Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#51      
illiniguy24
After sleeping on it, these are my thoughts.

This team has very special chemistry and buy in to win. The last thing we need is Blackwell and or his agent ruffling feathers in December or January because he is frustrated.

I trust Brad and co to find one last piece for this team, preferably an athletic bench player or vet ball handler who can guard
 
#53      
March2TheArch
Are we saying 12 points in 15 minutes wasn’t good enough?……
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I watched the game. Is 12 pts on 12 shots good? See I can twist the numbers too. I was speaking off a look test. QC is noticeably smaller and a step slower than some of the more athletic guys in the showcase. It’s an all-star game. I’m aware. But you can still observe how players move with the ball.
 
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#54      
pruman91
foby said:
Selfishness rules in a game like this so it is virtually impossible to evaluate someone's potential on a team like ours. Coleman's game fits perfectly in our system and he should flourish.
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I concur...............I watched 4-5 minutes and saw it was a no passing , chuck up 3's game with some kind of weird lighting going on.............

there's no way to project what a player will do in an organized college program accurately enough to predict numbers.....no defense games are boring to me......playground BB at best............
 
#55      
HensonHall71
I really think this is who we need to round out the team
www.espn.com

Justyn Fernandez Career Stats - NCAAM - ESPN

Complete career NCAAM stats for the Delaware Blue Hens Guard Justyn Fernandez on ESPN. Includes points, rebounds, and assists.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Elite athlete, long arms, 40% three point shooter on over 5pg, 88% FT, good rebounder with 4.6pg good court vision, chance to be elite defender with athleticism and positional size at 6-5 at SG

The last two years our top 2 players have been freshman, which partly contributed to our tourny exists playing more experienced teams. It would be great to have a starting lineup without any freshman and bring two talented freshman off the bench. Justyn could be that senior 3 and D guy to be the missing piece
 
#56      
OB positive
Kendall Gill’s Uncle said:
Whether Vaaks/Coleman are better than Boz/Wagler isn’t the deciding factor in this team being as good or even better.

I think with this roster there is opportunity for even more balance than last years team, which makes you harder to defend. Keaton was unbelievable this year, no doubt he is a legend. Late in the year, I felt the ball got stuck in his hands at times and everyone else would just stand around.

The balance UCONN had in the Final 4 game and their ability to make their 3s is what beat us. Vaaks and Coleman have the ability to shoot the 3 at a higher clip than Wagler and Boswell. Boswell was not great offensively after the injury.

Just relax and enjoy the fact that you have an awesome team coming back and it’s April 18th. You can’t make a guy come if he doesn’t want to.
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They don't have to be better. They just need to be steady and consistent in their roles. With who we have returning and their expected improvement we don't necessarily have to have the same output from those spots as we did with Keaton and Boz.
 
#57      
March2TheArch
I concur...............I watched 4-5 minutes and saw it was a no passing , chuck up 3's game with some kind of weird lighting going on.............

there's no way to project what a player will do in an organized college program accurately enough to predict numbers.....no defense games are boring to me......playground BB at best............
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I don’t disagree. But it’s silly to outright dismiss a player’s athleticism and stroke.

We’ve had elite athletes in Ayo and TSJ. It’s not everything but it’s something. See: Morez.
 
#59      
63 Split
Stunned at the abrupt end to Blackwell pursuit. We were laser focused and going full-tilt…we were perfect fit…we had plenty of money…we were not pivoting…then, it all collapsed with one “I think we’re done for the year”! What happened?
1) were we simply outbid?
2) did incoming recruits say, ‘if Blackwell comes… I’m backing out’?
3) was it Andrej or Blackwell, but not both?
4) too many mouths that Blackwell can’t be “the man”?
5) the “cost of Blackwell” became too out-of-sync with rest of team?
6) an insulting Underwood “fart noise”?

The absence of answers brings speculation…mine is #2.
 
#61      
Dinger
Oracle21 said:
We have nobody that can stop dribble penetration playing this lineup.

Vaaks
Stojakovic
Davis
Mirk
Tomi

So what’s the plan on defense? Is Vaaks gonna be the KJ of this group?
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6' 7"
6' 7"
6' 6"
6' 9"
7' 1"

What's the plan on defense???
Dare teams to shoot, pass, rebound around our Monstar size lineup.
Then make their 6' pg guard Vaaks and Dre
Worked ok last year.
 
