I guess the grass is not always greener on the other side.
Illini Basketball 2024-2025
- Status
Man, it's really sad to me when players get caught up in some circus (whether family, college transition, off court, etc) and end up making decisions that they later regret.
Seems like a lot of players who were more or less "babied" in HS, through AAU or some prep academy aren't ready for Brad's style immediately, but once they have some maturity in the college game, they know what the end goal was supposed to be
...not until he returns the NIL he stole.
Tim did not name Skyy specifically but it is easy to infer on who he was talking about. Bardo coaxed Anderson to talk a bit about the Tre White addition and that's when that bit of info came to light
Yea, it sounds like they didn't understand what Brad was trying to do for Skyy but looking back in hindsight, they know now. Maybe the fight with Mayer had something to do with him leaving but it was probably a combination of a few things and maybe hard coaching was one of those reasons based on the little that Tim described
Tacomallini
- Washington State
Skyy will get to visit Champaign this year as a Bruin.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Trotter has us at #24 right now. It's still early, but unsurprisingly we are moving up as our roster takes shape. This is why you don't freak out about rankings till you know who will actually be on the team. And even then, none of this matters till we start playing games.
247sports.com
Ranking college basketball's top 25 teams, following NBA Draft deadline and transfer portal decisions
Some of college basketball's biggest brands headline an updated top-25 rankings following a buzzy transfer portal and a swath of key stay-or-go, NBA Draft decisions.
247sports.com
Last edited:
PizzaHutParkingLot
- McPherson, KS
We’ve heard this numerous times in the Portal Era.
BU and co. should save all the receipts from former players and present them during exit interview time.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Nothing but respect to Skyy for admitting that and putting in the good word. He was also supporting us on social media during our run this season. There's a lot to be said for all of this.
Broken clock (me) is right twice a day! haha
Lolololllllllool what Louisville does does to mf’er. Shoutout to the Clark family, appreciate y’all.
CoHawk basically said this after the '22-'23 season ended when reflecting on the leadership (or lack there of) on that team. I'm paraphrasing, but it was something about realizing why guys like Ayo, Trent, and DMFW were so intense on the court at all times, that it takes the accountability to be good.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Wow. Amazing stuff. I really hope word about this spreads so that he receives a kind welcome when he comes back. There was talk about making life tough for him when UCLA comes to down, but I would hate for our students to give him a nasty reception if this is what Skyy is saying in basketball circles.
3 point girl
- texas
Before we get all kissy & huggy remember he left the team/teammates in mid season and still took his NIL money. Actions speak louder than words.
Well, Tim indicated that this doesn't happen too often so I'm not sure it is all that common as far as Skyy's case compared to most of the others
blackdog
- Champaign
One of the reasons why it might be better for Illinois to have gotten Boswell the 2nd time around rather than if he had come straight out of HS.
The Sprouting Divot
Invisible and Bulletproof
- Miracle Mile
I don't know all of the ins, outs, and whathaveyous, but I think it's fair to say he played a role in ruining that entire season.
I don't think he deserves to have D batteries thrown at him upon his return, but "oh, he realized that he and his family made a mistake" doesn't really move my needle in comparison to his actions while here (and not here, but still collecting a check).
Based on what a complete tittybaby he seems to be, I wouldn't be shocked if this is at least partly motivated by a desire not to be yelled at or boo'ed upon his return.
He probably wants to make the whole thing into just another chapter in his book "Nothing Happened," but it did in fact happen.
And I'm mostly kidding here, but for all we know, Skyy hates Tre White and wanted to cause him grief.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Yeah, and THEN announced his transfer right after our NCAA loss to AR. It's interesting how this Skyy regret narrative bubbles up right as we are hosting a 5 star on campus. I'm cool to let it all go, no ill will, he's a still a young man learning important lessons.
Brother, he left his teammates mid season and by most accounts tried to lie saying it was his dad's health that was causing him to leave. He realizes it was a dumba** decision now (going from Underwood to Kenny Payne will have that effect) and I have sympathy for the guy for almost tanking his own career but this is big boy basketball and we're one of the bullies on the playground now.
If we really are the "House of Paign" that we want to get back to from the 2000s, he should be booed every damn time he even looks at the rock.
- Status