Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[travelin' man]

My morning dose of Loyalty went from detailed discussions of ILLINI 9th man roster composition to Existential Angst!

That'll wake a guy up in the morning!!

Maybe it's a good time to remind people of the etymolgy of the term "fan".

2. Fan (Enthusiast/Admirer)

• Origin: A 19th-century abbreviation (clipping) of fanatic.
• Roots: Fanatic originates from the Latin fanaticus, meaning "madly inspired," often related to religious frenzy.

 

[wpr]

true story, I’ve never had cottage cheese before. I was thinking about getting some and heading to a park for a picnic this afternoon.

That way I can touch grass after the rollercoaster reactions here. I think both sides could use a bit of touching grass. I-L-L

Adding a little fruit to the cottage cheese is always a nice touch.

 

[pruman91]

lol , these recruiting threads are so representative of what our society has evolved into in this bizarro era of human interaction and glass half empty mindset.........seems like the better our Illini do , the worse our fanbase can enjoy said progression......so many topics of discussion eventually digress into very subtle subplots of meaningless mine fields that are thoroughly laughable in context and likelihood of actually being a distraction with the loaded roster we have RIGHT NOW.....

Being a lifelong glass half full guy I find amusement in , on one hand , a poster laboring hard to argue the need to add a 9th or 10th player to the roster and then in another post stating how BU only plays an 8 man rotation...........seems like some now just want to debate for the sake of arguing.........Last year at this time we had so many unproven players with so many scripts yet to be written....

Question marks were like holes on a prairie dog landscape.............no one had a clue that we would reach a FF.........Many had hopes of another Sweet 16 run.......some even pined over another Elite 8...........what then happened is historic in the annals of Illini MBB and we all celebrated said success..........now , WHAT has happened to show such worry and doom & gloom to take such a foothold in these threads ??????.................NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.......................repeat , NOTHING..............

We are in a better place now compared to last year.....we have proven players returning with a higher ranked recruiting class than last year........we have ANOTHER player going to be a high 1st rd draft pick .........It's time to finally shed the memories post 2005 and ENJOY the memories we are creating now.........players want to come to the Illini program......we don't have to beg anymore....
we have paid our dues to claim our spot among the top echelon ......I claim it proudly smiling from ear to ear.......

to those who can't be happy with where the Illini are now , well I sincerely hope you eventually gain an appreciation of how the hard work by players and staff has got us back in the saddle as an all time prosperous program.......

we are closing in on our first Natty....I believe this...........I really really really really do...............................JMHO...............

 

[IllinoisIntegrity]

Blackwell is the Storr of 2026.

 

[hangdog]

I have a hot take that's been hinted at, but I don't think specifically stated here.

The prevailing narrative, based on the timing of the media reporting, is that Blackwell backed away from ILL upon the return of AS.

My speculation based, outsider hot-take is that Coleman's camp was signaling to ILL staff that he would pivot elsewhere if Blackwell was signed. And the ILL chose Coleman.

If any insider wants to humiliated me based on these wretched thoughts, I can handle the abuse.

 

[kmunt09]

Don't forget, it's never too late for Nasir Rankin to save the day


It's going to be a great year - ILL

 

[Illini4Christ]

People in here need to understand that the talent across college basketball next year is not going to be the same as this year. There is not going to be an Arizona or Michigan like superteam, the transfers aren't as good overall, and the recruits aren't as high end compared to last year in terms of the elites.

Illinois has one of the four or five best rosters is the country. Could they push and add another stud? Sure, but it's not that easy. There are agents and other factors involved with that. I still stand by my thinking that they add someone over the next few months.

There are a ton of teams that have half a roster filled out with not a lot of options left, including blue bloods. It's okay to want more, but we are set to contend for a national championship next year. Have some faith in the evaluations that the staff made in Coleman and Morillo.

Yes and one thing I would like to add is what if John Blackwell is not an EDG or even what if he would blow up our unusually terrific and unselfish team chemistry?

We don’t know that but what if that would have been the case? Team chemistry can’t be measured but it’s what matters the most.

Go Illini!!!

