Illini Basketball 2024-2025
- Status
blackdog
- Champaign
It's easy to dangle a guy when you double dribble lol. Still some good looking clips otherwise.
Would substitute White for Will. Will still get serious minutes as that young body develops into rugged BIG toughness. Also big minutes for Morez, Booth and Rodgers. We've got two serious stretch fours in Ben and Booth.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
We spent the previous two years watching TSJ's physicality and looking to create contact. Now, we have Will, using his slight build and long limbs to avoid contact. Fascinatingly, it seems to be just as effective because he can adapt, like water, to what his defender is giving him. His ability to hit shots at crazy angles and get around players is really impressive. Once he adds mass and can actually take contact, be it here or in the league, he'll be virtually impossible to stop from scoring.
I can't wait to see KJ and Will play together. Their games and physical skills seem like a perfect match.
I can't wait to see KJ and Will play together. Their games and physical skills seem like a perfect match.
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
IL MBB clip, but the text is what's important. couldn't agree more. barring injury, Riley is a one and done
GMs are gonna be rather excited over this kid
GMs are gonna be rather excited over this kid
Not entirely clear, but I think these are examples of guys Shannon should have been picked higher then. If so, I think Da Silva fills a different role (PF/SF) while Shannon is much more SG/SF. Da Silva was a better 3-point shooter in college and in the small summer league sample size that has proven to be the case. Both are having good summer leagues.#18 Orlando - built to win now I think we can all agree - Tristan Da Silva.
#20 Cleveland - built to win now I think we can all agree - Jaylon Tyson.
#21 Milwaukee - built to win now I think we can all agree - AJ Johnson.
*Knicks - win now team as well - but only reason for not listing them is because it might not have been a great fit for him as they have plenty of wing depth...but at the end of the day, they do fit the criteria of "built to win now" and names like Keyshawn George and Pacome Dadiet are taken above him for the record books after all so...
Jaylon Tyson also has different role, being more SF than TSJ (and Clev pretty strong at guard). I don’t watch tons of NBA games, but living in Ohio I see more Cav games than other teams and would argue Jaylon is a better fit for what they need. He is also 1.5 years younger than TSJ. He also has been a better 3 point shooter in college. He like TSJ and Da Silva has had a nice Summer League so far.
Johnson pick over TSJ baffles me a bit, but he is very young. So despite being in win now mode, I guess they thought upside was too great of the two guys you attribute to Knicks, one was drafted for Wizards (George) and the other could well be a draft and stash (and plays different position that is more of a need).
I think TSJ could certainly have gone higher, but there are legitimate reasons teams went another direction. Will some GMs regret passing on him? I’m sure some will in retrospect as not every draft pick works out and TSJ has a high floor. You have to remember too that this is TSJ’s second bite at the apple having withdrawn from draft last year — presumably because he would have been a second round pick if drafted at all. Yes, he improved his game, but how many guys withdraw from draft and then get drafted in top half of first round the next year? Edey comes to mind this year (I assume he tested waters last year but don’t know for sure), but despite what a lot of people on board say about no NBA role for Edey he does have tremendous size. Have there been a lot of others who have improved their draft stock enough to overcome being another year older and rocketed up draft boards?
I like TSJ and will enjoy rooting for him. I also think he’ll do well in part because where he ended up. Everything worked out as it should.
I can see why he chose Illinois. Plenty of good programs out there, but I think having Fletch is really going to benefit him on some of his potentially biggest draft concerns (strength / explosiveness). Add to that Antigua has a great reputation developing bigs and connecting with players. If he's looking to maximize his time and get to the league quickly, it seems like a great plan. Should be fun to watch.
Bigtex
- DFW
Loved the OA smile at the end of the video
Don't know why you think the 5 is "open." Ivisic and Morez look solid to me. I would expect Ivisic to be a force from day one.
I dont think anybody is surprised by KJ. He's projected as a first round pick, he was expected to be one of the, if not the best, players on the floor
Will.i.am betting he's gonna be a stud.
Do we have any current news about Ivisic? He needs to be in Ubben with his new teammates, and he needs to get acquainted with Fletch. I would also add he needs to get registered for course work, except the brave new world of college basketball means everything and everybody are for sale; basic math and/or rhetoric just don't seem to have much meaning.
