Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

#401      
GForce
Chuck Nuggets said:
All of Tomi, Mirk, and Andrej would have been top 10-15 portal entries. Z would have been way up the list, too. Add Blackwell and you're talking 4 top 10-15 guys. Wild.
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Insane. It's like signing a roster of 5-star HS recruits... but better.
Also, like football's mom's day, imagine Brad organizing a dad's day with Peja, Glynn and Butch Lee on the court.
 
#402      
jmm
CrazedUIFan said:
This is going to feel like the longest offseason

Bored Halloween GIF
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When does the team go back to Maui or their European offseason bball trip?
 
#404      
ChiefGritty
Illini2010-11 said:
Outside of money (and being near the ocean), I can't understand why anyone would want to play at UCLA. What big time player would want to play home games at a stadium where the team averages around 5,000 in attendance (roughly 40% of capacity)?
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Pretty girls, the Hollywood Hills, and the ghosts of legends swirling around the largest banner collection have a pretty deep appeal.

Both UCLA's strengths and its weaknesses are unique, there's not another program like it.
 
#407      
Luwdoo
DeonThomas said:
Spoon trumps Eddie for being the longer-term fan!

(NOTE: I rode 80 miles through the snow storm in a Jeep Wrangler to get to Assembly Hall for the Eddie Johnson game. Unfortunately, Kelvin Ransey and Herb Williams then ruined our chance two days later to be ranked #1 in the next release of the AP/UPI polls.)
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There was a bomb scare during the Magic Johnson game.
 
#408      
Juju
LET'S GOOOO!!! Love having Andrej back! I have a question for the insiders, though:

Does Andrej's return help or hurt our chances with Blackwell? If, besides money of course, he's prioritizing winning a national championship, then you'd have to think Andrej returning definitely helps. If, however, he's prioritizing being the leader and getting as many shots per game as possible(just read somewhere he averaged 13-14 shots last season, which is how much a main guy shoots), I kinda feel like Andrej returning would hurt our chances of landing Blackwell.

So yeah, can any insider clarify this for me, please? Thanks!
 
#410      
Curbelo Fanboy
Making the final four this year might prove to be a huge key next year. The 2 prior final fours in my lifetime were the culmination of a great run. We dropped off a bit each time. This time it feels like th guys got a taste. And now they all return plus some other players. The returnees are coming back with one thing in mind. To win on Monday in April.
 
#411      
bbpeoria
ColSLU69 said:
Let's assume that Blackwell signs with Illinois. Who will our top 4 guards be? Blackwell, Vaaks, Coleman... and Morillo? Or Lee? That would be an excellent group!

Now, let's assume that Blackwell does not sign with the Illini. And let's assume that another player, say Brandon Lee, enters the portal. What if the Illini then signed both G Paul McNeil Jr (NC State) and G Terrence Hill Jr (VCU)? Our top 4 guards would be Vaaks, McNeil, Hill, and Coleman. Again, those would be excellent guards!

Could Illinois sign both McNeil and Hill for the same amount of money that it would have taken to sign Blackwell alone? Don't get me wrong. I really want the Illini to add John Blackwell to the roster!! He seems like the perfect fit. The icing on the cake. I'm just pondering what could be possible IF Blackwell goes elsewhere.
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I think it easy to start at least...It is a 3-guard rotation with Vaaks and Blackwell starting and Coleman coming off the bench. SB something like 30mpg/30mpg/20mpg. This is why there is speculation another guard (Lee?) could leave. I could even see some 3-guard lineups at times as all those guys will need/deserve serious minutes. I see Jake as exclusively a 3 (getting less mins than this year unless overall rest of game improves) and Morillo as a 3-4 getting 10-20mpg.

From a Blackwell perspective, this would be like passing up on a chance to be the last piece on a college dream team. Go be legendary young man and pick up a nice bag while doing it at your father's alma mater!
 
#412      
ImGonnaBeILL
Awesome news to get all 5 key contributors back. As mentioned above, 4 of 5 would be amongst the top portal entries.

Given the center $$ going around, unbelievable to me they got both bros back

I think both Coleman/Morillo will be big time contributors. Outside of another top level portal guard, very good possibility one or two would be better than a lesser portal guard.

Vaaks
Coleman
AS
Mirk
Tomi

Is the "worst case," for starting lineup and I think it's a top 5 team.
 
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#414      
Emerson Bigguns
ColSLU69 said:
Let's assume that Blackwell signs with Illinois. Who will our top 4 guards be? Blackwell, Vaaks, Coleman... and Morillo? Or Lee? That would be an excellent group!

Now, let's assume that Blackwell does not sign with the Illini. And let's assume that another player, say Brandon Lee, enters the portal. What if the Illini then signed both G Paul McNeil Jr (NC State) and G Terrence Hill Jr (VCU)? Our top 4 guards would be Vaaks, McNeil, Hill, and Coleman. Again, those would be excellent guards!

Could Illinois sign both McNeil and Hill for the same amount of money that it would have taken to sign Blackwell alone? Don't get me wrong. I really want the Illini to add John Blackwell to the roster!! He seems like the perfect fit. The icing on the cake. I'm just pondering what could be possible IF Blackwell goes elsewhere.
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That's a lot of assuming. I'd wager Lee would be a lot more keen to stay if Blackwell isn't here. (He may anyway...) Then he really only has to beat out freshmen to earn a role. If I were him, that would be a much more palatable situation than having to beat out an All-B1G type guy, AND all the freshmen...
 
#416      
Rebounding Dog
ColSLU69 said:
Let's assume that Blackwell signs with Illinois. Who will our top 4 guards be? Blackwell, Vaaks, Coleman... and Morillo? Or Lee? That would be an excellent group!

Now, let's assume that Blackwell does not sign with the Illini. And let's assume that another player, say Brandon Lee, enters the portal. What if the Illini then signed both G Paul McNeil Jr (NC State) and G Terrence Hill Jr (VCU)? Our top 4 guards would be Vaaks, McNeil, Hill, and Coleman. Again, those would be excellent guards!

Could Illinois sign both McNeil and Hill for the same amount of money that it would have taken to sign Blackwell alone? Don't get me wrong. I really want the Illini to add John Blackwell to the roster!! He seems like the perfect fit. The icing on the cake. I'm just pondering what could be possible IF Blackwell goes elsewhere.
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I don't see signing two guards at this point...makes zero sense. Coleman and Morillo will need playing time. I see Vaaks and Blackwell (or other portal G) starting with rotation of Coleman and Morillo. Morillo could see some minutes at wing or maybe the 4 spot.
Other than a portal guard, I would think a little depth at the 4 spot is where we might go!
 
#424      
WyattEarp
Luwdoo said:
There was a bomb scare during the Magic Johnson game.
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I was born in ‘76 so I missed that one.
But, basically your choices COULD Have BEEN:

Get Blown To Bits (Indoors) VS Freeze To Death w/hypothermia/frostbite (outdoors)

Wow…thats rough! This Illini-fanning isn’t for the faint of heart. 🧡 💙
 
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