Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Fan Since '70]

Gonzalez is a better shooter. He is a 6’6” guard who has been with the Real Madrid program since he was 9 years old. He is a great defender also. He won the MVP of the prestigious tournament.

Demin led Madrid in the Championship game against Paris with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 27 Perf Rating. Demin shot 9-22 while Gonzalez shot 7-17. Nice all around game by Egor Demin. I like him and Kasparas both. Either one would be a go to guy on Illini, help facilitate offense, make his teammates better, and make the team go.

 

[LvilleILL]

Draftroom.com has Jakucionis as the projected 44th pick in next years draft. (Demin going 12th)

Tomislav is 49th

Booth is 57th

Storr 58th

Booth isn't being talked about enough. Yes he had his ups and downs as a freshman, but his upside is very high

 

[Boskydell]

Gonzalez is a better shooter. He is a 6’6” guard who has been with the Real Madrid program since he was 9 years old. He is a great defender also. He won the MVP of the prestigious tournament.

Yes, would be a legit TSJ replacement. Would rather have Demin or Kasparas for pg skills and versatility.

 

[LvilleILL]

There were a few really good players in that tournament. Coming away, I thought Gonzalez, Kasparas, and Traore were the three most impressive. Demin looks like the real deal as well. I have said this before-but in terms of college, I think Kasparas will be the better college player than Egor. Egor is probably a one and done and Kasparas is probably a 2 year and then go

 

[Illini4Christ]

Demin led Madrid in the Championship game against Paris with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 27 Perf Rating. Demin shot 9-22 while Gonzalez shot 7-17. Nice all around game by Egor Demin. I like him and Kasparas both. Either one would be a go to guy on Illini, help facilitate offense, make his teammates better, and make the team go.

Egor has great vision and passing ability. He is a true point guard and his shooting will improve in the NBA and he will be a great player because of his size and his passing ability. He will have to pick up his defense.

 

[Fan Since '70]

There were a few really good players in that tournament. Coming away, I thought Gonzalez, Kasparas, and Traore were the three most impressive. Demin looks like the real deal as well. I have said this before-but in terms of college, I think Kasparas will be the better college player than Egor. Egor is probably a one and done and Kasparas is probably a 2 year and then go

Agree, those four, Traore, Kasparas, Gonzalez and Demin impressed me most. Demin actually outplayed all of them in tight championship game when it counted most. My hope is Illini are able to get Kasparas or Demin still. Either would make the team go and either can play themselves to a 1st round pick, even lottery pick.

 

[punchabove33]

What does the Rock Gif Mean? I think I understand the Denzel boom.. but what is Rock Smiling..

 

[Cravingschampaign]

Good highlight video of Kasparas in the NGT

 

[PepeSilvia]

There were a few really good players in that tournament from watching it. Coming away, I thought Gonzalez, Kasparas, and Traore were the three most impressive. Demin looks like the real deal as well. I have said this before-but in terms of college, I think Kasparas will be the better college player than Egor. Egor is probably a one and done and Kasparas is probably a 2 year and then go

2 years vastly fits the Illini timeline better.

Only losing Hum to eligibility, so could potentially return everyone else plus Fears incoming. Obviously with the portal there would likely be some subtractions but if you could retain 6 or 7 of your main 8 man rotation and maybe make a splash add to patch a hole then you're looking at a preseason title contender.

 

[NCIllini10]

I think that Morez (like most Freshmen) will need some work on his defense. The games I watched he seemed to have slow feet and allowed guys to score around him. He will have good coaching though, but will have to avoid fouling.

I think he'll be a great Illini. Year two he'll be a stud....

Agreed. There is a learning curve. How quickly he navigates it remains to be seen.

 

[The Sprouting Divot]

I remember a time before the internet made people so mean

No you don't, you fool.

 

[john1952]

Great Moments in Illini Basketball

 

[Joel Goodson]

Booth isn't being talked about enough. Yes he had his ups and downs as a freshman, but his upside is very high

don't forget about our future 1st team AA, Tre White

 

[BashCtIllini]

Good highlight video of Kasparas in the NGT

An honest, in my opinion, evaluation of his game. He is an average athlete. He is not an above the rim guy, he's not going to blow by anyone, but he also doesn't appear to be a liability athletically.

His defense looked like it could use some help in the games I saw. He wasn't fighting through screens, a guy with a good first step could get past him.

He is an elite FT shooter, and he gets to the line a lot.

