Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (January-March 2016)

[pfeifale000]

ESPN is re-ranking players next week. Will be interesting to see if TJL makes the Top 100 cut.

I remember last year there were some drastic changes in the top 100 for ESPN. DJW dropped pretty significantly and Ed Morrow jumped way up the ranks.

 

[ssanti13]

This should probably be in a separate thread but I don't think people are saying that Hill has no shot at the NBA, but leaving college early for a player like him does not appear to be the smart move. I don't think he's going to play himself into a 1st round pick and he isn't athletic enough to warrant it otherwise. I would predict a 2nd round pick (hopefully) for him, and I don't think that makes sense for him considering he'd probably get the same opportunity after sr year.

If you're not getting the 1st round guarantee money then it doesn't usually make sense to leave, there are variables in that but I don't see them in Hill's case.

He shouldn't leave early and I don't believe he will. I agree he has some limitations as an athlete, but I say give the kid a chance to physically develop some more before a final judgement is made on that. He won't ever be a strong athlete, but in a couple years I think he could be a "good enough" athlete to compliment the rest of his skills, which will improve as well. I don't think the NBA is out of his realm of possibility at all. But not yet.

 

[RockfordIllini]

I am really happy we got TJL. I don't know what his ceiling is but I believe he will outplay whatever his final ranking will be. Just out of curiosity, does anyone have any states on how Xavier Simpson is doing for point of comparison? I know he has the higher ranking currently, but would be curious to see how those 2 compare. In addition to both being PGs we pursued, both are about the same size (about 6', 155-160 lbs). Think it makes for a good comparison.

 

[Joel Goodson]

He shouldn't leave early and I don't believe he will. I agree he has some limitations as an athlete, but I say give the kid a chance to physically develop some more before a final judgement is made on that. He won't ever be a strong athlete, but in a couple years I think he could be a "good enough" athlete to compliment the rest of his skills, which will improve as well. I don't think the NBA is out of his realm of possibility at all. But not yet.

+1 Well put. Hill is a VVG-excellent college player. But he's not ready for The League.

 

[KevinC]

That's the important number in regards to Tate. He's a vocal leader on the floor, plays adequate defense, and doesn't turn the ball over. He doesn't score much, but he doesn't give away points to the other team either. Everyone talks about the need for a high scoring PG, but the more the ball is in the hands of a PG, the less it is in the hands of Nunn and Hill. Those are the two that should be getting touches every time down the court.

This is it, right there. Everyone wanting a point guard that shoots a lot, whose shots will he be taking. A pg shooting doesn't add shots to the final shots taken statistic. Whose shots get taken away? Hill? Nunn? Finke, etc? Also, as others have pointed out, Tate's injury impacts his shooting. You lose your ball stability that the last finger gives you. I also don't remember Abrams being very vocal, nor a good shooter or passer. He had toughness but, I'm not sure how the officiating emphasis impacts that.

 

[Deleted member 342779]

Maybe over seas

He shouldn't leave early and I don't believe he will. I agree he has some limitations as an athlete, but I say give the kid a chance to physically develop some more before a final judgement is made on that. He won't ever be a strong athlete, but in a couple years I think he could be a "good enough" athlete to compliment the rest of his skills, which will improve as well. I don't think the NBA is out of his realm of possibility at all. But not yet.

Hill will be getting paid to play, just not in the NBA. He's too limited athletically. At 6'6" ....NBA is loaded with skilled players that are way more athletic. If he was 6'9" or better...might have a shot.

 

[midastouch11]

This is it, right there. Everyone wanting a point guard that shoots a lot, whose shots will he be taking. A pg shooting doesn't add shots to the final shots taken statistic. Whose shots get taken away? Hill? Nunn? Finke, etc? Also, as others have pointed out, Tate's injury impacts his shooting. You lose your ball stability that the last finger gives you. I also don't remember Abrams being very vocal, nor a good shooter or passer. He had toughness but, I'm not sure how the officiating emphasis impacts that.

I'm not sure people are asking for a point guard that shoots a lot, just a point guard that can reasonably create for themselves and others, and is a viable threat to score. A point guard that is a threat to score and is willing to shoot makes defenders play him honestly and help away from Hill, Nunn, (JCL) and Finke - allowing them higher percentage looks without having to create for themselves or work through 5 screens first. Defenders don't respect Tate at all, and it makes everyone else's jobs much harder.

 

[TCTORNADO]

I am really happy we got TJL. I don't know what his ceiling is but I believe he will outplay whatever his final ranking will be. Just out of curiosity, does anyone have any states on how Xavier Simpson is doing for point of comparison? I know he has the higher ranking currently, but would be curious to see how those 2 compare. In addition to both being PGs we pursued, both are about the same size (about 6', 155-160 lbs). Think it makes for a good comparison.

XS had 59 pts against Fremont Ross on 12/15.

http://www.prepcircuit.com/news_art...son-drops-single-game-school-record-59-points

38 pts against Clay on 1/2
Team is undefeated (8-0) and #2 in State in Div. I

 

[midastouch11]

XS had 59 pts against Fremont Ross on 12/15.

http://www.prepcircuit.com/news_art...son-drops-single-game-school-record-59-points

38 pts against Clay on 1/2
Team is undefeated (8-0) and #2 in State in Div. I

And apparently he's 6-2 now. (year right)

 

[thefuture25]

If Cameron Bairstow is in the NBA, I think Malcolm Hill can make it to the league as well.

 

[BlueChipBridesmaid]

Why not? They would clearly be allowed out if he was fired and with the talent level of Tilmon schools would be lined up for his services even late in the game like that.

