Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#76      
Joel Goodson
Indy Illini Fan said:
If I had to put money down on it today ...

Go Green Michigan Football GIF by Michigan State Athletics
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Where's the dislike button?
 
#77      
BretMyBeachHouse
I'm not convinced on Schutt. Small school guy. Doesn't always translate. I'm sure he had some AAU success that might give me more confidence, but he's doing nothing for Duke when they suck. Not sure why it's so obvious he'll rise to his high school ranking as opposed to playing like he does now.
 
#78      
Joel Goodson
BretMyBeachHouse said:
I'm not convinced on Schutt. Small school guy. Doesn't always translate. I'm sure he had some AAU success that might give me more confidence, but he's doing nothing for Duke when they suck. Not sure why it's so obvious he'll rise to his high school ranking as opposed to playing like he does now.
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Schutt won a national AAU title (UA circuit) and he was the Wolves' top banana. Not exactly chopped liver.
 
#80      
Battle89
Joel Goodson said:
Schutt won a national AAU title (UA circuit) and he was the Wolves' top banana. Not exactly chopped liver.
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I will perhaps come across as naive here, but if the two players are relatively close in ability, does Certa's excitement and desire to play here count for anything? We want guys who want to be here, etc. Sounds like a great kid and a great family.

Or is Schutt the player to be named later in the Grandison trade? :LOL:
 
#82      
Champaign Toast
A couple Chicago kids--perhaps under the radar--who stood out to me in game videos I've watched are Chris Riddle (2024) of Kenwood and Justin Pickens (2023) of Farragut. Pickens doesn't even have a 247 page. Riddle is listed at 3 stars and has visited Champaign.

Every year it seems, local kids who are under-recruited end up high value starters at high mid majors or lower profile high majors. I have pangs of jealousy when they end up in the league. A few from the past that stand out in my mind are Jerome Randle, Patrick Beverly, Michael Finley, Jacob Pullen, Abdel Nader, and Fred Van Vleet; and I think Terrence Shannon Jr. can be put in that category, as well. I wonder whether Riddle or Pickens could be future members of this club.

While we are discussing how much the staff is interested in various prospects, any inside info on those two?

Video highlights of Farragut v Kenwood (2025 Aleks Alston is listed as a three star on 247, but also looks slick as a shooting 6'7" wing in this game)
 
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#88      
IlliniUnited
Champaign Toast said:
A couple Chicago kids--perhaps under the radar--who stood out to me in game videos I've watched are Chris Riddle (2024) of Kenwood and Justin Pickens (2023) of Farragut. Pickens doesn't even have a 247 page. Riddle is listed at 3 stars and has visited Champaign.

Every year it seems, local kids who are under-recruited end up high value starters at high mid majors or lower profile high majors. I have pangs of jealousy when they end up in the league. A few from the past that stand out in my mind are Jerome Randle, Patrick Beverly, Michael Finley, Jacob Pullen, Abdel Nader, and Fred Van Vleet; and I think Terrence Shannon Jr. can be put in that category, as well. I wonder whether Riddle or Pickens could be future members of this club.

While we are discussing how much the staff is interested in various prospects, any inside info on those two?

Video highlights of Farragut v Kenwood (2025 Aleks Alston is listed as a three star on 247, but also looks slick as a shooting 6'7" wing in this game)
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Riddle has been highly regarded since he entered high school. Lost a little local spotlight since he played in Arizona last year. Kenwood is stacked so he is not going to put up huge stats this year but expect him to have great AAU and senior seasons
 
#90      
WeWillWhen
I much more expect them to look at an older, proven producer at the college level before taking a flyer on a guy like Schutt who isn’t getting tick. Think Grandison, Plummer or Feliz.
 
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#91      
EyeoftheIllini
Indy Illini Fan said:
Wouldn't shock me one bit to see Schutt in the portal ...
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Wouldn’t shock me either, but when I see things like this I just have to wonder what they’re thinking. I understand wanting to go up against the best and not shying away from competition, but there is competition and then there is banging your head against a brick wall. Maybe it was worth the “gamble” and practicing against that talent will be helpful in his development. But I think probably at least 80% of this board would have predicted this outcome for his freshman year. It will be interesting to see if he cuts bait or sticks it out. Not sure minutes will be much easier to come by next year with the class that is coming in.
 
#92      
BashCtIllini
illini55 said:
Let's hope Jake is in his ear, in a positive way. That could really be a big factor.
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I would doubt they're talking about it too much at the mid-point of the season. I just hope Jaden looks and sees Sencire starting, Epps getting 25 mpg, Rodgers 15 mpg and thinking I could have been a key piece to that team even in a reserve role had I gone.

When I look at our freshmen, Sencire is a dog who I hope has a Chester Frazier type arc to his game (though wouldn't mind that offensive effeciency coming before his Sr. year), Epps is a scorer, Rodgers is a swiss army knife, and Dain is a presence in the paint. What we don't have is a defense stretcher that will destroy a zone, or hit a 3 in your face.

The fact that we offered Cole Certa shows the staff knows we need that type of guy and think Certa can fill the role. Well even if we do take Certa, Schutt would be a Jr when he's a Fr., so there is certainly room for both. When Mayer and Shannon leave, we are really going to be hurting for 3 pt shooting. I'd expend every resource available on Schutt, assuming he enters the portal. He's only had the opportunity to take 10 3s in his Duke career, after starting 1-6, he has hit his last 4 to be at 50% overall.
 
#93      
Joel Goodson
BashCtIllini said:
I would doubt they're talking about it too much at the mid-point of the season. I just hope Jaden looks and sees Sencire starting, Epps getting 25 mpg, Rodgers 15 mpg and thinking I could have been a key piece to that team even in a reserve role had I gone.

When I look at our freshmen, Sencire is a dog who I hope has a Chester Frazier type arc to his game (though wouldn't mind that offensive effeciency coming before his Sr. year), Epps is a scorer, Rodgers is a swiss army knife, and Dain is a presence in the paint. What we don't have is a defense stretcher that will destroy a zone, or hit a 3 in your face.

The fact that we offered Cole Certa shows the staff knows we need that type of guy and think Certa can fill the role. Well even if we do take Certa, Schutt would be a Jr when he's a Fr., so there is certainly room for both. When Mayer and Shannon leave, we are really going to be hurting for 3 pt shooting. I'd expend every resource available on Schutt, assuming he enters the portal. He's only had the opportunity to take 10 3s in his Duke career, after starting 1-6, he has hit his last 4 to be at 50% overall.
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Goode is the best long range shooter on the team and Epps is no slouch. Definitely room for another sharpshooter. Don't see both.
 
#99      
DICKnaggie
Scoregasm said:
This probably won't end well...interesting family members don't last long in the UI basketball family.
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I think this is what is a head scratcher for me given recent developments. Why go after him and take the commitment given all the "known knowns" about he and his camp? Is the upside so high that the staff wants to take the chance given all the drama of this season?
 
#100      
Illinirog70
New Creation said:
DRA has to stop moving from team to team. Crushing his ranking… AH should be an amazing upgrade to Hawkins.
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I have a very jaundiced view of DRA after seeing him play on tape... He can leap,,, but what else? Small, slightly built non-dynamic player who does not seem to assert himself. What am I missing? I do trust Underwood but DRA seems to be a throw-back to previous coaches' targets
 
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