He is a good shooter, don't think I'd call it great. Given his FT shooting, one would assume he could be a great shooter eventually.

When I watch this kid, what stands out to me the most is feel for the game/bball IQ. He knows how to cross people up, he knows how to exploit the flow of the defense, he can see where his teammate is going and put the pass there.

His body is ready to play right now. I think overall he can step in and be a capable Big Ten starter, but I do not expect him to be a star right out of the gates. He is not going to have the ball in his hands as much on our team.

 

[Uihoop2023!]

An honest, in my opinion, evaluation of his game. He is an average athlete. He is not an above the rim guy, he's not going to blow by anyone, but he also doesn't appear to be a liability athletically.

His defense looked like it could use some help in the games I saw. He wasn't fighting through screens, a guy with a good first step could get past him.

He is an elite FT shooter, and he gets to the line a lot.

He is a good shooter, don't think I'd call it great. Given his FT shooting, one would assume he could be a great shooter eventually.

When I watch this kid, what stands out to me the most is feel for the game/bball IQ. He knows how to cross people up, he knows how to exploit the flow of the defense, he can see where his teammate is going and put the pass there.

His body is ready to play right now. I think overall he can step in and be a capable Big Ten starter, but I do not expect him to be a star right out of the gates. He is not going to have the ball in his hands as much on our team.

Hmmmm..average athlete?

 

[Uihoop2023!]

Hmmm...average athlete?

 

[Uihoop2023!]

Hmm..average athlete?

 

[Uihoop2023!]

Hmmm..
Average athlete?

 

[BashCtIllini]

Hmm..average athlete?

You seem very interested in this, but yes. I don't think that is a particularly controversial take. But you're entitled to your own opinion.

 

[skyIdub]

Let's just get Kasparas and rocket this thread to post #420 for @pruman91 before Tuesday.

You have one job Loyalty.

 

[Cravingschampaign]

An honest, in my opinion, evaluation of his game. He is an average athlete. He is not an above the rim guy, he's not going to blow by anyone, but he also doesn't appear to be a liability athletically.

His defense looked like it could use some help in the games I saw. He wasn't fighting through screens, a guy with a good first step could get past him.

He is an elite FT shooter, and he gets to the line a lot.

He is a good shooter, don't think I'd call it great. Given his FT shooting, one would assume he could be a great shooter eventually.

When I watch this kid, what stands out to me the most is feel for the game/bball IQ. He knows how to cross people up, he knows how to exploit the flow of the defense, he can see where his teammate is going and put the pass there.

His body is ready to play right now. I think overall he can step in and be a capable Big Ten starter, but I do not expect him to be a star right out of the gates. He is not going to have the ball in his hands as much on our team.

kind of reminds me of Brandin Podziemski haha. Below the rim athlete with good feel, strong passer, may not blow by you but is crafty

 

[illinifan1987]

Let's just get Kasparas and rocket this thread to post #420 for @pruman91 before Tuesday.

You have one job Loyalty.

 

[Fan Since '70]

An honest, in my opinion, evaluation of his game. He is an average athlete. He is not an above the rim guy, he's not going to blow by anyone, but he also doesn't appear to be a liability athletically.

His defense looked like it could use some help in the games I saw. He wasn't fighting through screens, a guy with a good first step could get past him.

He is an elite FT shooter, and he gets to the line a lot.

He is a good shooter, don't think I'd call it great. Given his FT shooting, one would assume he could be a great shooter eventually.

When I watch this kid, what stands out to me the most is feel for the game/bball IQ. He knows how to cross people up, he knows how to exploit the flow of the defense, he can see where his teammate is going and put the pass there.

His body is ready to play right now. I think overall he can step in and be a capable Big Ten starter, but I do not expect him to be a star right out of the gates. He is not going to have the ball in his hands as much on our team.

Kasparas would be a high utilization guy with focus on him, and always has been. He will be a 1st round or at most 2nd round draft pick when he leaves Illinois after 1-2 years. How many draft picks has Illinois had? You'd be looking at one in Kasparas or Demin. Kasparas stats will show him to be the all-around great player he is, as both a go-to guy and excellent facilitator, right out of the gate. Makes those around him better.

 

[Seagee]

Draftroom.com has Jakucionis as the projected 44th pick in next years draft. (Demin going 12th)

Tomislav is 49th

Booth is 57th

Storr 58th

So where do we stand with Storr ??

 

[Fan Since '70]

So where do we stand with Storr ??

/s