Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[hangdog]

In my household, bacon has gone on the backburner since I started smoking pork bellies. I was able to stock my freezer full of pork bellies from Aldi when I found them for $2.99/pound. Might be a while until we cook bacon again...

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

espn releases first bracketology.

Men's Bracketology: Florida debuts as No. 1 overall seed for 2026-27

The Gators return their leading scorer to top the first forecasted field for next season's NCAA tournament.

www.espn.com

Illinois a 2 seed???? BOOO!!!!

MSU very overrated there.

 

[ImGonnaBeILL]

You think QC will be better than 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and All Big Ten Defense?

I absolutely believe Coleman can and will be better than post-injury KB offensively

I don't believe KB was anywhere close to being good enough at end of season. JMO his all defense was a gift based on rep IMO. He's fine with bigger/slower players that he can get his hands on. Quicker guards ate him alive most season. Is that still as good or better than what QC will bring defensively? Probably

12 games post-injury KB: 9.25pts/3.75 rb/2.41asst with .380fg%/.305 3fg%/.702 ft%

If QC posts those types offensive #s, I believe most will be highly disappointed.

 

[HensonHall71]

Field of 68 says we need a point guard... 7th... Woe is me!!!!

I think the National media need to get used to the fact that we aren’t going to have a 6’1” quick PG for the foreseeable future - our PG’s are going to be 6’6 guys who can shoot the three really well and run P&R who handle the ball just well enough (see KJ, Wagler, Vaaks) Brad and Tyler have a type and that’s who they want running the offense and it’s hard to argue with their results on offense

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

That’s because we do!

They said the same thing when we had Marcus Domask.

 

[FrankNitty30]

Lot's of straw man arguments being made on this thread. The people that were dissappointed that blackwell didn't come here were hoping we had a chance to be preseason #1, which hasn't happened in a long time, if ever. I don't think any of those people are saying the team isn't good. It's just going to be preseason #5 or so, not #1.

The response has been "some people think that right now illinois is the best team". Which is not the same thing as being preseason #1. I'd be willing to bet anyone that wants to that illinois will not be preseason #1. Doesn't make it a bad offseason, but also doesn't make it what people were getting excited about a couple weeks ago. It can both be true that it was a good offseason and not the "best" offseason possible. Blackwell is gonna go to Duke now (it seems, which isn't surprising) where he is going to have a similar non-A#1 role he would have had here. This is a similar story to last year with Sarr, a couple years ago with Storr, etc. That doesn't mean it is a bad offseason, but a fan has a right to be not happy about a recruit picking some other team.

I personally don't even think Blackwell is that great, so I'm not worried about it. But i also doubt very much that illinois will be the favorite to win the national championship at any point next year. Which doesn't mean we can't win the championship, but it has shown again that we are not a top tier program in the truest sense of the word (in the tier with Duke, UConn, Kansas, and despite their current issues UNC and Kentucky).

I think if we signed Blackwell we would have been preseason #1, AND not been as good as whatever preseason rank we get this year.

 

[Krombopulos_Michael]

Winston Bishop as the backup to the backup. Book it

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Duke's roster right now:

Foster
Blackwell
Evans
Williams (#4 freshman)
Ngomba
.....
Boozer
Sarr
Rippey (#10 freshman)
Howard (#14 freshman)
Scharnowski (Belmont transfer)
Wilkins (#35 recruit in 2025; redshirted THIS PAST SEASON as developmental decision)

Evans is really the lone true draft decision there.

There is NO other program -- I mean nobody -- that's capable of stacking that much talent on one roster PRESEASON (we don't know how it's gonna turn out, but preseason).

It's kind of like Ohio State's wide receiver room.

 

[Orangetool]

This will probably be an unpopular opinion, but in addition to just not being a great fit (adding a guy who scores points but doesn't add much else to a group that will have no issues scoring), I actually just feel like he's just not that good.

The overall quality of what was available via portal this year seemed far weaker than previous years, so I do get him being highly ranked there, but what does he do other than score? I guess he is a good rebounder for his size... but, again, something we already have in droves.

He wasn't even the leading scorer on a 24-11 Wisconsin team.