#62      
phats22
HereSoIDontGetFined said:
I don't know exactly what Blackwell's demands were, but the idea that they just watched an Illini team with three different guys who bring the ball up and multiple guys capable of getting their own shot go to the Final Four, and now he's like nah I don't want that because I won't get used enough? Sounds like he should have just stayed at Wisconsin.
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yeah, top scoring offense that was guard centric/friendly and multiple players excelling plus a program now putting multiple guards in the draft the past 4 years? sounds like a terrible spot to shine
 
#63      
joeybcrazy13
Star Wars GIF
 
#64      
Illini4Christ
Milan Momcilovic from Iowa State shot close to 50% from the three. He is the best shooter in the portal and is a 6’8”.
 
#65      
TheDukeUIUC

Quentin Coleman highlight from Jordan Brand Classic.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2045362219815469524

Box score. QC with 12/2/5 on 5/12 shooting.
Not being a Debbie Downer but just a realist. But some of the other players stood out a bit more athletically and skill-wise.

Not trying to sound alarm bells but QC as a freshman may or may not be ready to be a 30min starter on a team hoping to be playing next April in Detroit.

Full game (boys play at 2:20 mark):
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Also, 12 shots in only 15 minutes sounds absurd.
 
#66      
Illini in Indiana
Illini1977 said:
Look, if we don’t get Blackwell will I be disappointed? Sure.
Great opportunity squandered? Absolutely
A crushing blow? Yes
Will I get over it? No, but life goes on, but not for me
Season 7 Nbc GIF by The Office

/s jk super excited about this team!
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LOL, made me giggle and I get it. I would love to get Blackwell.

But I'm thinking we have very a solid core, lets see which freshman will step in to that role.
They won't be Keaton, but we have plenty ball handlers and high IQ players.
 
#67      
BBlock24
March2TheArch said:

Quentin Coleman highlight from Jordan Brand Classic.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2045362219815469524

Box score. QC with 12/2/5 on 5/12 shooting.
Not being a Debbie Downer but just a realist. But some of the other players stood out a bit more athletically and skill-wise.

Not trying to sound alarm bells but QC as a freshman may or may not be ready to be a 30min starter on a team hoping to be playing next April in Detroit.

Full game (boys play at 2:20 mark):
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It's April lol. Let's at least wait until he gets a full summer of team practice and work with Fletch before doing the "Debbie downer" bit, okay?
 
#69      
IndyIllini2
March2TheArch said:

Quentin Coleman highlight from Jordan Brand Classic.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2045362219815469524

Box score. QC with 12/2/5 on 5/12 shooting.
Not being a Debbie Downer but just a realist. But some of the other players stood out a bit more athletically and skill-wise.

Not trying to sound alarm bells but QC as a freshman may or may not be ready to be a 30min starter on a team hoping to be playing next April in Detroit.

Full game (boys play at 2:20 mark):
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After watching the worst all-star game in history, you draw that conclusion. This was more And1 than an actual basketball game. They had a 5-foot fat guy in an toon squad uniform announcing on the floor. No conclusions can be drawn from this game whatsoever.
 
#71      
Trueblue777
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr? said:
Justin Harmon type would be perfect.

5ppg, first guard off the bench, provides decent spark… hopefully shoots it well from 3.
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Just me, but I’d rather have a combo guard along the lines like you mentioned (Justin Harmon) and a athletic big that is nasty inside and can give you rebounds,D, and be a serviceable scorer than Blackwell. But in order for that to happen one more player on the current roster would have to enter the portal and eventually decide to transfer elsewhere. Maybe we already got a guard on the roster to fill that need in Brandon Lee.
 
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#73      
Boomauer
NarrowJ said:
When I watched David Mirkovic in the Hoops Summit last year I sort of thought the same thing. Good player, had a couple moments in the game that gave you a glimpse, but certainly didn’t stand out.

One year later and he’s the 2nd best player on a Final Four team.
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My take was a little different. What I saw was a kid who was aggressive in calling for the ball as he crossed into the lane and got to the right places on the court offensively and defensively. Seemed very confident in his game.
 
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