Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (March 2017)

[HTT]

I do not think DaMonte de-commit would be the end of the world. We are overloaded on guards next year and possibly adding Smith to the mix. If we keep things like this someone has to transfer out in 1 or 2 years. We need to leave some schollies for bigs and some free space for BU to get who he wants.

Small line-up and quick tempo utopia will be destroyed in big10. Every big10 coach (except John Groce) knows how to slow opponents down and punish bad D and undersized squad. Free flowing dream might work in other conference but not the No.1 toughness conference. If we do not have front-court with depth, size, athleticism and great D overall, we are going to be bad forever. Black and Tilmon are excellent front-court starters but we must add depth to that.

 

[combes]

Williams isn't going anywhere. Imo

 

[bbpeoria]

Instead of 5th year big transfer, I want a raw frosh C/PF. I am worried if Tilmon and Black are all gone in 2 years, then we have a glaring hole in frontcourt when our backcourt studs are upperclassmen and ready to shine.

Mav level talent is acceptable. If we coach him better he can be qualified starter after around 2 years.

Well, HTT. Here is exactly what you are describing. Not sure if he could be B1G caliber, and certainly does not have the pub/offers right now, but I really like this highlight video.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5071554/justin-brown

 

[HC Illini]

Monte isn't going anywhere

 

[GoIllini40]

Tilmon is the only one I'm really "worried" about

 

[mattcoldagelli]

My guess is it ends up somewhere between those two extremes. It would be incredible if we could keep everybody and even add Smith, but I don't think that will happen.

I honestly think the most likely outcome is everyone stays and Smith joins.

 

[Adnarel]

Not very encouraging comments by Monte

Respectfully disagree. Totally reasonable comments by Da'monte. It is to be expected that the recruits would want to at least meet with Underwood before declaring publicly that they will continue to honor their LOI to attend the University of Illinois. These are not light decisions these young men have made, and they are correct in wanting as much information as possible to inform their decision as to what to do next.

This is Underwood's first big test. Part A of this test is to make a positive impression on our existing recruits. Part B is to keep Walker around so we can keep Tilmon around (presumably).

 

[Adnarel]

Off topic, but I never realized how impressive the IllinoisLoyalty community was until I ventured over to some other school's boards. WOW.

We poke fun about how getting "danned" is a rite of passage 'round these here parts, but his quality control is a big reason this board is quite a bit more tolerable than your average sports forum.

 

[Stevegarbs]

We poke fun about how getting "danned" is a rite of passage 'round these here parts, but his quality control is a big reason this board is quite a bit more tolerable than your average sports forum.

Very true.


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[cali illini]

I honestly think the most likely outcome is everyone stays and Smith joins.

Yep! Were in good shape!!

 

[jrichisamazing]

I honestly think the most likely outcome is everyone stays and Smith joins.

This is what I want to believe...but the most likely outcome is 1-2 recruits leave, we add 1-2 recruits/transfers, and 1-2 current players leave. But there have been mentions/rumors of Whitman connecting with recruits and if everyone stays then Whitman really is a legend in the making.

 

[Magoo222]

If we're playing dream scenarios..........assuming the 4 2017s stay and nobody on current roster bolts............
To fill the last 2 spots I've seen posters mention Mark Smith, Jeffrey Carroll, Bowen and Porter with asst. coaching hires, and Kris Wilkes or Justin Smith with coaching changes. Which 2 of these 6 would be heaven sent ? And then, are any realistic possibilities other than Mark Smith ?

 

[FatGreg]

If we're playing dream scenarios..........assuming the 4 2017s stay and nobody on current roster bolts............
To fill the last 2 spots I've seen posters mention Mark Smith, Jeffrey Carroll, Bowen and Porter with asst. coaching hires, and Kris Wilkes or Justin Smith with coaching changes. Which 2 of these 6 would be heaven sent ? And then, are any realistic possibilities other than Mark Smith ?

I think that Smith is likely, Jeffrey Carroll makes sense on paper (though nothing beyond speculation so far), and the others are all unlikely.

 

[Peoria Pipeline]

The thing about Monte is he didn't really get recruited heavily by other teams because he was such a Illinois lean the whole time. He didnt really develop relationships with other coaches or schools.

 

[illiniknight]

I honestly think the most likely outcome is everyone stays and Smith joins.

I agree. If that happens, Wow! I mean upgrading the coach while also upgrading the recruiting class. That would be something. It is far from a sure thing but at least now it looks possible.

 

[FiveStar]

Shouldn't be surprising. He has no relationship with Underwood whatsoever. I can't blame a kid for wanting to get to know the guy that will be his coach before re-upping his commitment. If anything, Frazier's quite confirmation is the outlier.

Maybe he saw Evans and thought, "I can do that."

I honestly think the most likely outcome is everyone stays and Smith joins.

I'm definitely on the kool-aid since this hire, but this is where I am too. Smith just fits too well for Underwood to miss on him. Earlier someone said Underwood should show him some Walkup film. And Smith will be better than Walkup.