So, in all, the ball dominance combined with non-upgrades in virtually every other facet of his game and I think as far as Illinois is concerned as a fit: redundant with the potential to create chemistry problems.

Yup, this right here.

 

[STLini25]

Honestly, how do you know that with his size/frame and a summer to body up, he's not a John Wall, one and done type? The answer is, you don't.

Keaton was great for us, but also had peaks and a couple of significant valleys. He had a stretch there where he was taking 17 shots to get 19 points, 15 shots for 17, etc. He also had issues finishing at the rim.

He is not being drafted highly because of the season he had in totality, he's being drafted by what teams think he can be and what they are projecting him to be three years from now. In no way is Keaton ready to go in and play day 1. He'd get physically humiliated.

That's the NBA draft nowadays. In what world should KJ have been drafted earlier than TSJ or Ayo? He was a walking turnover his freshman year, while TJ was arguably the most dominant player in college basketball. The problem with TJ was his age.

Youth and projection > experience and being a proven commodity.

So, with regards to college production, yes..... Keaton's production can be replaced. His upside.... probably not.

I’m not sure if you were actually responding to me but if so the OP was talking about Boswell/QC not Wagler.

 

[STLini25]

To toot my own horn a little bit, I was saying this about paying players over a decade ago.

Illinois' first five-star in a class has more value than Duke's fourth, and NIL allows that market to clear.


I don't, but I think he'll shoot more efficiently, which will stretch defenses with him standing in the corner more than Boswell did.

I really appreciate the flexibility and selflessness with which Boswell took on multiple different roles in his time here, but Coleman as a freshman is better suited to just be a catch-and-shoot weapon that can attack an undisciplined closeout. If we put him in a position to play simple basketball I think he'll eat that up.

All fair points. I’ve seen QC play 5 times in person. I’m very interested to see how he develops/performs over the next year.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Field of 68 rankings also has MSU over Illinois. I don't see it. 2nd year in a row they are going to lose top players and not replace them. They do have a good freshman class, but Izzo isn't known for relying on freshman.

Not even biased when I say this... Illinois needs to be top 5 preseason. And I think they will be once people get down to it.

Outside of UCONN / DUKE / MICHIGAN / FLA .... there's not a better roster in CBB (even among those teams UCONN lost Ball for the year; and we're uncertain on scUM's draft decisions).

Add in the fact that all this is off the backs of making the F4.

 

[SkyysNotFalling]

This will probably be an unpopular opinion, but in addition to just not being a great fit (adding a guy who scores points but doesn't add much else to a group that will have no issues scoring), I actually just feel like he's just not that good.

The overall quality of what was available via portal this year seemed far weaker than previous years, so I do get him being highly ranked there, but what does he do other than score? I guess he is a good rebounder for his size... but, again, something we already have in droves.

He wasn't even the leading scorer on a 24-11 Wisconsin team.

So, in all, the ball dominance combined with non-upgrades in virtually every other facet of his game and I think as far as Illinois is concerned as a fit: redundant with the potential to create chemistry problems.

Agreed after sitting on it

 

[jamarvelous31]

Duke's roster right now:

Foster
Blackwell
Evans
Williams (#4 freshman)
Ngomba
.....
Boozer
Sarr
Rippey (#10 freshman)
Howard (#14 freshman)
Scharnowski (Belmont transfer)
Wilkins (#35 recruit in 2025; redshirted THIS PAST SEASON as developmental decision)

Evans is really the lone true draft decision there.

There is NO other program -- I mean nobody -- that's capable of stacking that much talent on one roster PRESEASON (we don't know how it's gonna turn out, but preseason).

It's kind of like Ohio State's wide receiver room.

Would be pretty surprised if Evans doesn't declare.

Rippey likely moves to starting 5, Duke still has the most talented roster in CBB and Scheyer will still find a way to lose..

 

[Illiniforlife]

espn releases first bracketology.

Men's Bracketology: Florida debuts as No. 1 overall seed for 2026-27

The Gators return their leading scorer to top the first forecasted field for next season's NCAA tournament.

www.espn.com

Illinois a 2 seed???? BOOO!!!!

