Darius Wabbington Official Visit:
Darius Wabbington, Sunnyslope , Center
Darius Wabbington is a 6-11, 245-pound Center (BK) from Phoenix, AZ.247sports.com
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Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
- Status
This is a big-time visit!
Tifwiw, but I'm told this is Brad's favorite big regardless of class, and he and OA are going to go all out to land this kid!
They see him as Mirk 2.0, his replacement next year hopefully after he's drafted...
Wabbington is so skilled and such an elite passer, the staff would like to pair him with another big, a Center with excellent range and shot blocking ability, and keep DW at the 4 where they think he can be ultra effective in this offense!
He's more skilled than any other big they are recruiting, so this is going to be a high-level OV.
They plan to pull out all the stops on Oct. 23
blackdog
- Champaign
Did Coleman Hawkins clone himself? They move/dribble almost exactly the same.
Was just gonna say the same thing. I've watched him in some games and didn't get that, but seeing the highlights all together like that sure was a flashback to the best of what CH had to offer. Except bigger and better
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
We've had so much talent come through this program and somehow our last
Quentin Coleman, The Principia School , Shooting Guard
Quentin Coleman is a 6-4, 180-pound Shooting Guard from Saint Louis, MO.
Will Riley, The Phelps School , Small Forward
Will Riley is a 6-8, 178-pound Small Forward from Malvern, PA. He is ranked No. 22 in the country by 247Sports. Riley is the No. 2 recruit in Malvern, PA...
(1) Incoming freshman
(2) Consensus 5-star
(3) McDonalds All-American
Is still Dee Brown.
Our most recent McDAA (Richmond) is listed 9th on our 247 All-Time Commits (since 2003)
Have not seen his tape, but I hope to God he doesn't through line drives at the rim from 30 ft. !!!! Also hope he is willing to attempt to score inside 5 ft. by other than a driving layup/dunk.
Respectfully, McDAA doesn’t matter much anymore and hasn’t mattered for probably 10-15 years.
There are now more national type games (Iverson etc) so McDAA no longer has a monopoly on annointing HS talent. Also somehow at some point McDAA became about less about showcasing the best players (many of whom went to blue bloods) and more about showcasing future blue bloods (who may or may not be the best players). Case in point, Morez not being named McDAA (was clearly one of top players as evidenced by his role in FIVA) and also Q. Coleman (same).
Yeah, it's been the Hoop Summit for me as the most meaningful all star game for quite a few years now.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
The only difference is, Wabbington doesn’t stop halfway to the basket.
I really liked watching this dude play during FIBA Americup. Was super polished for a 17 year oldThis is a big-time visit!
Tifwiw, but I'm told this is Brad's favorite big regardless of class, and he and OA are going to go all out to land this kid!
They see him as Mirk 2.0, his replacement next year hopefully after he's drafted...
Wabbington is so skilled and such an elite passer, the staff would like to pair him with another big, a Center with excellent range and shot blocking ability, and keep DW at the 4 where they think he can be ultra effective in this offense!
He's more skilled than any other big they are recruiting, so this is going to be a high-level OV.
They plan to pull out all the stops on Oct. 23
drsmitty74
- Rochester
But does he have the CH pump fake 30ft away?
Quentin Coleman, The Principia School , Shooting Guard
Quentin Coleman is a 6-4, 180-pound Shooting Guard from Saint Louis, MO.
Will Riley, The Phelps School , Small Forward
Will Riley is a 6-8, 178-pound Small Forward from Malvern, PA. He is ranked No. 22 in the country by 247Sports. Riley is the No. 2 recruit in Malvern, PA...
Thank you for pointing these out, I appreciate it. My apologies if I ruffled any feathers with my wordsa few days ago.
My post was more regarding specifically the recruits that are currently in High school right now. I was just expressing excitement for all the recent official and unofficial visits we have lined up this coming Fall for the 5 star recruits.
To add to this, do we really care if a guy has a 5 star recruiting ranking if he's all conference. Or better? The list of over-achieving Underwood players based on HS ranking is long and growing. My rule of thumb is having 2 NBA level guys on your roster to compete for a NC. The program is at a level where it's getting those kinds of guys and I think we'll keep knocking on the door. And realistically, there are several programs out there with a ton of $ so I think talent evaluation and value are key. Something we saw last season with a couple incredible freshman in Wagler and Mirk and could very well see again
Seems like the ranking have more to do with NBA potential than college contribution. This has been particularly true with big men but not isolated. Think much has to do with the player to system match as well as the fit of the pieces to to each other. Is Davis a better player than Petrovic? Probably not but he fits the system and the system was adjusted to utilize Wagler. Adjusting the system to the players has been BU’s strength but he hasn’t always had all the pieces. Needs to adjust this year to the missing Ben piece. Think the piece missing for a national championship is the rim protector unless Z becomes that piece. Do love the balance of the incoming frosh. All the potential pieces except center.To add to this, do we really care if a guy has a 5 star recruiting ranking if he's all conference. Or better? The list of over-achieving Underwood players based on HS ranking is long and growing. My rule of thumb is having 2 NBA level guys on your roster to compete for a NC. The program is at a level where it's getting those kinds of guys and I think we'll keep knocking on the door. And realistically, there are several programs out there with a ton of $ so I think talent evaluation and value are key. Something we saw last season with a couple incredible freshman in Wagler and Mirk and could very well see again
How is Z already not that piece?
Again, he was FOURTH IN THE NATION in block rate:
…..
I feel like people who think Z isn’t a rim protector, are just of the casual fan mindset of go to the blocks per game and if the guy is under 2.0 or 2.5 = “not a rim protector.”
BLOCK RATE is what matters. It measures, by definition: the percentage of the opponent’s two-point shot attempts blocked by a player while they’re on the court.
He’s not that piece because he’s the backup and not the starter. In most cases he won’t even play half the game, which minimizes his “rim protector” value.
Our starter at the 5 is a very mediocre rim protector.
In an earlier post, you had pointed out that Aday Mara averaged only 23 minutes per game. Big Z will have the same huge impact this season as he did last, whether it be 17 minutes or 23 minutes.
You just love throwing cold water on this team every chance you get
I would've said the same thing about Big Z if we thought he'd play the same minutes Hines will at UCONN.
Hines is going to be starting for UCONN next year. Big Z won't be starting for illinois.
Hines playing 25 minutes is very likely. I have doubts Big Z even gets to 20 minutes.
Overall, both are good shot blockers, but Hines's impact will be significantly more because he'll play more.
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Illini in Indiana
- Indiana
Z is our energy piece. Strangly our 5 with his D and blocking brought the energy last year. I see him doing more this year!
Seems like the ranking have more to do with NBA potential than college contribution. This has been particularly true with big men but not isolated. Think much has to do with the player to system match as well as the fit of the pieces to to each other. Is Davis a better player than Petrovic? Probably not but he fits the system and the system was adjusted to utilize WaglerTo add to this, do we really care if a guy has a 5 star recruiting ranking if he's all conference. Or better? The list of over-achieving Underwood players based on HS ranking is long and growing. My rule of thumb is having 2 NBA level guys on your roster to compete for a NC. The program is at a level where it's getting those kinds of guys and I think we'll keep knocking on the door. And realistically, there are several programs out there with a ton of $ so I think talent evaluation and value are key. Something we saw last season with a couple incredible freshman in Wagler and Mirk and could very well see again
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
- Status