Well, HTT. Here is exactly what you are describing. Not sure if he could be B1G caliber, and certainly does not have the pub/offers right now, but I really like this highlight video.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5071554/justin-brown

Definitely a project but 6'9" with seemingly good length. My feeling is Underwood will want a more well rounded big because versatility in this offense, particularly the high post spot, is key.

 

[FiveStar]

I wonder if BU is gonna make a stand on class balance. I'd personally like to see him hold some schollies if/when necessary to fix this unbalanced mess we have. I know nobody ever wants to turn down talent, but I feel like one of our problems the last 5-6 years has been a lack of experience ready to step in when the seniors leave. I also feel like when you have 5-6 kids in classes 2 years apart, there's no bridge players between them and its easier for the team to fracture into cliques.

 

[Soxfreak64]

I wonder if BU is gonna make a stand on class balance. I'd personally like to see him hold some schollies if/when necessary to fix this unbalanced mess we have. I know nobody ever wants to turn down talent, but I feel like one of our problems the last 5-6 years has been a lack of experience ready to step in when the seniors leave. I also feel like when you have 5-6 kids in classes 2 years apart, there's no bridge players between them and its easier for the team to fracture into cliques.

Now isn't the time to do that though. If he doesn't see it on the current roster, he needs every last scholarship to recruit the talent needed to run his system. A few years down the line, maybe that story changes.

 

[FiveStar]

Now isn't the time to do that though. If he doesn't see it on the current roster, he needs every last scholarship to recruit the talent needed to run his system. A few years down the line, maybe that story changes.

If all of our current players and recruits didn't fit his system so well in theory, I would agree. I just think he's walking into a full stable of players physically capable of running his offense, and maybe he can afford only take 4 players in year x (2019?) vs 5. Or maybe he can find some balance through 5th year players in a way Groce couldn't.

 

[PlayAZ]

Well, HTT. Here is exactly what you are describing. Not sure if he could be B1G caliber, and certainly does not have the pub/offers right now, but I really like this highlight video.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5071554/justin-brown

Still think Taylor Bruninga could be a swing 4/high post 5 in BU offense, obviously with grooming....with Big men already here, plus multiple guards...he gives us talent/length/ability to groom (time wise), and also maybe a good vibe local recruit to add with 4 + Smith one hell of a class I believe.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/story/illinois-basketball-taylor-bruninga-is-an-interesting-illini-target-120116

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4ZOZ2LUtWA

 

[FiveStar]

Still think Taylor Bruninga could be a swing 4/high post 5 in BU offense, obviously with grooming....with Big men already here, plus multiple guards...he gives us talent/length/ability to groom (time wise), and also maybe a good vibe local recruit to add with 4 + Smith one hell of a class I believe.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/story/illinois-basketball-taylor-bruninga-is-an-interesting-illini-target-120116

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4ZOZ2LUtWA

I don't know how I feel about his ability to finish in traffic vs D1 athletes from that vid. I think his ball-handling and shooting appeared solid enough to play the high post spot though. I'd take him as a redshirt candidate if all other options were off the table. He could have a solid 4th and 5th year in this system. (admittedly all this is based on one tape)

 

[jrichisamazing]

I wonder if BU is gonna make a stand on class balance. I'd personally like to see him hold some schollies if/when necessary to fix this unbalanced mess we have. I know nobody ever wants to turn down talent, but I feel like one of our problems the last 5-6 years has been a lack of experience ready to step in when the seniors leave. I also feel like when you have 5-6 kids in classes 2 years apart, there's no bridge players between them and its easier for the team to fracture into cliques.

Class balance didn't have much to do with our struggles IMO. We had players, but they just weren't developed the right way or weren't talented enough. No coach is going to turn down talent in exchange for class balance. And definitely not programs trying to rebuild. Win first, then the class balance will work itself out through transfers and red-shirts.

 

[helppitch]

I wonder if BU is gonna make a stand on class balance. I'd personally like to see him hold some schollies if/when necessary to fix this unbalanced mess we have. I know nobody ever wants to turn down talent, but I feel like one of our problems the last 5-6 years has been a lack of experience ready to step in when the seniors leave. I also feel like when you have 5-6 kids in classes 2 years apart, there's no bridge players between them and its easier for the team to fracture into cliques.

IMO, class balance is overrated. Four out of the top six of Michigan States players are freshmen. As I watch college basketball. it seems few teams actually have class balance. (It is much more important in football IMO).

 

[illinifan87]

Chris Payton from Bloomington (my alma mater) looks like a stud. Only a sophomore.

Watched him in the state semis/3rd place game.

Rebounding machine, shows touch around the rim, good size, athletic.

Only have a 2 game sample size though.

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[illinifan87]

Finally got around to watching Mark Smith. He'd fit really well not only in Underwood's system but next to Frazier. Smith is more PG, Frazier more scoring. Funny bc size wise, you'd think they would be reversed.

Sign me up if Smith wants to commit right now.

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