Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-February 2018)

Status
Not open for further replies.
#1,826      
PtownIllini8
sacraig said:
Top of the B1G? I agree. I do think we have the talent currently to be a good-side-of-the-bubble team, though. I think we are one decent rim protector away from the upper half of the B1G. We are a lot farther from challenging for B1G titles, though.

JMO
Click to expand...

Okoro and Liddell...case closed.
 
#1,827      
aluma
How much would Okoro and Liddell impact our program and how immediate would their impact be (individually if only one came and collaboratively if they both came)? I haven't seen either play live, but I've heard they are both very talented. Are they instant impact guys?
 
#1,828      
Ubermensch
aluma said:
How much would Okoro and Liddell impact our program and how immediate would their impact be (individually if only one came and collaboratively if they both came)? I haven't seen either play live, but I've heard they are both very talented. Are they instant impact guys?
Click to expand...

On most teams, yes. On this team, hell yes. It’s hard to quantify just how much impact they’d have. Several wins.
 
#1,829      
aluma
Ubermensch said:
On most teams, yes. On this team, hell yes. It’s hard to quantify just how much impact they’d have. Several wins.
Click to expand...

What would they immediately offer? Defensive presence? Athleticism? Scoring? Basketball IQ? I'm just curious from anyone that has seen them play.
 
#1,830      
Illiniguy13
aluma said:
What would they immediately offer? Defensive presence? Athleticism? Scoring? Basketball IQ? I'm just curious from anyone that has seen them play.
Click to expand...

Defense-check.

Athleticism - check.

Scoring - Yes for Liddel, Okoro will get there.

BB IQ - check
 
#1,832      
aluma
I'm guessing if we added both Okoro and Lidell along with our current guards, it would be a surefire tourney team and top half of the Big Ten?
 
#1,833      
kuhl84
aluma said:
I'm guessing if we added both Okoro and Lidell along with our current guards, it would be a surefire tourney team and top half of the Big Ten?
Click to expand...

Losing Leron and adding a FR Lidell is going backwards, in the short term. Okoro will help immediately.

Need a scoring wing with length and athleticism (Jones/Taylor/Hinson) in this class, or a very highly ranked '19 who can contribute immediately. If we can't do that, we can still make tourney, but won't be competitive with the best teams in the B1G, IMO.
 
#1,834      
PtownIllini8
kuhl84 said:
Losing Leron and adding a FR Lidell is going backwards, in the short term. Okoro will help immediately.

Need a scoring wing with length and athleticism (Jones/Taylor/Hinson) in this class, or a very highly ranked '19 who can contribute immediately. If we can't do that, we can still make tourney, but won't be competitive with the best teams in the B1G, IMO.
Click to expand...

You're assuming we don't get significant improvement from Smith/Williams/Kipper. Plus, Liddell would be a minus in scoring, but might be better at rebounding and Okoro's difference would be massive in the post. Also, you don't even mention Ayo as a sophomore.

But hopefully we do get one of those wings you mentioned.
 
#1,835      
ChiefIllini
kuhl84 said:
Losing Leron and adding a FR Lidell is going backwards, in the short term. Okoro will help immediately.

Need a scoring wing with length and athleticism (Jones/Taylor/Hinson) in this class, or a very highly ranked '19 who can contribute immediately. If we can't do that, we can still make tourney, but won't be competitive with the best teams in the B1G, IMO.
Click to expand...

Khalil Whitney, your table is ready.
 
#1,836      
Ubermensch
Can you imagine a starting 5 of

Ayo
Frazier
Whitney
Liddell
Okoro

?

I want to be that hopeful again. I want to believe it’s possible.
 
#1,838      
kuhl84
PtownIllini8 said:
You're assuming we don't get significant improvement from Smith/Williams/Kipper. Plus, Liddell would be a minus in scoring, but might be better at rebounding and Okoro's difference would be massive in the post. Also, you don't even mention Ayo as a sophomore.

But hopefully we do get one of those wings you mentioned.
Click to expand...

I expect Smith/Williams and Frazier to be significantly better and Ayo to contribute substantially. That's why I think they would be a Tourney team...remember where the starting point is, last in the B1G.

Liddell/Okoro would be really good as Sophomores, but at this point, I don't believe they will be substantially better as Freshman than Black/Finke as 5th year Sr.s.

Unless they are top 10 RSCI talent, bigs just don't average more than 18-20 minutes, 7 pts and 5 rebounds. They can't stay on the floor (fouls) and have a hard time adjusting to the fact they aren't bigger, stronger, faster than they guys they are playing against.
 
#1,844      
coryfor3
Dan said:
2019 Roselle Catholic (NJ) G/F Khalil Whitney (@KahlilWhitney) will run with the Mac Irvin Fire (IL) in the 2018 NIKE EYBL @TheMacIrvinFire #WelcomeToTheCircuit
https://twitter.com/D1Circuit/status/966786335662108673
Click to expand...

giphy.gif
 
#1,846      
TCTORNADO
Whitney's name on Twitter has always been MyMommaThe Reason (she lives in Chicago) and a photo of the Chicago skyline for his Twitter feed.
 
#1,848      
TCTORNADO
Kajagoogoo said:
I wanna believe IL has a good shot at this kid. He's the perfect piece to help elevate this program (along with Okoro & Liddell), but IL's been burned many times. I can't imagine it'll happen. :hand:
Click to expand...

Champaign =MIF Central:)
 
#1,849      
rockillini
CAHALL15 said:
Yes. He is still uncommitted and we are still recruiting him. 😁

In other news, Tevian Jones’ HS season is over so I’m assuming we will start hearing something on that front soon.
Click to expand...

Apparently Missouri just offered him again. Huh?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back