You actually did it better.
uofi7477
- Silver & Gold Vandals
Please stop making sense.
That's the new move for the kids these days. You have to let refs know about it otherwise it's gonna be a double dribble. Looks like Will let it get a little too close on that one.
Can't remember all the names off the top of my head, but there def. haven't been many. Ochai Agbaji might be one, but that's the only one I can think of.
Apologies on missing the trade part. #24 - George picked for the Wizards, #25 - Dadiet to Knicks, #26 - Dillon Jones from Webber State to the Thunder. #24 and #26 via some trade movement.
I guess you could make the argument for some of those guys from one viewpoint or another...and it'd probably make sense. Just saying that I just don't see some of those guys picked ahead of him (who were picked to teams built to win now) turning out better pros than TSJ...and there wasn't enough on draft night to believe they'd be better pros than TSJ IMO. And it's not to just single out a few individuals...but rather to make the point of...I just don't see 26 players from this draft being better turning out better than him when it's all said and done.
But at the end of the day, A LOT goes into the process of drafting a player and these organizations made the decision that they felt was best for them from the standpoint of fit and what they're looking for - and the discussion of whether their decision turned out well for them...only time will tell...
and def. agree things worked out well for TSJ also and he went to a great spot in terms of fit.
Last edited:
Riley looks like Matt Mayer with that dog in him. If he commits to the Fletch plan he’s going to be a handful.
I’m really hoping Big T gets to campus soon. I don’t expect him to put up huge stats but to me he’s a sneaky big piece of the puzzle. He can body up the bigger centers and provide rim protection on defense, and he can stretch the floor on offense so we can play 5 out and open up space for us to exploit matchups with our positional size.
I think we could get by with some combo of Morez/Humrichous/Booth at the 5 if we had to, but Big T significantly raises our floor and ceiling IMO.
I’m really hoping Big T gets to campus soon. I don’t expect him to put up huge stats but to me he’s a sneaky big piece of the puzzle. He can body up the bigger centers and provide rim protection on defense, and he can stretch the floor on offense so we can play 5 out and open up space for us to exploit matchups with our positional size.
I think we could get by with some combo of Morez/Humrichous/Booth at the 5 if we had to, but Big T significantly raises our floor and ceiling IMO.
I think it is also important the team and role that TSJ will have. Timberwolves seems to be a good spot, Conley is aging and small PG. You have ANT who is a ball dominate guard, adding another big SG along with ANT would be complimentary. TSJ is not a ball dominant guard in the half court, he can take quick 3's or drive after receiving the ball. He also can rebound and go...starting a fast break as a PG. Domask was our ball dominate player and TSJ played well with him.
TSJ next contract will depend on how well the team utilizes and he can showcase his skills. Going to a lower ranked team with a bunch of high draft picks or uncertain role would lead to a smaller contract next time around.
Will Riley clips have showed me enough to think he starts and likely one and done. He doesn't strike me as a perpetually skinny person, seems he will continue to add weight/muscle at good intervals. Jason Tatum also had a very slight frame in college and early NBA and has gradually added muscle.
I like that Riley can handle the ball and shoot the 3's, that would lead to spreading the court and requiring the defenses to stay on every player. This team is going to be fun to watch.
I like that Riley can handle the ball and shoot the 3's, that would lead to spreading the court and requiring the defenses to stay on every player. This team is going to be fun to watch.
I believe that's a misleading angle. Didn't appear to be a double dribble live speed, imo.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Barring injury or some other unforeseen drama, Will is a lottery pick.
If TSJ was 20-21 at the same point in his skill set...he also would have been a lottery pick. The TWolves essentially got a seasoned lottery pick at 27.
These are indeed heady times on the banks of the ole Boneyard.....
If TSJ was 20-21 at the same point in his skill set...he also would have been a lottery pick. The TWolves essentially got a seasoned lottery pick at 27.
These are indeed heady times on the banks of the ole Boneyard.....
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
There are 14 players in the lottery, Will's 19th on 247 for high school recruits, so doesn't include Europeans. I'm not saying he won't be great, but everything could go right and he still could be picked outside the top 14.
- Status