Why would you commit and risk your KU offer or another blue blood interest being lost because you committed to illinois when you know you can commit to illinois whenever you want and we'll accommodate to him. Tilmon is just another guy to the blue bloods. To us, he's the make or break for the '17 class sort of. Possibly of Groce's time here. There's just no reason for him to commit so early if there's uncertainty around the whole athletic administration, let alone the Head basketball coach's job.

Edit: I'm not saying he won't commit early and that we don't have a chance at him. I just don't really see why he would or any of the top guys would commit early. I hope they do though

 

[TCTORNADO]

If Cameron Bairstow is in the NBA, I think Malcolm Hill can make it to the league as well.

Hill is not 6'9" and white.

 

[illini8507]

If Tilmon commits to Groce tomorrow and Groce gets fired at the conclusion of this season there will still be an entire AAU season for Jeremiah between his decommit and the early signing period.

How on earth will he find another scholarship????

I think we all agree that if Groce is retained at the end of the year that next year's team will be much better than this year and his seat will be considerably cooler this time next year.

 

[TCTORNADO]

I don't know if I can trust this stat but TJL is 42 for 42 from FT line after 11 games.

 

[Illwinsagain]

You're probably not going to see a lot of early movement in the '17 class until the administration gets an AD hired and said AD verifies Groce's safety beyond 2016. No info just don't think kids of Tilmon, Goodwin, or Williams' talent want to commit to a guy that might be fired before their senior year of high school.

IF Tilmon were to start a recruiting tidal wave with an early verbal to Illinois, no way Groce gets fired! And if Groce did get fired at the end of the season, he could simply re-open his recruitment, prior to signing the paper.

 

[UofIChE06]

Why would you commit and risk your KU offer or another blue blood interest being lost because you committed to illinois when you know you can commit to illinois whenever you want and we'll accommodate to him. Tilmon is just another guy to the blue bloods. To us, he's the make or break for the '17 class sort of. Possibly of Groce's time here. There's just no reason for him to commit so early if there's uncertainty around the whole athletic administration, let alone the Head basketball coach's job.

Edit: I'm not saying he won't commit early and that we don't have a chance at him. I just don't really see why he would or any of the top guys would commit early. I hope they do though

Tilmon would have no problem finding a landing spot. Half the targets of blue bloods wait until late to commit as it is. I am fairly certain all programs would make it work for a 5 star recruit.

 

[Illwinsagain]

Why would you commit and risk your KU offer or another blue blood interest being lost because you committed to illinois when you know you can commit to illinois whenever you want and we'll accommodate to him. Tilmon is just another guy to the blue bloods. To us, he's the make or break for the '17 class sort of. Possibly of Groce's time here. There's just no reason for him to commit so early if there's uncertainty around the whole athletic administration, let alone the Head basketball coach's job.

Edit: I'm not saying he won't commit early and that we don't have a chance at him. I just don't really see why he would or any of the top guys would commit early. I hope they do though

The reason to commit early is to create a better class. Yes, we would take him next spring, but other players that he would like to join him, would not have the same confidence that there spot would be there.

 

[Bomb Squad 217]

I don't know if TJL will rise in the rankings or not but IMO he is much better than Jaylen Fisher. Who someone mentioned is ranked top 60or so.

 

[illiniguy224]

If Tilmon did decide to commit soon (not saying he will) but I think that opens up the possibility of Wilkes and Scruggs wanting to come here and play with another 5 star. Now that would be crazy

 

[Jabber Jabber]

That's the important number in regards to Tate. He's a vocal leader on the floor, plays adequate defense, and doesn't turn the ball over. He doesn't score much, but he doesn't give away points to the other team either. Everyone talks about the need for a high scoring PG, but the more the ball is in the hands of a PG, the less it is in the hands of Nunn and Hill. Those are the two that should be getting touches every time down the court.

I want the ball in Nunn and Hill's hands as well, but it's not like he's getting it to them in positions to score (see his low assist percentages). Tate is basically a medium at the top of the key for the ball to get to one side of the court to the other, then Nunn or Hill creates via pick and roll. Tate sometimes can drive the lane if his defender over helps, but how many times have we seen that lead to a block and run out for the other team?

My argument is that anyone (TJL as a freshman) can stand at the top of the key and get the ball to Nunn and Hill on the wing. Tate isn't a penetrate and kick point guard and he isn't a threat in the pick and roll because he can't shoot. The board's defense of Tate perplexes me to be honest. He's the worst Illini point guard we've had in some time and it's not like we've had a lot of great ones in the last decade.

 

[Jabber Jabber]

That's all I'll say on the subject, and I'll let the thread get back to recruiting speculation.

 

[KevinC]

I'm not sure people are asking for a point guard that shoots a lot, just a point guard that can reasonably create for themselves and others, and is a viable threat to score. A point guard that is a threat to score and is willing to shoot makes defenders play him honestly and help away from Hill, Nunn, (JCL) and Finke - allowing them higher percentage looks without having to create for themselves or work through 5 screens first. Defenders don't respect Tate at all, and it makes everyone else's jobs much harder.

It's amazing what MSU has done over the last 2 seasons.

 

[Joel Goodson]

If Tilmon did decide to commit soon (not saying he will) but I think that opens up the possibility of Wilkes and Scruggs wanting to come here and play with another 5 star. Now that would be crazy

If Tilmon commits, we're gonna need a bigger boat, regardless of Wilkes and Scruggs. If they commit too, that would be nothing short of apocalyptic. Oskee-wow-wow.

 

[CAHALL15]

If Tilmon did decide to commit soon (not saying he will) but I think that opens up the possibility of Wilkes and Scruggs wanting to come here and play with another 5 star. Now that would be crazy

Combine that with DaMonte and Goodwin and I'd be set. It only takes one. Simmons attracted guys to play with him at LSU.

 

[midastouch11]

It's amazing what MSU has done over the last 2 seasons.

It's more amazing what Duke and Uconn have done.