Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#1,126      
joeybcrazy13
Star Wars Force GIF
 
#1,127      
fatboyslim
Chase321 said:
These are the same players that needed Keaton on the court for 40 minutes a game for things to run well. I’m not saying the new players can’t fill that role I’m just saying it’s a giant unknown.
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And Keaton needed those same players on the court too. Contrary to popular belief I’m almost positive Keaton wasn’t out there playing 1 against 5. You act like he held every other player on the team’s hand.
 
#1,130      
RichardKeene’sHair
Literally argued Vaaks next year will have more "productivity" than Keaton. :rolleyes:
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Vaaks was almost as productive statistically THIS year on a bad team.

The homerism is off the charts in here.

You guys realize Stefan Vaaks is going to play against Wagler in the NBA some day correct?
 
#1,133      
Emerson Bigguns
Combo said:
There are question marks w/o a doubt. The optimistic predictions are assuming that guys will make a big jump. What that's possible, it's far from a guarantee. Heck, I'd be happy if Tomi just "reverted" to how he was his first season.

That said, I think we have a legit shot to get back to the FF.
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I simply trust we have the right guys in the room. Guys who have bought in here under Brad have gotten better, many of them significantly better.
Nothing is guaranteed, Blackwell or not.
I think optimism is justified. We haven’t had this many good answers to questions about our roster in the offseason, in over 20 years.
 
#1,135      
Indy Illini Fan
Putting this as nicely as possible …

Blackwell has some certain people in his ear telling him how the role for him isn’t what he needs here … Too many mouths to feed … He wouldn’t be successful …

It has nothing to do with us “whiffing” or not having the money … He’d start … He’d get 30+ minutes a night and he’d get an absolute BAG …

But some people who in my opinion don’t know ball think somehow he wouldn’t have the role he needs … Just what it is …

Vaaks will be the primary handler … Morillo and Coleman are going to play big roles …
 
#1,136      
fatboyslim
ColSLU69 said:
So much to like about Alex Wilkins! But he might be out of our price range. Kentucky is after him big time. And they've missed on several other transfers already. I'd expect UK to spend whatever it takes to sign Wilkins. And Wilkins would start for Illinois with Vaaks. Some people seem to think that Coleman might be upset if he's NOT starting. And how's Wilkins' defense? Can he stay with shorter, quicker point guards? In any case, I also like Alex Wilkins a LOT!
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Another team missed out on transfers? No way.

Tell Deon Cole GIF by Team Coco
 
#1,137      
OB positive
March2TheArch said:
There is no Yaxel-like piece in the portal this year. There is a reason ‘26 Michigan and ‘24 UConn are often quotes. They’re rare.

Duke’s teams the last couple years were Natty teams that couldn’t get it done. Duke even beat Michigan this year.

I think we’re ahead of where Florida 2025, Baylor 2021, and Virginia 2019 were in the buildups to their season. That said, we’ve seen what preseason #1 did to Purdue.

There is no dominant team this upcoming year. It’ll be a roller coaster of a season. And we have to hope we peak at the right time like a Florida 2025 or UVA 2019.
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Really, we are in a better position than we have been in for 20+ years. I don't expect to have a roller coaster year with what we have returning. Which is pretty much the consensus of most of the polls.
 
#1,139      
OB positive
Det_Illini_fan said:
i can get hate for this, but I get wary of Preseason no. 1 if we don’t pull in a Blackwell or strong guard in that spot. Purdue last year touted preseason no. 1 because it was essentially everyone coming back, and they were decent but struggled a lot and far from no. 1

I know the freshman coming in can be good, and we’ll be net positive from last year off development, but I think we need that “Yaxel” type piece to be head and shoulders above like ‘26 Michigan or ‘24 UCONN.

Just my two cents
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Would you rather be a preseason bubble team?
 
#1,140      
Umit9
I for one love the complaining and downplaying of the current team from some of the posters. Always have. It’s a great source of laughter for me in a sometimes difficult world.

I cannot wait for summer workouts to begin. Having the guys together will be a massive opportunity. Stojakovic even missed a significant portion of the Fall in ‘25.

