Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#779      
WxIllini
Has Louisville always had this deep of NIL pockets?!

If they land both Marauskas and Knox on top of already getting commitments from Bidunga and Shelstead, I can’t imagine they have the money for Blackwell?!

Unless they do… 😂😂
 
#782      
Illini2010-11
Take my 6-month old to pediatrician well visit at 1 PM to come back to bipolar five pages in this thread.

Black And White No GIF by ABC Network
 
#787      
Fly Illini Fly!
OnlyOrange said:
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.
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PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
It's not Wagler to Blackwell. It's Wagler to Vaaks.

Blackwell would be the upgrade from Boswell at the 2.
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It's just a casual, unaware point of view.

Last year to this year (IF we land Blackwell and the expected retention):

Backcourt: Blackwell and Vaaks > Keaton and Kylan.

Frontcourt: Second year Mirk / Tomi / Z > First year Mirk / Tomi / Z.

Bench: Ty / Jake / Z / Coleman / Morillo > Z / Ben / Jake.

All that WHILE we made the Final 4 last year AND the other top teams will be losing their best players.
 
#790      
FightinIllini30
Sounds like Louisville is willing to outbid us… if we can pay more than our original offer it may be enough to top the scales given the other things going in our favor.

Pat Kelsey has one single tournament win as far as I’m aware. I share Indy’s confusion as far as why big portal guys keep going there
 
#794      
ChiefGritty
InDaAZ said:
Blackwell/Vaaks/leaner, meaner, full summer workout Mirk
over
Wagler/Bam/first-year Mirk
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I mean you're getting closer, but giving the game away a bit.

Next year's team can be better despite losing its best player who is better than any individual returnee because it's a group that gets older and wiser and more experienced playing together as a team in a way the additions can highlight and supplement. College basketball history is full of examples like that.

The Big Four, if back and healthy, will give us more in 2027 than they gave in 2026, and they were the backbone of a Final Four team in 2026. #TheRetention is what matters.

HensonHall71 said:
he would be an absolute hero if he was able to come to Illinois and win a Natty - including the sponsorships that come with that - that has to be part of the sell.

Nobody in Louisville knows who he is
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I suspect one or two people might figure his name out if he wins big at Louisville, and they are certainly building an exciting team that will have elite-level expectations.

Fly Illini Fly! said:
All that WHILE we made the Final 4 last year AND the other top teams will be losing their best players.
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Plus several notable national writers have put us at #1, it's not like this board is making it up.
 
#799      
illiniguy24
Sounds like Louisville is willing to outbid us… if we can pay more than our original offer it may be enough to top the scales given the other things going in our favor.

Pat Kelsey has one single tournament win as far as I’m aware. I share Indy’s confusion as far as why big portal guys keep going there
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They are hoping the prostitutes come back
 
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