Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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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.
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.
Sooooo…… toward the beginning of Whitman’s tenure there was a video that was panning through memorial stadium and interspersing Illini football clips, etc. What I remember, perhaps faulty memory, was Whitman saying, “University of Illinois football has been called a sleeping giant. Well, it’s time to wake the giant.”
Something most Illini fans never thought they would ever hear. Sleeping giant is fully awake!
Am I making this video up? Who can super sleuth this out for me?
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.
This is going to feel like the longest offseason
When does the team go back to Maui or their European offseason bball trip?
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
One was Florida Atlantic and I’m guessing the other was UConn.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
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.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
If another chip falls our way it might be a straight single digit number.
It has to be cowboy hats, right?
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My guesses is UNC just spent a bunch of money on coaches (hiring Bielema, firing Hubie, hiring Malone) and that took a bight out of donor money), they also are trying to build a new basketball stadium, plus with lower ACC TV money, & probabably pushing some of the basketball NIL over to Football as part of the Bielema deal the donors are a bit tapped out. Add some recent frustration with the basketball performance and the donors have closed up some of the wallet.
Is this short term or longer term I'm not sure... ACC money is certainly longer term which affects the Athletic budget, increased focus/spending on Football probably depends on how the next few years go with Chapel Bill.
LadyLoyalty
- Indian Wells, CA
It’s UCLA. Great school, legendary basketball program, beautiful campus, fantastic location and weather. More applications than any other school in the country for good reason. Plus, those deep pockets don’t hurt. Stadium would fill up for the right team.
There was a bomb scare during the Magic Johnson game.
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!
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!
Everyone will argue about fit, need more athleticism, need a banger 4, we practice too hard, who gets what minutes, what's going to happen next year. And the chief contrarian will disagree with everybody.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
I said this the MOMENT NIL started.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
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.
fyi...not an expert by any means...but have a couple boys that have gone rouge and work for UNC, so here is my guesses https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/illinois-hoops-recruiting-thread.42335/post-2450369 my opinion/guessCan’t They Get Their Tobacco To Market Anymore?
I’m not trying to be a wisenheimer…I just wonder how that’s even possible. What with the talking heads telling me they’re the OG blue blood at every turn and all.
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!
Could be Fagbemi as well
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 $$ going around, unbelievable to me they got both bros back
I think both Coleman/Morillo will be big time contributors. Outside of another top level portal guard, very good possibility one or two would be better than a lesser portal guard.
Vaaks
Coleman
AS
Mirk
Tomi
Is the "worst case," for starting lineup and I think it's a top 5 team.
Given the center $$ 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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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...
I'm still trying to figure out if Jake Davis is represented by misko
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