Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#1,251      
I-L-L
I think most of us are disappointed because with how spread out our success as a program has been, next year is a once in a lifetime chance with what we have returning. We were hoping for proven pieces to complete the team, instead of hopes and prayers to get lucky with another late blooming star other programs missed on. Most of the time, the proven pieces will win out.

Two years from now I'll be thrilled to keep our 20 wins and tournament run going with all the turnover. Was hoping all the chips were on the table and no stone left unturned this year. Tired of being in the 2nd tier when we have the ability to be in the first.

We will be cheering them on. Hope we won't be found wanting at the end of the year.
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I think you fall into the generation of all or bust. I would rather you enjoy the success that has mounted and become what it is despite all the criticism from so many. But that’s our world we live in today and it’s sad. Just enjoy. Enjoy what is happening right now and hopefully for years to come at the U of I. I for one am so excited that we’ve retained so many!!! We’re not long removed from the days when our team came back for another year. The landscape has changed in college basketball but this offseason Illinois didn’t and we’re bringing the crew back to make another run. Enjoy this! Who knows how long it will last. ILL

P.S. we have character guys!!!!
 
#1,253      
RabidDawgClassic
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr? said:
what I appreciate about our insiders is that they tell us the present.

if it's trending well and happening, they'll tell us.

if it's not, they'll tell us.

keeps things in the correct perspective and avoid misinformation.
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This Up Here GIF by Chord Overstreet
 
#1,255      
Trueblue777
ColSLU69 said:
I'm dancing... but not in the streets. LOL I'm not worried about point guard. I'm looking forward to Illinois putting the ball in the hands of Vaaks. I just happen to think the Illini could use ANOTHER guard in addition to Vaaks and Coleman. Perhaps a guard with some experience? One who's better than Brandon Lee. And one who's better (at least initially) than Morillo at Guard. Plus, I think the Illini will need minutes from Morillo at SF and PF. (No great candidates to play those minutes at those positions if Morillo is forced to start at Guard for an injured Vaaks or Coleman.)
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Ethan Brown says Hello. Brown can play he was underrated tucked away in Rolla Missouri. The coaches know what they got in him.
 
#1,256      
TheodoreRex
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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Sounds like his agent is an idiot- does he want to win a national championship or not- that is the question- winning solves all other things. You want to get drafted, win a natty. I can't believe his dad doesn't have enough sway to convince him to come to Illinois.
 
#1,258      
I-L-L
fatboyslim said:
Our fanbase has some truly weird fans. We got basically everything we wanted this offseason and people still not happy.
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It’s bc so many don’t understand chemistry and truly liking one another and playing for one another. If Blackwell is that guy I welcome it. If not I don’t want him. I want this team to care about one another. I watched that badger team several times this year (beat us twice for the record) and lost to high point and it had nothing to do with Blackwell. It had to do with Boyd wanting his own. I like Blackwell and would welcome here but not if he’s not here for the right reasons. I trust in brad and the staff.
 
#1,259      
chiefini
illiniguy24 said:
I would hate to see him at UCLA. And I can’t imagine his camp looks at Louisville as a place to win a title under Pat Kelsey.

It’s a huge bummer knowing we would fork up the money to pay him. We need more quickness at guard as others have alluded to imo, even if it’s a backup guard
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If he’s not coming to Illinois, I want Blackwell to get out of the B1G and go to Louisville. I do NOT want to see him thrive at UCLA for that d*@% of a coach… just sayin’.
 
#1,260      
HouTexIllini
Seldom does a player at this level fail to improve considerably from year to year. Actually...almost never. However, they need to be used in a manner that it shows.
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Carey Bokth regressed here and then improved when leaving. To your latter point, he was probably misused.
 
#1,261      
WeLoveNoOther
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 curious, Indy....
What does papa Blackwell think about the usage argument?
 
#1,264      
HensonHall71
Indy Illini Fan said:
And that for me and our staff this afternoon … 🚩

Excited Lets Go GIF
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It’s really hard to build a super team in this day and age when everyone can portal and make a huge bag. Which makes the retention we achieved amazing- it speaks volumes about the culture created here, how much these guys enjoy each other and that they are all about winning

The worst thing we can do is add someone that isn’t about winning- so in that regard not getting Blackwell might be the best outcome

What sucks is that it seemed like this would be a perfect fit for him- he’d be a top scoring option on the team, could improve his draft stock by training with fletch, having a pass first point guard in Vaaks, having scoring threats all around him so defenses can’t focus on him and he’d be part of the top offensive efficiency in the country no doubt. If he improves his defense and ups his efficiency on offense that’s what is going to get him to the league- not averaging more points or getting higher usage. It’s his last year in college - what is his camp looking for? It’s just an odd turn of events that he doesn’t want to be part of winning afterall
 
#1,265      
Emerson Bigguns
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Keaton did not overshadow Lee; he couldn't even get on the court.