Two things are true here. I appreciate the information shared by a few of our posters here. I also appreciate the entertainment from our internal complainers. Thank you all!

Go Illini
 
#1,141      
Illiniforlife
Putting this as nicely as possible …

Blackwell has some certain people in his ear telling him how the role for him isn’t what he needs here … Too many mouths to feed … He wouldn’t be successful …

It has nothing to do with us “whiffing” or not having the money … He’d start … He’d get 30+ minutes a night and he’d get an absolute BAG …

But some people who in my opinion don’t know ball think somehow he wouldn’t have the role he needs … Just what it is …

Vaaks will be the primary handler … Morillo and Coleman are going to play big roles …
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So has your crystal ball changed for Blackwell?
 
#1,142      
Iroquois County Illini
Indy Illini Fan said:
Putting this as nicely as possible …

Blackwell has some certain people in his ear telling him how the role for him isn’t what he needs here … Too many mouths to feed … He wouldn’t be successful …

It has nothing to do with us “whiffing” or not having the money … He’d start … He’d get 30+ minutes a night and he’d get an absolute BAG …

But some people who in my opinion don’t know ball think somehow he wouldn’t have the role he needs … Just what it is …
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Sounds like the young man needs to maybe make a decision if his agent is actually interested in what’s best for him or is capable of representing him properly. Kids from a basketball family, let them take the reins and not be dictated to by a suit
 
#1,144      
Fly Illini Fly!
fatboyslim said:
I mean it's possible. I keep saying this but no one saw what Wagler did coming. It's not some farfetched take that he comes in and really takes off. Look I love Keaton and what he did last year but we got stop acting like no one will ever eclipse his productivity from last year. Is it likely to happen? I would say no but I don't know that for sure and neither do you. No one does. Did you think anyone at this time last year would eclipse Riley or KJ? No you didn't.
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fatboyslim said:
Look I love Keaton and what he did last year but we got stop acting like no one will ever eclipse his productivity from last year. Is it likely to happen?
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Actually, I think it's very much possible, but the guy I'd pick would be Mirkovic. That's the guy who's clearly the head of the snake.
 
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#1,145      
CrazedUIFan
Indy Illini Fan said:
Putting this as nicely as possible …

Blackwell has some certain people in his ear telling him how the role for him isn’t what he needs here … Too many mouths to feed … He wouldn’t be successful …

It has nothing to do with us “whiffing” or not having the money … He’d start … He’d get 30+ minutes a night and he’d get an absolute BAG …

But some people who in my opinion don’t know ball think somehow he wouldn’t have the role he needs … Just what it is …

Vaaks will be the primary handler … Morillo and Coleman are going to play big roles …
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Just crazy to look at this team and not see how he would fit in and still showcase his skillset and be contending for the championship. We are sitting in a great position regardless.
 
#1,146      
pruman91
LvilleILL1 said:
This is a good question. Illinois has already spent around 15 million this offseason, which is easily top 10 in the country. If you saw what type of numbers teams were willing to pay Mirkovic, Tomi, and Drej, you would be floored. Illinois can afford Blackwell, but they are also confident in the incoming freshman/Vaaks (they spent a ton of Vaaks, Coleman, and Morillo) to fit in really well with your three to five. There's also very high optimism that Ethan Brown will make a impact right away.

Certain people in Blackwells camp did not want him to take the risk of going to Illinois, when Vaaks/Coleman/Drej are all potential breakout pieces and he would have been a secondary option (if those guys breakout).
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thank you for sharing info with us......please don't feel the need to explain to every question that pops up here..............I am very happy with all of the insiders sharing their info and realize how much time is involved doing it for us at no cost to us..........

thank you again ..................
 
#1,149      
Second place is 1st loser
illini0440 said:
Once again….money and PT not the issue with Blackwell. His agent is in his ear about usage here. @LvilleILL1 god bless you lol
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His agent has every right to question that. I would. He's got one year left to impress the NBA scouts and there are already a lot of guys on this roster who are trying to do the same. There's only one ball.

Also, I'm guessing Drej's agent was having very similar concerns.
 
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