Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

#701      
Joel Goodson
ZZ: there's an efficiency to his game that stands out, no unwasted motion. shot is pure, release is quick, VG range. and he doesn't force squat, despite being the alpha. a lot to like here. he could be a booty ball terror and is already a better outside shooter than Domask. obvously, a huge step up, but I love this get. kid is a baller
 
#702      
Joel Goodson
$ article, but you'll get the gist:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2058155984896270790

sounds like he might make the team:

"No. 13 Quentin Coleman, committed to Illinois – No high school senior emerged more this year than Coleman and he looked even better this week in Colorado Springs. Not only was his skill and feel evident, but there were increased signs of athleticism and physicality. He was initiating contact off the dribble in ways I hadn't seen before and even had a tip dunk. In other words, he looked every bit as good as advertised and poised to be a key contributor for this team."
 
#703      
March2TheArch
Illinilosch said:
Completely agree. Think when it's all said and done, ZZ is gonna look like a freaking steal for the Illini. Absolutely love every part about his skillet and just his overall game.
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Has all the characteristics of a fundamentally sound Wisconsin player with great footwork and a knack for finishing near the hoop like Mike Wilkinson from the early 2000s. Great piece on a winning team. And those flashes of athleticism are exciting.
 
#704      
Joel Goodson
March2TheArch said:
Has all the characteristics of a fundamentally sound Wisconsin player with great footwork and a knack for finishing near the hoop like Mike Wilkinson from the early 2000s. Great piece on a winning team. And those flashes of athleticism are exciting.
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as is his decision making. very well could be a major problem down the road
 
#705      
ChiefGritty
March2TheArch said:
like Mike Wilkinson from the early 2000s
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star wars GIF


Grandpa said:
www.si.com

New NCAA Eligibility Requirements Could Impact Top International Players

The guidance issued this month largely surrounds compensation and professional team involvement, but how it will be enforced is unclear.
www.si.com www.si.com
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What's strange about this is that they have already been applying a de-facto system of taking away individual years of eligibility for Euro pro seasons while granting players eligibility (Tomi and Petro in our case) in a way that makes great intuitive sense, but also is not based on any actual legislation that I'm aware of.
 
#706      
thefalcon5
ChiefGritty said:
star wars GIF



What's strange about this is that they have already been applying a de-facto system of taking away individual years of eligibility for Euro pro seasons while granting players eligibility (Tomi and Petro in our case) in a way that makes great intuitive sense, but also is not based on any actual legislation that I'm aware of.
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I thought the eligibility the NCAA gave out was some what arbitrary. I remember a lot of folks thinking Petro would be classed a Junior but he ended up a Sophomore IIRC.

I’m obviously extremely bias considering how our team has been constructed, but i think the only rules on eligibility I care about are career earnings in pro leagues and age limits.

There are legal issues with both but I don’t want guys who’ve made something like 500k and are 26 to be playing 18 year olds in college.

I also HATE the “I was drafted, but I wasn’t good enough to make the NBA so I’m coming back to college” crowd. That feels like an easy loophole to close. I will say if you go undrafted, sign in the g league, and don’t play a minute of NBA basketball, I’m fine with you coming back, but playing in the NBA and/or getting drafted should eliminate your college eligibility zero exceptions.
 
#708      
ChiefGritty
thefalcon5 said:
I also HATE the “I was drafted, but I wasn’t good enough to make the NBA so I’m coming back to college” crowd. That feels like an easy loophole to close. I will say if you go undrafted, sign in the g league, and don’t play a minute of NBA basketball, I’m fine with you coming back, but playing in the NBA and/or getting drafted should eliminate your college eligibility zero exceptions.
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For whatever it's worth, I deeply understand the revulsion at someone who has appeared in a real NBA game returning to college basketball, but I don't understand that feeling for players that were drafted but never played at all.

I really think the age-based system is the way.
 
#709      
Fly Illini Fly!
Tomislav's DREB rate dropped from 22.2% in 2025 to 16.7% in 2026. That was fairly disappointing, and would love for him to get back to the original.

His 3pt% also dropped from 35.7% in 2025 to 31.3% in 2026.

If 2027 Tomi shoots 35% from 3, and gets back to a similar rebound rate as two seasons ago, that's an extremely valuable player.

One thing he really improved at this year was the low post scoring. He finished 11th in the nation in 2pt percentage, and second in the nation on "close 2s" (Zvonimir was #1 in both categories).
 
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#710      
ChiTown
ChiefGritty said:
For whatever it's worth, I deeply understand the revulsion at someone who has appeared in a real NBA game returning to college basketball, but I don't understand that feeling for players that were drafted but never played at all.

I really think the age-based system is the way.
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I might play a devil’s advocate and state that there is a rule for drop out deadline from the draft in order to maintain NCAA eligibility,while most obey the rule and drop out…some stayed rolling the proverbial dice and now seeking a second bite at the apple.
 
#712      
wc_illini
thefalcon5 said:
There are legal issues with both but I don’t want guys who’ve made something like 500k and are 26 to be playing 18 year olds in college.
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I understand the age concern, but why should 500k earned elsewhere be disqualifying if millions earned in the NCAA is not?
 
#713      
lstewart53x3
thefalcon5 said:
I thought the eligibility the NCAA gave out was some what arbitrary. I remember a lot of folks thinking Petro would be classed a Junior but he ended up a Sophomore IIRC.

I’m obviously extremely bias considering how our team has been constructed, but i think the only rules on eligibility I care about are career earnings in pro leagues and age limits.

There are legal issues with both but I don’t want guys who’ve made something like 500k and are 26 to be playing 18 year olds in college.

I also HATE the “I was drafted, but I wasn’t good enough to make the NBA so I’m coming back to college” crowd. That feels like an easy loophole to close. I will say if you go undrafted, sign in the g league, and don’t play a minute of NBA basketball, I’m fine with you coming back, but playing in the NBA and/or getting drafted should eliminate your college eligibility zero exceptions.
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Why do career earnings matter? The kids are making millions in college now.
 
#714      
PizzaHutParkingLot
Joel Goodson said:
ZZ: there's an efficiency to his game that stands out, no unwasted motion. shot is pure, release is quick, VG range. and he doesn't force squat, despite being the alpha. a lot to like here. he could be a booty ball terror and is already a better outside shooter than Domask. obvously, a huge step up, but I love this get. kid is a baller
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No real idea how Zens holds up defensively, and that’s probably what decides how early he plays.
But if he can at least recreate Luke Goode’s freshman year, 28 games, 8.9 minutes, 2.0 points, 1.8 boards, 37.2% from three, and maybe a little more,
sounds like a suitable #9thman
 
#715      
RabidDawgClassic
PizzaHutParkingLot said:
No real idea how Zens holds up defensively, and that’s probably what decides how early he plays.
But if he can at least recreate Luke Goode’s freshman year, 28 games, 8.9 minutes, 2.0 points, 1.8 boards, 37.2% from three, and maybe a little more,
sounds like a suitable #9thman
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Wait… are you telling me we had a #9thman all along among our 13 players??? 😉

giphy.gif
 
#720      
2qtslow
casemeau said:
Oh man, this is a hard question! Prior to last season, it would have been so much easier for me to say yes. But now that we’ve had another taste of that delicious week between the 2nd and 3rd weekend? I wouldn’t take it right now. I’d pass on the sure bet of 30 wins, B1G Tournament banner, historic assists season, and Elite Eight finish and try for that Final Four again!
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I'd like to take a rain check on the 30 win offer. Next year, we have a chance of doing better than just a Final Four. But if you are offering 30 wins and an Elite Eight for the following year, just show me where to sign.
 
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