My interpretation is all the guys he views as critical to work with all summer are already here. Deep depth pieces that will rarely see the floor once late December rolls around are a little less critical.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
It would be a European add, so they probably wouldn't get here until August. Again I am not expecting it to be a massive piece, but just for some more depth.
Howard Williams would be the guy I want out of that entire group.
I just don’t buy the waiting until the summer thing. I will die on the hill screaming they need another guard. Badly.
Bring an experienced guy to solidify that spot. We are trying to win a national championship. In my opinion, you need experienced guards to do that.
Look, there is ZERO doubt that @LvilleILL1 and many, many others know more about this team and its players than I do. Ethan Brown may be all that and a bag of chips, but I personally would prefer to not be in a position where we are depending on him. We are 1 freak injury in the backcourt from possibly being in that spot. I don’t like that.
Get a guy with some experience in here to bolster things. Keaton Wagler was 1 of 1. That likely will never happen again.
For a team with serious title aspirations, I want to count on as few freshmen as possible. No problem with Coleman and Morillo playing a lot. After that I want as many veterans as possible.
JMHO.
Bring an experienced guy to solidify that spot. We are trying to win a national championship. In my opinion, you need experienced guards to do that.
Look, there is ZERO doubt that @LvilleILL1 and many, many others know more about this team and its players than I do. Ethan Brown may be all that and a bag of chips, but I personally would prefer to not be in a position where we are depending on him. We are 1 freak injury in the backcourt from possibly being in that spot. I don’t like that.
Get a guy with some experience in here to bolster things. Keaton Wagler was 1 of 1. That likely will never happen again.
For a team with serious title aspirations, I want to count on as few freshmen as possible. No problem with Coleman and Morillo playing a lot. After that I want as many veterans as possible.
JMHO.
Hope you're right. Illinois isnt alone in this as even Duke has highly anticipated guys flame out, but until they get here and prove it you will never actually know who's really good enough and who's not. Some guys just dont transition well for a variety of reasons. Lee was supposed to be ready for solid time but couldn't even get into a game where we only has 1 guard playing. You just never know.
This isnt the year to guess we have enough talent. If we have 15 spots fill them all up with the best talent you can buy whether you think you need them or not. NIL basketball is year to year. Get them now and worry about next year next year. Duke doesn't say no to the 7th burger boy if they already have 6. They grab the 6th and look for a 7th. I dont care prime michael Jordan is on our team. You have an extra spot grab kobe. This is the year to go for it.
We can recalibrate next year after we win the natty and everyone bolts for the nba.
Brown and one more transfer and we will be fine.
I would classify both as guards (as I do Jake Davis)…. I understand it’s been said Morillo will see some minutes at forward but he is a guard by natural archetype
If we are looking Europe again, why didn’t we try to keep Bilic or was he a guy who we took to satisfy his agent?
Was Bilic really that bad that he couldn’t service a 5-10 minute backup 4 man role?
Yes I know it was a favor to Misko in the first place
Yes I know it was a favor to Misko in the first place
A lot of forwards on that list
If we throw a small lineup in, Morillo can play the 4 in small minutes. Brad could throw multiple personnel at teams.
Well that would be something
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Are you a talent scout or something?
Not according to the team's own roster.
4 Gs and at least 2 Fs that brought up the ball last year.
It is a shame that they want to be a team that can win and not the team to beat.
Davion is a dog.
Just like Quentin Coleman should’ve been in thr 2026 instate class. Illinois hs basketball is dead now. Pettigrew might stay at Bolingbrook because his dad is the football coach there. Besides that it’s rare for a player to stay and not go to a prep school
If Brandon Lee wasn't good enough to play as a freshman, then neither is Brown. Lee was the 99th OVR prospect and Brown is 118th.
Yes recruiting rankings DO matter. Plus, we're talking about freshman (this isn't 3 or 4 years down the line).
Keaton was the exception, not the rule.
Actually, Jakstys is more likely to see a rise in PT than Brown. Will be his 4th year in the program... and his rebound rate is terrific in the minimal time he's gotten - 17.5% OR and 22.5% DR. Seemed decently athletic as a lob threat.
Yes recruiting rankings DO matter. Plus, we're talking about freshman (this isn't 3 or 4 years down the line).
Keaton was the exception, not the rule.
Actually, Jakstys is more likely to see a rise in PT than Brown. Will be his 4th year in the program... and his rebound rate is terrific in the minimal time he's gotten - 17.5% OR and 22.5% DR. Seemed decently athletic as a lob threat.
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Davis is the only one officially listed as a forward. Stoj, Morillo, and Vaaks are an inch taller but still listed as guards.
The luxury of having Jake with starting 2 guard experience is huge.
80'sIllini
- Arizona
I'll take the opinion of the staff over any of us non-insiders who have pretty much seen nothing of our freshmen play other than highlight tapes against high school competition or a playground AAU game. I'll admit that other than Coleman and Morillo the other frosh are not highly ranked but hopefully BU and staff can continue finding diamonds in the rough with one or more of the others. And, Morillo can play point in a pinch if needed. I'm more worried about a backup for Mirk. Tomi and big Z need to get tougher defending and rebounding in the paint when Mirk is resting or in foul trouble.
It is true Brown is more likely to play as a freshman than Lee.
It’s also true a big part of that is Brown won’t be having a top 5 pick playing 35 minutes infront of him.
If only we had a coach and a staff who knew how to put together a roster /s