Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#702      
IMO, I would not mind us paying a little extra for Blackwell. Brad and Co. really believe he is the last piece to a championship caliber team and they have not indicated whatsoever that they are pivoting away from trying to get him.

However, what I would like to see is them not balk at whatever price his agent has set as of now.
They are doing what it takes to get him. We will see.
 
#703      
With the potential retention plus Vaaks, Coleman and Morillo, the Illini are in a position they, or anyone else, will rarely be in. To not add the final piece (and I’m not saying it has to be Blackwell, though he seems the perfect fit) would be difficult to swallow not only for us fanatics, but also for Brad I would think.
 
#704      
In 2023 we lost RayJ Dennis, and wound up better off.

In 2024 we lost AJ Storr and Egor Demin, and wound up much better off.

In 2025 we lost Dame Sarr and Josh Dix, and wound up COLOSALLY better off.

It doesn't take an AI supercomputer to see that we're going to lose John Blackwell, nor should it take one to see how that can benefit us yet again.
 
#706      
In fairness to Blackwell, If I was in his shoes I could see the appeal of playing in another conference. I don’t blame kids for chasing bags, the bags these days are too big not to do it. But they are still college age kids and on some level it’s got to sting to leave your school/friends/coach etc for primarily financial reasons. If you’re bag chasing a Louisville offers the biggest bag and you also don’t have to play your former team I see the appeal. I mean Coleman said as much when he left.

Think we will be fine regardless, but I can understand if he wants to leave the BIG.
 
#708      
Blackwell’s agent ran the price up to the point of it being prohibitive for some teams. Will need to come down some.
And there it is. Everything was going WAY too smoothly. I bit on where everything being said the last couple of days. I always promised myself that I wouldn't do that given our history of early excitement leading to late disappointment. It's always a parent, a camp, an agent, driving prices despite being told money was an issue, etc.

Pencil me down as extremely disappointed if we don't close that deal.
 
#710      
Again I think this profoundly underrates our returnees and overstates the impact of Blackwell.

I think the difference is more like #10-to-#3 than #15-to-#1, and on top of that while I am happy to play along with the Blackwell thing who is a good player and a legacy and clearly someone the staff likes, if his replacement were in more of a passer and defender mold, I think that team is actually better.

Where Blackwell is the perfect fit is if we lose Stojakovic, which I very strongly hope we do not.

#TheRetention is the big item on the agenda, everything else is secondary.
How exactly is Blackwell the perfect fit if we lose Sto when they are two completely different types of players and realistically play different positions.
 
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#712      
If Blackwell falls through could we still get in on Juke Harris?

Imagine a 6-7, 6-7, 6-7, 6-9, 7-1 starting lineup

6 7 Big Chungus GIF

Still a thing?
 
#714      
They are doing what it takes to get him. We will see.
Is it naive to assume that we can/should match whatever his agent is asking or what Louisville may be offering? If Brad truly feels Blackwell is the final piece, at what point do we just give in to his demands?
 
#715      
I'll be honest, I don't get the talk of preseason #1, even with Blackwell.

Let's assume #TheRetention happens, and we essentially "trade" Wagler for Blackwell. That to me isn't a step up - lateral at best.

Of course, if we assume Andrej and Mirk make a big step forward, then I suppose it can get you there, but that's a big assumption.
Vaaks is really, really good. He is MAJOR part of the equation.
 
#716      
Our insiders: everyone that we want back is back and we got Blackwell

Us: soooo what’s going on????

Insiders: Blackwell is coming and Mirk and Andrej and T and Z and Jake and who knows probably Ty too :)

Us: THE ANXIETY IS KILLING ME!!!

Insiders: ya we should be preseason #1

Us: How did the LA trip go??? Why is he going to UCLA? OMG. But Andrej is already in LA?? What’s going on?

Our insiders: guys we literally got everything we could ask for and more

Us: butt stuff
I’ve never seen a more accurate description of loyalty.
 
#718      
Vaaks is really, really good. He is MAJOR part of the equation.
I guess others have mentioned this, and I haven't included him in the equation - certainly an oversight!

Haven't heard a ton about him before this portal season so I didn't have much idea of his fit here, especially without being a good defender.
 
#719      
In 2023 we lost RayJ Dennis, and wound up better off.

In 2024 we lost AJ Storr and Egor Demin, and wound up much better off.

In 2025 we lost Dame Sarr and Josh Dix, and wound up COLOSALLY better off.

It doesn't take an AI supercomputer to see that we're going to lose John Blackwell, nor should it take one to see how that can benefit us yet again.
It would free up 30 minutes for Coleman and Morillo. Those 2 might be able to recreate Blackwell’s production in the aggregate and would likely increase the odds of a second year for each.

Maybe a slightly lower ceiling for next year but potentially much higher ceiling 2 years from now and beyond.
 
#721      
I see some worry about having too talented a roster and that potentially causing guys to go portaling. I am not in that camp. Michigan won the whole thing this year because they gathered 9 starters on one team and said let's go win this thing. Simple message, let's get it done and become legends for a hungry fanbase.
Also, we would be losing most of the team after next season, 5 seniors, and two sophomores that could enter the draft. But, we can worry about that after we confirm who is going to be here.
 
#724      
Who is plan B if Blackwell takes the largest bag and we miss?
 
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