Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#126      
Point-Illinois
Indy Illini Fan said:
Might be an understatement …
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I’m so surprised then.

He just recently fell out of ESPN’s (I think) top 100, isn’t a world beater talent/athleticism wise, hasn’t lit up the AAU scene recently, and is constantly moving schools.

Now we’re hearing he has “camp” and/or baggage issues?

None of this seems like BU’s style. Is there a long game being played here?

Or is it one of those “you take a project every year because if you get through to him you have an amazing player, if not he transfers” sort of thing.

I’m perplexed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
#127      
illiniballknower
Point-Illinois said:
I’m so surprised then.

He just recently fell out of ESPN’s (I think) top 100, isn’t a world beater talent/athleticism wise, hasn’t lit up the AAU scene recently, and is constantly moving schools.

Now we’re hearing he has “camp” and/or baggage issues?

None of this seems like BU’s style. Is there a long game being played here?

Or is it one of those “you take a project every year because if you get through to him you have an amazing player, if not he transfers” sort of thing.

I’m perplexed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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He is extremely athletic. Routinely punches down dunks in the halfcourt despite standing 6'1. And he was MVP of an EYBL round last spring. As for the rankings drop, he didn't get to play that much and when he did, the results were mixed. He did play really well at that Hawaii Holliday tournament. He has played a few games for Overtime Elite and has played pretty good. As for his camp, his mother's Facebook posts are.... interesting to say the least. Although that was not something new. Just from observing from the outside he seems like a good kid and I'm sure the staff got that as well or they would not have recruited him that hard. Nevertheless, his transfer history probably suggests potential troubles if the plan the staff laid out for him does not pan out.
 
#128      
alaskaillini
Point-Illinois said:
I’m so surprised then.

He just recently fell out of ESPN’s (I think) top 100, isn’t a world beater talent/athleticism wise, hasn’t lit up the AAU scene recently, and is constantly moving schools.

Now we’re hearing he has “camp” and/or baggage issues?

None of this seems like BU’s style. Is there a long game being played here?

Or is it one of those “you take a project every year because if you get through to him you have an amazing player, if not he transfers” sort of thing.

I’m perplexed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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You can take him and if it does not work out, you can be comfortable he won't stick around. Almost everyone is on a one year mutual tryout with the new rules. The exception is a guy like Lieb who is looking to get a good degree and enjoys being a part of a team and playing the game, even if it is only just in practice.
 
#130      
Big Jack
Point-Illinois said:
So athleticism wasn’t the right word then. Maybe measurables? If he’s 6’1” and somewhat slender, it puts him at a defensive disadvantage.

Maybe he has a 6’6” wingspan?
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I am sorry but it is not the size of the kid that matters at all in college ball.. It is more the size of the brain, heart and talent.. I will take a slick smart player Curbello size over a slow moving Clark everyday..
 
#133      
RockfordIllini
Big Jack said:
I am sorry but it is not the size of the kid that matters at all in college ball.. It is more the size of the brain, heart and talent.. I will take a slick smart player Curbello size over a slow moving Clark everyday..
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Generally agree with you but can be problematic if you stack too many undersized pieces from a roster construction perspective. One of the reasons Maryland has had our number recently. I thought we were moving away from small back courts like with Trent, Belo, Plum, etc. We already have 2 smaller guards with Epps and now Moretti.
 
#134      
Point-Illinois
Big Jack said:
I am sorry but it is not the size of the kid that matters at all in college ball.. It is more the size of the brain, heart and talent.. I will take a slick smart player Curbello size over a slow moving Clark everyday..
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BU may disagree with you at least with how he put together our ‘22-‘23 team. (Went after a lot of height and length)

Doesn’t mean it’s the end all strategy, but as @RockfordIllini said, stacking too many smaller guys makes it harder to defend as a team. (Not necessarily individually, especially if they have the heart of a Frazier)

So yes, I’d say (at least in some respects) it is the size of the player.
 
#135      
Indy Illini Fan
Bigtex said:
Experts why didnt DGL play for previous team (mountverde)? Yes they are loaded but he wasn't playing much at all.
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They're loaded and didn't need him to play for them to win ... He was at best the 8th or 9th best player on the team ...

