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...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
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Does development exist in college basketball anymore? Kids want to make money and the only way they do that is if they’re playing.
I mean it’s possible, but it seems the days of a kid sticking around to develop are over.
I can see where it may help with the other Kneuppel brothers.
Hopefully it works out for the kid at Illinois but the program is at a place where it just recruits over kids with high level transfers.
We went from
1) We are getting Blackwell, no doubt.
2) We are getting Blackwell. There are more teams after him, but we have him
3) We shouldn't pivot because we have him
4) We are looking at some other guys, we have a list
5) Blackwell is going elsewhere.
6) We aren't getting anyone else. The freshmen are good enough.
7) These guys will be better that our Final Four team. Haven't you seen the highlights*? Anyone who disagrees is crazy and a bad fan. Why would you think that a proven 4th year player is better than a freshman who looked good against high schoolers?
*There is a reason they are called highlights
We either need another experienced guy or to be lucky on 17 year olds.
I'll be rooting for us.
1) We are getting Blackwell, no doubt.
2) We are getting Blackwell. There are more teams after him, but we have him
3) We shouldn't pivot because we have him
4) We are looking at some other guys, we have a list
5) Blackwell is going elsewhere.
6) We aren't getting anyone else. The freshmen are good enough.
7) These guys will be better that our Final Four team. Haven't you seen the highlights*? Anyone who disagrees is crazy and a bad fan. Why would you think that a proven 4th year player is better than a freshman who looked good against high schoolers?
*There is a reason they are called highlights
We either need another experienced guy or to be lucky on 17 year olds.
I'll be rooting for us.
sacraig
- The desert
It's literally the job of a parent or an agent to be looking out for the best interest of their child or client. Whether you believe they are getting the best advice is another story, but the fact that they are getting it from those sources should surprise no one.
I don’t think it’s too much to let people take a bit to process and wind down. It was preached here about Blackwell and Illinois from the moment he enters the portal…actually before he officially entered.
The line up covos, the money ain’t a thang convos, the inside confidence about trusting the staff and our status with Blackwell is a hit to some. Even today after the #retention, it was the #addition.
Now, after all that hype it looks like the addition of Vaaks and retention of Dre (even though they seem slotted in different positions/roles) isn’t what Blackwell’s camp feels comfortable with. I know nothing is for certain, but didn’t the staff have conversations or did they over play their hand and snd themselves right out of the Blackwell sweepstakes?
Not that there should be a grieving process, but the over justifying of the pivot after the “there is no pivot” is ironic.
My ideal final add would be a veteran who projects as a three-and-D guard at the next level. Point of attack defender who doesn’t need to have the ball in his hands at the offensive end, and is fine being the 4th or 5th option. A more athletic Jake Davis, if you will. Thank you.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
Petition to make the agent our public enemy #1 for 2026-27?
What a POS, especially if he funnels the kid to UCLA…
What a POS, especially if he funnels the kid to UCLA…
Yeah you said it better than me. A guy who can hit 3s but isn't demanding the ball in his hands and is a point of attack defender. Perfect complement to all the guys on this team who deserve high usage %
Which is exactly why Blackwell will not make it in the NBA. If he can't be successful here, with this roster, he won't do anything in the NBA. He won't ever be the focal point on any NBA team. He would potentially play a role to make a team better. I hope that he and his family invest this "BAG of $" well for his future.
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I would guess Noggas to the Roggas return.
I swear we Illinois fans are the most annoying fanbase. We are bringing 5 people back from our final 4 team and we still find things to complain about.
Hello right back at you, Ethan! I love the Ethan Brown addition. You're correct. The young man can play. I watched him play live in the postseason. And I've watched videos of his play. (BTW, I know where Rolla is. We played them in high school... over 50 years ago. They were in our Conference at the time.) I think that he can develop into an excellent player for Illinois. But do you think that right now, or even in the coming season, that Brown is or will be a better player than Brandon Lee, a rising Illinois sophomore, a former 4-star recruit from a NJ prep school, one who has already had a year of practice and development with the Illini? I have my doubts in that regard, even though I like Brown a lot. And as I said previously, I would like to see the Illini add a guard, preferably one with some experience, who's even a better backup option than Lee (or Brown). I just feel that adding such a player would make Illinois a better TEAM next season, perhaps a championship team. But I think that the Illini are primed for an excellent 26-27 season even if they end up going with Vaaks and Lee (sophomores), plus Coleman, Morillo, and Brown (freshmen) as their guards. I will cheer for the Illini all the way. But I still think the Illini could (should?) add an experienced guard (or a backup power forward) to next year's roster. But heck, Brad might be holding that last scholarship/roster spot open for a Euro recruit that we've not yet heard about!
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How do you get to adds?
2 grads, 1 NBA declaration, 3 transfers = 6 out. 5 Freshman + 1 transfer = 6 in. That leaves 14 rostered players. Brad has always left a roster spot open.
Until we see announcements from Jason Jakstys, Brandon Lee or Blake Fagbemi, and its unlikely we add anyone and the portal deadline is April 21 (Tuesday). In truth, if and if any of the 3 were going to leave it would have been more advantageous for them to announce two weeks ago, more spots were open.
As for Blackwell, I wrote the day he declared, he's not a great fit with this particular group. But more important than that, with the 5 returnees and Stefan Veeks, we just accounted for 150 - 170 minutes on any given night. Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo won't be sitting on the bench this season. One other thing. Landon Davis is 6' 9" and an offensive and defensive rebounding machine. He was the number 4 player in Iowa last year. The reason he isn't a 4 - star player is that he wasn't a full time starter as a Junior.
Got a bunch of Eeyores on here
Rapheal Davis remains a Purdue homer that is clearly jealous of the trajectory of our program. How can someone who’s a Twitter ragebaiter have a job at the B1G network? I won’t be tuning into this guy anymore. That’s for sure.
LouHenson
- Naples Florida
I think this is 100% the case. I believe the kid was a tremendous scorer in HS? The fact he has not hit the portal tells me the staff wants him here? If I am in BU’s shoes now I am looking for a physical big? I am fine with guards: Vaaks, Coleman, Lee, Andrej, Morillo and really Davis.
Heist of the Century? We need 1 more piece to make it so...
Role player or best player?
Offensively Vaaks and Coleman will be fine. I worry about duplicating the 8 rebounds and Wagler’s defense vs Vaaks. Think we will need Lee on defense with Coleman off the floor..
Blackwell literally said in his transfer decision that he was after a place for national championship.
Promise he's not seeing that at UCLA. I don't think Louisville either (personally believe Floral Bumdonga will wind up far and away the most overpaid player in portal.....he can't get own shot and while he's a solid defensive presence, he's 6'9). I don't think he's a cornerstone guy at college program that will be the reason you win title
Promise he's not seeing that at UCLA. I don't think Louisville either (personally believe Floral Bumdonga will wind up far and away the most overpaid player in portal.....he can't get own shot and while he's a solid defensive presence, he's 6'9). I don't think he's a cornerstone guy at college program that will be the reason you win title
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