 

[pruman91]

People in here need to understand that the talent across college basketball next year is not going to be the same as this year. There is not going to be an Arizona or Michigan like superteam, the transfers aren't as good overall, and the recruits aren't as high end compared to last year in terms of the elites.

Illinois has one of the four or five best rosters is the country. Could they push and add another stud? Sure, but it's not that easy. There are agents and other factors involved with that. I still stand by my thinking that they add someone over the next few months.

There are a ton of teams that have half a roster filled out with not a lot of options left, including blue bloods. It's okay to want more, but we are set to contend for a national championship next year. Have some faith in the evaluations that the staff made in Coleman and Morillo.

 

[IlliniChin14]

Hot take....

I'd rather have Vaaks over Blackwell knowing Andrej, Tomi, and Mirk are back.

Vaaks’ profile is more scalable—shooting, secondary playmaking, positional size, and overall adaptability with the current lineup. Blackwell is a proven volume guard, but he needs the ball in his hands to fully maximize his impact. With an already loaded roster, adding another high-usage creator like Blackwell could lead to diminishing returns. Vaaks, on the other hand, can slide into multiple roles—space the floor, keep the ball moving, and still create when needed—without hijacking possessions. He’s not a heliocentric scorer, and that’s kind of the point. His versatility makes the offense more flexible and harder to scheme against, especially in a tournament setting where predictability gets exposed. I’m also betting on Vaaks’ efficiency improving on a better team with better teammates and shot quality. In a more optimized role, his skillset scales up in a way that complements everyone else instead of competing with them.

 

[BryceHopkins]

lol , these recruiting threads are so representative of what our society has evolved into in this bizarro era of human interaction and glass half empty mindset.........seems like the better our Illini do , the worse our fanbase can enjoy said progression......so many topics of discussion eventually digress into very subtle subplots of meaningless mine fields that are thoroughly laughable in context and likelihood of actually being a distraction with the loaded roster we have RIGHT NOW.....

Being a lifelong glass half full guy I find amusement in , on one hand , a poster laboring hard to argue the need to add a 9th or 10th player to the roster and then in another post stating how BU only plays an 8 man rotation...........seems like some now just want to debate for the sake of arguing.........Last year at this time we had so many unproven players with so many scripts yet to be written....

Question marks were like holes on a prairie dog landscape.............no one had a clue that we would reach a FF.........Many had hopes of another Sweet 16 run.......some even pined over another Elite 8...........what then happened is historic in the annals of Illini MBB and we all celebrated said success..........now , WHAT has happened to show such worry and doom & gloom to take such a foothold in these threads ??????.................NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.......................repeat , NOTHING..............

We are in a better place now compared to last year.....we have proven players returning with a higher ranked recruiting class than last year........we have ANOTHER player going to be a high 1st rd draft pick .........It's time to finally shed the memories post 2005 and ENJOY the memories we are creating now.........players want to come to the Illini program......we don't have to beg anymore....
we have paid our dues to claim our spot among the top echelon ......I claim it proudly smiling from ear to ear.......

to those who can't be happy with where the Illini are now , well I sincerely hope you eventually gain an appreciation of how the hard work by players and staff has got us back in the saddle as an all time prosperous program.......

we are closing in on our first Natty....I believe this...........I really really really really do...............................JMHO...............

 

[wpr]

Oh c'mon now. Don't give Pru a big head.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

Adding a little fruit to the cottage cheese is always a nice touch.

Is this referring to recruiting… or just about cottage cheese?

 

[MDchicago]

lol , these recruiting threads are so representative of what our society has evolved into in this bizarro era of human interaction and glass half empty mindset.........seems like the better our Illini do , the worse our fanbase can enjoy said progression......so many topics of discussion eventually digress into very subtle subplots of meaningless mine fields that are thoroughly laughable in context and likelihood of actually being a distraction with the loaded roster we have RIGHT NOW.....

Being a lifelong glass half full guy I find amusement in , on one hand , a poster laboring hard to argue the need to add a 9th or 10th player to the roster and then in another post stating how BU only plays an 8 man rotation...........seems like some now just want to debate for the sake of arguing.........Last year at this time we had so many unproven players with so many scripts yet to be written....