Boyle also didn't particularly care for his "circle" and some of their actions and words ... Thought it was a bad look on the program ...
 
#136      
Big Jack
RockfordIllini said:
Generally agree with you but can be problematic if you stack too many undersized pieces from a roster construction perspective. One of the reasons Maryland has had our number recently. I thought we were moving away from small back courts like with Trent, Belo, Plum, etc. We already have 2 smaller guards with Epps and now Moretti.
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Maryland had our number before the recent few years... go back and watch them against us Cowan and Pfatts Russel are both 6' and 175lbs. Small point guards have eaten us over the years.. We need a point guard who can handle the ball better and score... I dont care how big he is.. What we have now is lacking.. Epps has plenty of potential and would be a great combo or 2 guard but he is not the answer at the point. I love Harris and his hustle but he is so one dimensional..

I love having wings with size but give me a good Curbello any day to lead the offense
 
#137      
chiefini
Indy Illini Fan said:
They're loaded and didn't need him to play for them to win ... He was at best the 8th or 9th best player on the team ...

Boyle also didn't particularly care for his "circle" and some of their actions and words ... Thought it was a bad look on the program ...
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Yikes. And Brad is okay with this? I really trust Brad’s judgement, but I’m more than a little apprehensive about this recruit now. I guess we’ll all find out if DGL is worth it…
 
#138      
Rap47
Big Jack said:
Maryland had our number before the recent few years... go back and watch them against us Cowan and Pfatts Russel are both 6' and 175lbs. Small point guards have eaten us over the years.. We need a point guard who can handle the ball better and score... I dont care how big he is.. What we have now is lacking.. Epps has plenty of potential and would be a great combo or 2 guard but he is not the answer at the point. I love Harris and his hustle but he is so one dimensional..

I love having wings with size but give me a good Curbello any day to lead the offense
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Curbelo can't even lead st. John's offense.
 
#141      
Emerson Bigguns
RockfordIllini said:
Generally agree with you but can be problematic if you stack too many undersized pieces from a roster construction perspective. One of the reasons Maryland has had our number recently. I thought we were moving away from small back courts like with Trent, Belo, Plum, etc. We already have 2 smaller guards with Epps and now Moretti.
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I wouldn’t get to hung up the height of guards we are recruiting. Get the best basketball players you can get. Figure the rest out later.
a. You are assuming the guys we have are the guys we are going to have.
b. Not every scholarship player is going to have a significant role, and certainly not freshman year.
c. Little guys are often awesome. Just a couple years ago we had a pair of ordinary guy sized guards named Trent Frazier and Andres Feliz. I had a lot of fun watching those guys play. I’d happily watch something similar.
 
#143      
JJB
Dan said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1617637561694056449
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"The day’s most productive player was Zack Hawkinson of Springfiled (Ill.) Sacred Heart Griffin. A bit of an undersized five man at about 6-foot-5, he played with a relentless motor around the rim and the day’s highest scoring and rebounding totals in a 33 and 17 effort. Currently unsigned, he’s wide open and could certainly help a program at the Division Two to perhaps lower-level Division One."

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Highland Shootout: 247Sports top 150 Kayden Fish, more top Midwest prospects shine

HIGHLAND, Ill. – Now that the calendar has turned to 2023, we are nearing the end of high school event season. Over the weekend, Highland (Ill.) high played host to one
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#146      
IlliniForceOne
chiefini said:
Yikes. And Brad is okay with this? I really trust Brad’s judgement, but I’m more than a little apprehensive about this recruit now. I guess we’ll all find out if DGL is worth it…
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I’ll be surprised if this kid makes it to campus.

Interesting that he was a top 10 overall recruit in his class at one point.
 
#147      
Bigtex
chiefini said:
Yikes. And Brad is okay with this? I really trust Brad’s judgement, but I’m more than a little apprehensive about this recruit now. I guess we’ll all find out if DGL is worth it…
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Have been apprehensive about DGL since the verbal. Time will tell
 
#149      
Bigtex
Illinirog70 said:
How is DGL doing at his new school? Any way of telling? Has anyone seen him?
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Another post (with a link) has him averaging 20ppg.

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