The guys that got overshadowed by Keaton were Mirkovic and Stojakovic -- both of whom will be focal points of next year's team.
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I’m with you, my man. It’s crazy how many people here watched every single game and still don’t see what a gem we have in David, and I’m not just talking about him being a character. Toughness, competitiveness… The skills need refined a bit, but they are there, and they don’t have to get a lot better to become a Huge problem for opponents. A bit tighter handle and a bit more consistency shooting, and good luck…
Clearly guys love to play with him.
If it weren’t for his teammate, he would have gotten very serious consideration for B1G FOTY…and he missed all of last summer due to visa issues.
 
#1,266      
Yes33
I think we still need a strong back up big behind Mirk / Tomi in case of foul trouble. Seems like we only have Tomi and Mirk that can body other string bigs. Z doesn’t have the strength and jumps into the rafters on every pump fake. Any foul trouble up front and we seem weak. Are any of the freshmen able to fill this role?
 
#1,267      
March2TheArch
OB positive said:
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.
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I think we’ll really see the void of Keaton for the first half of the season.
 
#1,269      
March2TheArch
Blackwell left Wisconsin stating he wanted to compete for a championship. Well, Blackwell’s camp, you have to play with really high-usage, good players to do that. If that’s not the goal, stay at Wisconsin, Gard can make a guard pop.
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Look at Yaxel deferring throughout the season. Winners win.
 
#1,270      
molinefan
Just throwing this out there after reading numerous pages here.
I think the addition of Zavier Zens is a bigger deal than most are thinking. He seems like the type of player that will find a way to compete and win. Also, he appears to be very talented. I think he may make a difference and get some playing time, even as a freshman.
 
#1,271      
Gunner23
With Blackwell- National title favorite

Without Blackwell- National title contender
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Not necessarily true. If "with Blackwell" includes a locker room cancer that destroys all of the culture, "fun", and collective buy-in that last years squad developed, we might not even make the second weekend of the tourney. If Blackwell is that worried about his "I" in team, as much as I loved watching his Dad play for the Orange and Blue, I don't want him here. We lose more games with him than without him if his focus is that everything on the floor has t go through him. He just becomes the next Matt Mayer, going off script and chucking :poop: up because he thought that he was supposed to be the man.

A team with great talent/skill/experience and an incredible "team first" culture=National Title Contender
 
#1,272      
HouTexIllini
Did illini0440 Indy Illini Fan DB11Headband sharpshot16 and LvilleILL1 play rock paper scissors to see who would have to let us know about Blackwell?
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It was already out there. People were saying either Dre or Boswell not both even though we were hearing no pivot, donors saying pay Blackwell, and the confidence in the staff’s confidence.
 
#1,273      
Gunner23
I’ll believe it when I see it.

Until then - absolutely no way, especially thinking that going into the season.
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So..."going into the season" last year, you already knew that Wagler was going to end up being a lottery pick after his freshman year? Hell, a lot of people thought he was going to or should redshirt last year...
 
#1,274      
Aillini32
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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This makes sense decision wise for Blackwell but where I’m confused is why the decision has been made to not go after anyone else? Odd to me that they would be all in on a guy coming in to play 30+ minutes and get a hefty payout but now are fine with what they have? Maybe just a matter of the funds being available for Blackwell but not for a lesser piece. With a lot of experience in the front court and on the wing it’s an interesting choice to go with unproven options at guard. And I’m one who is a big fan of Vaaks’s game
 
#1,275      
Gunner23
We are going to count on one freshman to be a starter and at least one more to be a rotation piece off the bench. That's definitely riskier than just needing one or two to be bench guys. I think this staff has earned our trust at this point, but I still would've preferred getting Blackwell to build a super team. I fully admit to being greedy🤷
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IIRC we relied pretty heavily on two freshman starters this year and still made a Final 4. If Blackwell turned out to be cancer in the locker room, there is no super team. The ball is in, and has been in, Blackwell's court. He wants to have the best chance to win a Natty or he doesn't. His (and his camps) choice...
 
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