Question marks were like holes on a prairie dog landscape.............no one had a clue that we would reach a FF.........Many had hopes of another Sweet 16 run.......some even pined over another Elite 8...........what then happened is historic in the annals of Illini MBB and we all celebrated said success..........now , WHAT has happened to show such worry and doom & gloom to take such a foothold in these threads ??????.................NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.......................repeat , NOTHING..............

We are in a better place now compared to last year.....we have proven players returning with a higher ranked recruiting class than last year........we have ANOTHER player going to be a high 1st rd draft pick .........It's time to finally shed the memories post 2005 and ENJOY the memories we are creating now.........players want to come to the Illini program......we don't have to beg anymore....
we have paid our dues to claim our spot among the top echelon ......I claim it proudly smiling from ear to ear.......

to those who can't be happy with where the Illini are now , well I sincerely hope you eventually gain an appreciation of how the hard work by players and staff has got us back in the saddle as an all time prosperous program.......

we are closing in on our first Natty....I believe this...........I really really really really do...............................JMHO...............

 

[Mobi]

People in here need to understand that the talent across college basketball next year is not going to be the same as this year. There is not going to be an Arizona or Michigan like superteam, the transfers aren't as good overall, and the recruits aren't as high end compared to last year in terms of the elites.

Illinois has one of the four or five best rosters is the country. Could they push and add another stud? Sure, but it's not that easy. There are agents and other factors involved with that. I still stand by my thinking that they add someone over the next few months.

There are a ton of teams that have half a roster filled out with not a lot of options left, including blue bloods. It's okay to want more, but we are set to contend for a national championship next year. Have some faith in the evaluations that the staff made in Coleman and Morillo.

Agree. We probably want to add one but are competing with these factors (usage rate, other schools more motivated, agents raising prices, etc.) We are in like the best shape early off season since the portal era. There is always a chance to find a gem in Europe (e.g., Miirk.)

 

[IlliniGreen]

We have a spot open for a veteran player. I'm thinking a true point guard that can get in the paint and shoot some. Doesn't have to start but a solid contributor. Anyone think that Mikey Lewis could fill this spot nicely. They say he's a bit turnover prone but at times had to force the issue. Played for a solid St Mary's team.

 

[hangdog]

Is this referring to recruiting… or just about cottage cheese?

So you're saying, without adding something to the mix, the Illini are just plain cottage cheese?

 

[SuperintendentChalmers]

If you cant see how ELITE this team can be next year maybe you should switch to needlepoint .

There will always be people who see trouble looming.

 

[Grandpa]

true story, I’ve never had cottage cheese before. I was thinking about getting some and heading to a park for a picnic this afternoon.

That way I can touch grass after the rollercoaster reactions here. I think both sides could use a bit of touching grass. I-L-L

I am surrounded by grass. I touch grass every day unless there is deep snow. That's probably why I never say anything crazy on here.

 

[RollChief]

But all of that is a different question from whether we've assembled the right traits in the team as a whole. Coleman and Morillo look like really promising players and contributors, but neither is a point guard or a true big, and the players they are replacing (Boswell and Humrichous) were valuable for us precisely because they gave the team those capabilities.

I don't think your post is unreasonable by any means, so definitely not trying to argue here; but considering how the staff has (successfully) constructed rosters over the last few years, I don't think we necessarily need to be boxed in by the traditional 1-5 categorization of players. If you went back a year and guessed who our PG would be at the start of last year, 95 out of 100 would say Petrovic, as Boswell spends a lot more time at SG than PG, and it was pretty hard to imagine 6-6, 160-pound Keaton Wagler running point. Ben was by no means a true 4 last year and seemed to spend just as much time guarding on the wing as he did in the post. I know we're looking for a replacement for Ben, but I don't think we had a pure, true-to-form "back-up 4".

That's a solvable problem but 1. the team is going to have to play differently and 2. it would be good to supplement in at least one of those areas.

Probably, as they have every year! That's the fun part, and why Underwood is considered a great coach in the era of NIL and transfer portal. He adapts pretty well to the cards being dealt, whether it's pocket aces or 2's and 3's.

