Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[IlliniNash]

Hey, I want to see Illinois win a national championship. They are arguably the best program to have never won one.

Now they are coming off a final four run and retained a ton of talent while a lot of the top tier programs lost a lot. It's a unique opportunity that is not going to come around every year(or potentially for several years).

The current roster is awesome with Vaaks, Morillo, Stojakovic, Mirk, Tomislav, Zvonimir, Morillo, and Jake plus potentially Lee and the other 3 freshman.

However, I don't want to see them get complacent and just rely on retention, Vaaks, and the freshman because things don't always go according to plan.

Injuries happen, freshman don't live up to expectations or can take time to adjust. Also, the final four run was awesome but they only beat 1 team(Houston) that finished in the kenpom top 20. They beat the 14, 11, 2, and 9 seeds to get there, it was a great draw and they took advantage but things won't necessarily fall that way again.

Purdue last year opened as the preseason #1 and relied on retaining a good core, adding a good transfer in Cluff, and a touted international prospect in Mayer. They ended up finishing 6th in the Big10 although they did win the conference tourney, and then got soundly beat in the Elite 8.

I think Illinois already has better roster construction than Purdue did last year but you have a chance to make a great team an all timer if you have the type of money Blackwell was asking for that you can go spend on another addition.

To take a page from Coach Yost, I think the goal should be to leave no doubt(or as you saw Jaylon Johnson talking about Ben Johnson wanting to blow opponents out not just win).

I think Blackwell was less about money and more about fit. Blackwell’s camp wanted higher usage. I was not a big fan of bring him in. Just had a bad feeling about what he would do for team chemistry.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

If Vaaks, Coleman, Andrej, and Mirk each play 30 minutes and Tomi plays 25 minutes, that leaves just 55 minutes for the bench. That’s 20 for Davis, 20 for Z, and 15 for Morillo. Not easy to attract a quality player who’s willing to come in for a small bench role. Werner and Tausk are also decently confident that the freshman (Morillo and Ethan Brown) can provide quality guard minutes + Brandon Lee potentially.

I don’t think it’d be that small of a role. He’d back up the guard spots. Coleman and Vaaks should sit for around 25 minutes combined. Now, he might not get ALL 25 minutes… but there’s minutes available.

Justin Harmon in 2024 played 19min with Shannon, Hawkins, Domask all over 30min… with Ty and Quincy just under 25.

 

[KingWolf11]

Vaaks played the Wagler role for Providence….and he’s actually fairly quick laterally

Love ya 0440 and maybe (hopefully) Brad will make him use said lateral quickness but there is a legit shot he was the worst defender in the country last year if you watch the tape its so bad. Keaton is also a way better defender than people think.

 

[wncillini]

I think he wore the mask starting with Southern and ending with USC. If so, he was 34% before the mask (but with a handful of Q4 opponents), 30% with the mask, and 10% after the mask.

If you watch his shooting at Kentucky his shot movements are much smoother. They were quick but not rushed. Now it looks like hes playing hot potato. Hope he can work out his shot this summer. I feel likes he is just a well of untapped potential.

 

[drsmitty74]

Hell yeah. Pineapple is my favorite cottage cheese add, as well.

I do also enjoy pepper on it.

Agree, with peaches a close 2nd

 

[aaeismacgychel]

I think it’s really important Z takes a step up next year, puts on muscle, gets stronger. Especially at his base. Also he matures and shoots the 3 at a 33% or + clip. Also further developing his post moves as dog gone it he’s 7’ 2” tall. Nobody will block his shot. I’d like to see him score twice as much in the paint and on putbacks than 3’s. Defensively he’ll be fine if indeed he is stronger and puts on some weight. Fletch! Do your magic!

The biggest thing holding Z back is he still has a freshman body. Needs a full offseason with Fletch in the gym working his rear end off. First in, last out. He's not a bad rebounder or bad in the paint so much as his body is that of a crazy inflatable tube man so he gets bodied and pushed out of the way. An extra 15lbs of muscle is a big ask, but it would make a world of difference for him.

As for 3pt shooting, this Z's college career:
2024: 37.5% on low volume
2025: 37.6% on medium-high volume
2026 thru 2/4: 35.7% on medium-high volume
2026 2/4-April: 10.0% on medium volume

There is a striking anomaly here. Kid id about as consistent as they come 36-38% 3pt shooter who unfortunately went through a deep deep cold spell. Based on his prior history and his good form while shooting I'd be shocked if he doesn't return back to a 37% 3pt shooter next year. I also want us seeing at least 3 rim run 'oop attempts a game designed fir him.

Z's a big piece for us next year, if he can put on the strength and conditioning, sky really is the limit for him.

 

[Geno33]

After a 30 second clip, I am also all in on Ethan Brown. This guy can run the point. Perfect Underwood positionless basketball guy.

Very calm, not an emotional player, AKA Keaton. Missery is going to regret not getting this kid. Right down the road from them.

 

[Illynois]

DJ Wagner to Maryland, they might be solid.

He would’ve been the perfect Ty replacement. Always loved his size and game.

Catching up in the thread here, they also got bishop boswell from TN..Someone else i would've liked (Not sure how realistic or if interest was ever there, but me being an armchair gm). He's got size, good defender, and can shoot. Boswell v2 would've been quite the coincidence, ha.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]