That makes sense. I do think this team is being overhyped a bit. We’ll be a very good team and should comfortably be in the top 10, but thinking this group is a top‑five team in the country feels unrealistic. At best, I see us around 8 or 9.

It also feels like a lot of people have framed this season as Final Four or bust, and unless we get a really favorable path like we did this past year, I don’t see this team making another Final Four run. The biggest issue is depth—we just don’t have enough of it.

I’d also take the starting lineup of several other teams over ours. Realistically, we have about seven guys who will be dependable contributors this season, which means injuries would be extremely difficult to overcome. Hopefully everyone stays healthy, because we don’t have much margin for error.

 

[Det_Illini_fan]

Not even biased when I say this... Illinois needs to be top 5 preseason. And I think they will be once people get down to it.

Outside of UCONN / DUKE / MICHIGAN / FLA .... there's not a better roster in CBB (even among those teams UCONN lost Ball for the year; and we're uncertain on scUM's draft decisions).

Add in the fact that all this is off the backs of making the F4.

I think it’s fair to say Duke will likely be 1 and Florida at 2, though if they fix their back court they’ll be solidly a 2 or possible 1 depending on just how much they fix it (ie Momilovic)

Then I could see either UCONN or Illinois, leaning towards us with Ball out for the season, but it’s a tight enough race.

Michigan is dependent on the Draft. If they retain I could see them jumping us both, but if not they could drop a couple spots.

 

[Det_Illini_fan]

Would be pretty surprised if Evans doesn't declare.

Rippey likely moves to starting 5, Duke still has the most talented roster in CBB and Scheyer will still find a way to lose..

I think he just did declare, announced within the hour I believe

 

[hoopsfan47]

Just transferring over all his credits and stuff, should be announced any day now. Everything is signed.

Thanks Lville....we really needed that confirmation.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Would be pretty surprised if Evans doesn't declare.

He might be the best player on that team though. I think he stays.

What I feel is happening is alot of the guys projected late 1st round saw what Yaxel did ... and how his decision payed off in the long run. Come back, be the head of the snake on an awesome team... and boost your stock even more. Plus get paid very handsomely.

Why it makes sense for a guy like Haugh and (possibly) Evans to return.

.....

That makes sense. I do think this team is being overhyped a bit. We’ll be a very good team and should comfortably be in the top 10, but thinking this group is a top‑five team in the country feels unrealistic. At best, I see us around 8 or 9.

It also feels like a lot of people have framed this season as Final Four or bust, and unless we get a really favorable path like we did this past year, I don’t see this team making another Final Four run. The biggest issue is depth—we just don’t have enough of it.

I’d also take the starting lineup of several other teams over ours. Realistically, we have about seven guys who will be dependable contributors this season, which means injuries would be extremely difficult to overcome. Hopefully everyone stays healthy, because we don’t have much margin for error.

It's just so easy to say this... but not get down to it. If you're gonna claim we're 8 or 9, then you should be able to name 7 or 8 teams that have a more talented roster than ours.

 

[LvilleILL1]

He might be the best player on that team though. I think he stays.

He just declared for the draft and is gone.

 

[Combo]

Duke's roster right now:

Foster
Blackwell
Evans
Williams (#4 freshman)
Ngomba
.....
Boozer
Sarr
Rippey (#10 freshman)
Howard (#14 freshman)
Scharnowski (Belmont transfer)
Wilkins (#35 recruit in 2025; redshirted THIS PAST SEASON as developmental decision)

Evans is really the lone true draft decision there.

There is NO other program -- I mean nobody -- that's capable of stacking that much talent on one roster PRESEASON (we don't know how it's gonna turn out, but preseason).

It's kind of like Ohio State's wide receiver room.

It's been that way for close to 30 years now. In fact I'd say this coming year might not be as ridiculous as some in the past. They typically have 6-9 Burger boys, a few ranked top 5-10 coming out.

Kentucky had several years with Coach Cal when they equaled what Duke has had. Outside of that, no one comes close.

Add in ridiculously favorable officiating and it's hard to see how they haven't won it all more often.

 

[sacraig]

He just declared for the draft and is gone.