 

[sacraig]

Cottage cheese has a mild, creamy, and slightly tangy flavor, often described as a savory, less-sour version of Greek yogurt or a cross between ricotta and sour cream. It consists of soft, moist curds with a lumpy, creamy texture, generally featuring a low-to-moderate, milky, and salty taste.

Key Taste and Texture Profile:

• Flavor: Mild, neutral, and slightly tangy due to fermentation.
• Texture: Creamy, moist, and lumpy; some prefer smaller curds for a smoother feel.
• Versatility:Its neutral taste makes it highly adaptable to both sweet (fruit, honey) and savory (black pepper, tomatoes, herbs) additions
• Variation: Taste can vary by brand, with some being more acidic and others more creamy or salty.

Common Comparisons:

• Sour cream: For its tanginess.
• Ricotta or Mozzarella: For its mild, fresh dairy flavor.
• Plain Greek Yogurt: For its creamy, slightly acidic profile.
  

It is frequently eaten with fruit, in salads, or on toast, say users on Facebook

There's a deep dish place in Tucson, AZ that tastes like you're in Chicago: Rocco's. Filled with Sox paraphernalia rather than Cubs, for those who care about such a thing.

 

[pruman91]

Oh c'mon now. Don't give Pru a big head.

 

[Kendall Gill’s Uncle]

Lots of yelling... but can we get Ty back or has that ship sailed? Can't we just pay him a bit more than market value to keep him happy and willing to accept a spot role?

I just don't trust our ability to defend with this roster and Ty would go along way to ease that worry.

How so? He hasn’t played in 2 years, has dealt with lower body injuries and struggled guarding quick guards (which seems to be the current concern with the roster) before.

 

[Bigtex]

He needs to develop an outside shot first before he's going to be ready for competitive B1G play. We've tried carrying players at 1-3 without an outside shot before and it just doesn't work.

You mean like Rodgers and Lee? Staff has transitioned and is looking for tall shooters Understand why guys might not see as much playing time as they want.

 

[ChiefGritty]

I don't think your post is unreasonable by any means, so definitely not trying to argue here; but considering how the staff has (successfully) constructed rosters over the last few years, I don't think we necessarily need to be boxed in by the traditional 1-5 categorization of players. If you went back a year and guessed who our PG would be at the start of last year, 95 out of 100 would say Petrovic, as Boswell spends a lot more time at SG than PG, and it was pretty hard to imagine 6-6, 160-pound Keaton Wagler running point. Ben was by no means a true 4 last year and seemed to spend just as much time guarding on the wing as he did in the post. I know we're looking for a replacement for Ben, but I don't think we had a pure, true-to-form "back-up 4".


Probably, as they have every year! That's the fun part, and why Underwood is considered a great coach in the era of NIL and transfer portal. He adapts pretty well to the cards being dealt, whether it's pocket aces or 2's and 3's.

We can twist ourselves into pretzels arguing about this stuff, but at the end of the day SOMEBODY is going to be the primary ballhandler, SOMEBODY else is going to do it when that primary person is off the floor, and SOMEBODY is going to be a fourth big called upon to defend post players.

You can change and customize your own team in various ways, but the needs presented in playing basketball against a variety of opponents don't change.

lol , these recruiting threads are so representative of what our society has evolved into

This place is a PhD course on human psychology.

 

[Epsilon]

People in here need to understand that the talent across college basketball next year is not going to be the same as this year. There is not going to be an Arizona or Michigan like superteam, the transfers aren't as good overall, and the recruits aren't as high end compared to last year in terms of the elites.

Illinois has one of the four or five best rosters is the country. Could they push and add another stud? Sure, but it's not that easy. There are agents and other factors involved with that. I still stand by my thinking that they add someone over the next few months.

There are a ton of teams that have half a roster filled out with not a lot of options left, including blue bloods. It's okay to want more, but we are set to contend for a national championship next year. Have some faith in the evaluations that the staff made in Coleman and Morillo.

Ppl also need to have more faith in the staff’s ability to develop players pre and throughout the season- despite the evidence we’ve seen the past few years.