Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

#702      
March2TheArch
PepeSilvia said:
I couldn't agree more.

The goal is to win a national championship and be better than the previous year. They lost an All-American and veteran starter in Boswell.

Love the retention and have no issue with Coleman or Morillo playing a ton but if you had the money for Blackwell and he backed away then go use that money on a different guy. Don't put yourself in a situation where you're relying on freshman because the other teams are going to be loaded(UConn already looks very good).

Go get a veteran guard that is capable of being a starter on a good team and then if Coleman, Morillo, or even Brown start beating him for minutes that becomes a great problem to have.

Michigan just won a national championship where they lost LJ Cason in February. It didn't matter because they still had Cadeau, Mckenney, Burnett, and Gayle. Trey Mckenney was ranked 21st as a prospect(higher than Coleman) and was a huge piece for them coming off the bench and playing 20+ minutes a game.

If Vaaks went down with an injury you would have a team with national championship aspirations relying on Quentin Coleman, Lucas Morillo, and Ethan Brown to be their primary guards. All of them may work out but I don't think a team with serious championship aspirations should be that reliant on freshman to pan out when they supposedly had the money to add Blackwell to the current group.
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Sane take.

Keaton was 1 of 1. And Boz may have struggled to score but boy was he a reliable cog with perimeter passing, driving and kicking, and defense.

Our backcourt needs 1 more solid rotational player for the March/April stretch.
 
#703      
mysterio2525
EmeraldCityIllini said:
that’s what I’d sell too!

But, we got Michigan assistant coaches on record right now saying how they can’t get traction with recruits.

You gotta actually convince the starting caliber veteran guard to sign up for that role. As I’ve said, I’m all for that idea. Just skeptical.

I actually like the idea more of a big wing reserve than backup guard.
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really even with stojakavic, Jake, and morillo already here? I'm not sure where morillo really fits between the 1-3 spots when he gets to college... that's the real variable.

either way it's just hard to understand going from Blackwell to nothing. he's not a nice to have player. he's a game changer. I'm never going to assume a freshman can come in and be a star unless they are top 10 recruit. can it happen sure... but counting on that is too big a risk for a team in this enviable position. momentum swings quickly and before you know it can be gone.
 
#704      
GrayGhost77
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Vaaks / Coleman / Stoj / Mirk / Ivisic with bench Jake / Morillo / Z
....
does sound a man short after the staring unit.
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staring samuel l jackson GIF
 
#705      
Noblesville Illini
jamarvelous31 said:
Counting Jake Davis as a G because he could easily fill in as needed...

Stoj, Coleman, Vaaks, and Morillo are all guards.
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Jake, Andrej, Vaaks, and Morillo are all tall enough to play 1-3. Morillo can play a small 4 as well. That changes things. Kinda like your starting 4 bringing the ball up. Name other teams with this capability.
 
#706      
My2Cents
I understand in the past it was often said guards win NCAA championships. I also think each team can be looked at differently according to the style of the team offense. You could watch film and see Tomi up at the top of the circle/wing position probably more than you would see him down in the box. Would that be where some people call the guard position? Is the guard label based solely on ball handling skills? If it's based on ball handling skills I think a lot of people would be surprised how many players labeled as "guards" are not what most would consider great ball handlers. To me, it really comes down to the type of offense you run. Look at Michigan last year, I would consider Yaxel a guard more than I would a small forward. Just as I also wouldn't call Burnett a guard he is more of a small forward to me. Is the guard label based on height? The way the game is changing, more and more offenses play most players all over the court. Do I look at our lineup and want to face a full court press every game..nope. Am I smart enough to realize most teams don't press as much these days, because the offense is a lot more motion by all 5 players, leaving the teams unable to spend that much energy on both ends, Yep. Again I understand, I just don't agree, because every teams offense is different.
 
#708      
Navy_illini
with all our returning players if they make improvements in their game and work on their weaknesses that will help replace the scoring we lost from our guards. I think if our new additions can focus on learning the defense and rebounding we will be very good. The defense we played after Wisconsin was something we didn’t see all year. We don’t need to score 90+ to win. Our guards played very well on defense in that stretch
 
#712      
EmeraldCityIllini
mysterio2525 said:
really even with stojakavic, Jake, and morillo already here? I'm not sure where morillo really fits between the 1-3 spots when he gets to college... that's the real variable.

either way it's just hard to understand going from Blackwell to nothing. he's not a nice to have player. he's a game changer. I'm never going to assume a freshman can come in and be a star unless they are top 10 recruit. can it happen sure... but counting on that is too big a risk for a team in this enviable position. momentum swings quickly and before you know it can be gone.
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Not too speak for the staff, but do you think in order to be a final four team again we need Coleman to be a star?

Agree on Morillo, it’s a variable.

But I really don’t view Jake as just a small forward option off the bench. I see no reason why a Vaaks, Davis, Stojakovic, Mirk, and Ivisic lineup wouldn’t work - Jake can easily play the 2 to me since Vaaks, Stojakovic, and Mirk can all handle and create.
 
#713      
Mobi
LvilleILL1 said:
Please go look at other rosters. We have eight guys that are really good. A couple more that can be serviceable behind them. What do you expect? You aren't going to have 12 guys that are all top level in this day and age.
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I think we have enough depth but best to have a backup PG in case of injury. Unless we are confident about Ethan.
 
#714      
My2Cents
Fly Illini Fly! said:
We aren't in on him. (just posted since it's a notable development -- we play @TTU next year)
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To me, that is the perfect example of the type of game I am not worried about like I normally would be, because of the amount of returners and who those returners are. I can see the road kill gifs already lol


Disclaimer: If I am wrong and we get blown out please disregard.
 
#718      
fatboyslim
PepeSilvia said:
UConn has legitimate starting 5 that is arguably every bit as talented as ours.

Solomon Ball will be back. (2x All Big East)
Silas Demary - All Big East(regular and defensive), was injured in March.
Braylon Mullins - likely would have been a late first round pick, I thought he got better as the season progressed
Nik Khamenia - will play the Karaban role, 5-star that played 20 minutes per game for Duke.
Najai Hines - physical force, will dunk, defend, and rebound at a high level.

Then they will bring back Jayden Ross(6'7 wing that played basically 20 minutes a game off the bench) and add Colben Landrew(22nd ranked recruit) and Junior County(36th).

They probably need an backup center but that roster is very talented and they probably have the best coach in college basketball in Hurley though hopefully losing Murray will hurt their offense.
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wncillini said:
It appears to be a better starting 5 than ours. We will see when the game is played.
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So two of their starting 5 have a combined 5 starts with Hines never starting a game but somehow their starting 5 'appears to be better than ours'

my beautiful dark twisted fantasy GIF
 
#720      
MDchicago
illiniguy1234 said:
Didn't impress me once in his walk-on minutes. I would imagine he transfers down a level.
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He can play, but given our positional size and shooting targets, isn't a great fit for someone wanting a bigger role with this Illinois team.

Always struck me as smaller than listed when on the court...
 
#722      
Mobi
LvilleILL1 said:
I'm trying to not to put too much pressure on the kid, but Brown has the potential to shock a lot of people in here next year. All I will say for now.
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Bases on the videos I have seen, like him a lot. Not super athletic but a guard who can shoot, drive, and pass, seemingly intelligent. Obviously not as good but the best comp for Illinois players I have seen is Wagler.
 
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