Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

#651      
23674477
LvilleILL1 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Florida and Duke already say hello
 
#654      
sacraig
ChiefGritty said:
Is 65% annual inflation sustainable? Let's ask this Argentine economist!
Click to expand...
President Of Argentina Trump GIF by Respective
 
#656      
CoalCity
AceRothstein said:
You evidently didn’t get the marching orders. Just last week, we all loved Blackwell and considered him critical to putting us over the top. But now we don’t need him and will be champs without him because… uh… we just will, OK!?

Don’t question it; just fall in line, comrade. The edict hath been decreed from on high, and dissenting opinions have no refuge here.
Click to expand...
Downvote
 
#657      
lstewart53x3
Aillini32 said:
Not sure why this needs spelled out, but Coleman is going to be relied upon to be one the lead ball handlers if not PG from the jump, whereas McCoy will be off the ball or a secondary creator. Completely different scenarios. I think Coleman should be completely fine as the 4th or 5th option on the team, it’s whether he can be a lead guard in crunch time as a true freshman that has people like myself nervous
Click to expand...
This is one of the most confident incorrect posts I’ve seen on this board. Vaaks will be our lead guard. The staff sees Vaaks as the Keaton replacement. So no, Coleman will not be asked to be our pg from the jump or be a lead guard in crunch time.
 
#658      
Fly Illini Fly!
RabidDawgClassic said:
Yeah, but once we get that serviceable 9th guy we’re gonna want a serviceable 10th guy. Where does it end??
Click to expand...
Well.... every year (since basically COVID) we've gone into the season 9 or 10 deep. Then as the year progresses the rotation works itself out.

This year it's 8, which is a bit light, and definitely different.
 
Last edited:
#661      
Aillini32
lstewart53x3 said:
This is one of the most confident incorrect posts I’ve seen on this board. Vaaks will be our lead guard. The staff sees Vaaks as the Keaton replacement. So no, Coleman will not be asked to be our pg from the jump or be a lead guard in crunch time.
Click to expand...
1. We have no clue who the PG is going to be, others on different boards think it will be Coleman.
2. If Vaaks doesn’t workout at point, Coleman or Morillo will be the guy.
3. Coleman will more than likely be the backup point.

Back to the original post, McCoy will be in none of those positions for Michigan. Hope this helps
 
#662      
Combo
hangdog said:
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.

View attachment 50019
Click to expand...
That's always been my theory. Andrej and/or Coleman and/or Vaaks were leery of us adding Blackwell so our staff proceeded with that in mind.

Never mind that Duke can sign multiple studs at the same position (but I guess that's the advantage of being Duke).
 
#663      
Fly Illini Fly!
Aillini32 said:
Not sure why this needs spelled out, but Coleman is going to be relied upon to be one the lead ball handlers if not PG from the jump, whereas McCoy will be off the ball or a secondary creator. Completely different scenarios. I think Coleman should be completely fine as the 4th or 5th option on the team, it’s whether he can be a lead guard in crunch time as a true freshman that has people like myself nervous
Click to expand...
Nope. Vaaks is lead guard.
 
#665      
PeoriaIllini03
NarrowJ said:
I mean, if I had to guess, he's likely transferring because he wasn't thrilled about his 'backup guard role' at Maryland

Idk why so many believe we can just sell portal guys on 10 minute role (its likely why they're in the portal to begin with... he can go to some other school and start)
Click to expand...

I hate to break it to people, but most college kids do not care all that much about winning a college national championship. They care about money and setting up their career.

In our current situation, the $$ isn't the issue. Selling an experienced player with 1 maybe 2 years of eligibility on a reduced role for a loaded team in most cases is not what is best for their career. Everyone keeps referencing Hummer but seem to ignore the fact that he came here as a junior with expectations to start and carry a scoring load.
 
#666      
wc_illini
Fly Illini Fly! said:
IMO — there’s more reason to be concerned about Brown being 9th man than Coleman being 5th man.

Yes those were great teams this year; however, he just needs to be solid-to-good (think 9 or 10 per game; high 30s 3pt%) for us to be really good.

I’m (more) skeptical what happens once we get passed the first 8 (due to injury).
Click to expand...
That is more than most of the #24-30 guys did last year. Of the four guards/wings in that range, only one of them (Able for NC St) stuck in the rotation and shot remotely efficiently. Small sample size, though, and Brad has demonstrated strong talent evaluation.

You could make a stronger case based on per-minute stats and/or shooting % of the guys who hardly played (particularly Aristode for Arizona who played even less after missing time in Feb), but the metrics guys say you should generally assume that efficiency/ORtg decline with increased usage and playing time.
 
#667      
ChiefGritty
NarrowJ said:
Idk why so many believe we can just sell portal guys on 10 minute role
Click to expand...
Obviously it depends on the player.

There's so much circling around the point here, let's just say it out loud.

One or more of Stojakovic, Vaaks and Coleman would have bailed if we added Blackwell or a Blackwell-like player, all of the above wanting to be in a situation where they have the ball in their hands a lot.

Despite the above, we have NIL money available and a need at guard.

So we are going to wait out the portal (and NBA) deadlines so those players exit options reduce, and then go sign the player we need, who won't be a Blackwell-level player but doesn't need to be in order to fill out our national title contender.

This is smart and good and everybody's feelings will be just fine when the actual games get played and we're awesome.
 
#668      
March2TheArch
CentralILLini said:
Haugh returning for the Gators.

They will be tough.
Click to expand...
The Florida super team loading up. I’m sure Chinyelu will not get a first round guarantee. And he’ll also want redemption for his putrid game against Iowa. Throw in Milan Moncilovich. And you’re looking at the #1 ranked team in the country.
 
#669      
thefalcon5
EmeraldCityIllini said:
Haugh and Mullins returning to school Atleast knocks out 2 players infront of Mara and Morez - especially Mara.
Click to expand...
Mara is gone gone IMO. Would be foolish to stay.

I’ve long thought Morez gives it another go. People forget Yaxel was (admittedly not exactly as highly ranked) a projected first rounder last year. Guys like Hugh and Mullins returning is actually much more in line with how I think Morez is thinking, but that’s purely guessing. Hope he leaves lol.
 
#670      
lstewart53x3
Aillini32 said:
1. We have no clue who the PG is going to be, others on different boards think it will be Coleman.
2. If Vaaks doesn’t workout at point, Coleman or Morillo will be the guy.
3. Coleman will more than likely be the backup point.

Back to the original post, McCoy will be in none of those positions for Michigan. Hope this helps
Click to expand...
I’m not sure Facebook comments are a reliable form of intel.
 
#671      
Fly Illini Fly!
thefalcon5 said:
Mara is gone gone IMO. Would be foolish to stay.

I’ve long thought Morez gives it another go. People forget Yaxel was (admittedly not exactly as highly ranked) a projected first rounder last year. Guys like Hugh and Mullins returning is actually much more in line with how I think Morez is thinking, but that’s purely guessing. Hope he leaves lol.
Click to expand...
My bet would be Mara gone and Morez is back.
 
Back