue truck with an orange 22 on it he'd park on Wright St was just all bravado.
 
#495      
IlliniInCAN
I had lunch today outside the office of Blackwell’s agent. No white smoke yet to signal that a decision has been made. 🤣 #TheNegotiation
View attachment 49665
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That one of the twin towers in century city? If so, I used to live right down the road. Is Blackwell repped by CAA? They have offices there.
 
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