Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#326      
splitter
The Galloping Ghost said:
I continue to be impressed with how Brad solves problems. Every off-season it feels like there are a lot of question marks that would doom a lesser coach and more often than not, we come out looking better on the other end.

In 2021, we lose not one, but two assistants and have Kofi in the portal. Brad brings in TA and Chester and gets Kofi to come back. In 2022, we need to fill a Kofi-sized production hole and find a point guard. Brad brings in TSJ and MM and out of nowhere gets Skyy Clark. Yeah, admittedly, the season didn't quite work out, but it was a heck of a swing and, importantly, got us TSJ. In 2023, Brad got both TSJ, who nobody thought would play another game in college, and Hawk to come back and loaded up the squad with a ton of experience utilizing the extra covid year. This off-season, he rebuilds the squad with a ton of young and intriguing talent, replaces an assistant with one of the best in the game, and manages to fill two massive holes in the roster with European guys not on most teams' radar.

I was a huge worrier in the 2021 off-season. I didn't know if we'd be able to handle the adversity. This off-season, I knew Brad and the staff would figure it out. They always seem to.
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We lost three assistants in '21. Geoff was elevated and help bring Kofi back and his European ties are paying off. With Orlando back and with TA the memory of Chin and Gentry is fading. Those two have a place in helping Brad building back Illini basketball. Chester still an Illini even if we are playing WV.
 
#327      
Fly Illini Fly!
LvilleILL said:
They may leave it at 11, could add one more. Depends on if they can find someone willing to take a lesser role/develop for a year
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Is a guy like Monsanto still in play? Think he'd be a good fit, really like his game.

Tbh, if it's someone like Mongolian Mike I'd rather pass - no need to clog roster spots.
 
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#328      
ILBB94
RichardKeenesCousin said:
Are we allowed to discuss another website's starting lineup projection on here?

https://writingillini.com/posts/pro...ddition-of-kasparas-jakucionis-01hyzr9n76zh/5

Starters - Backup
1. Ty Rodgers - DGL
2. K. Boswell - K. Jakucionis
3. T. White - J. Davis
4. HabaneroSauce - C. Booth
5. M. Johnson - T. Ivisic

This seems way off to me.
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I agree this may be off. It will be a battle for starting spots over coming months. And seeing who plays best together.... Going to be fun to watch.
 
#329      
Mobi
illinoispeak said:
They were pretty accurate on their assessment. I woulda taken Lathon over KJ, but I'm not the coach so I hope he plays well. Need to work a little on his 3 ball
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I don't know. They were down on Domask last year and then admitted wrong.
 
#331      
abchew2
Chuck Nuggets said:
It's just a couple okay dudes talking about basketball. Don't take it so seriously. Who cares if they get something wrong. They do the best they can.
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Their whole thing is fans of college ball injecting their personality to takes we’ve seen here countless times. I think they do a great job with their content and it’s clear they are passionate for the sport and B1G as a whole. They have a good dynamic no matter how crazy the take. They owned the Domask offseason thoughts and anticipate they may do the same with the pieces put together for this season.
 
#332      
ILBB94
For those that judged our progress mid April and suggested we were "bottom half of the Big Ten", how do you feel now?
It reminds me of someone building a home and walking in while it is under construction and wondering how they will stay dry without a roof.
Confused What Is This GIF
 
#333      
RabidDawgClassic
I’m excited about our potential offense next year, especially when it comes to free throw percentage. We have a legit chance to have the program’s best ever team free throw percentage. Consider:

Kylan Boswell — 79.5%
Ben Humrichous — 75.5%
Tre White — 75.2%
Jake Davis — 84.8%
Tamislav Ivisic — 87%*
Kasparas Jakucionis- 92.2%**
Carey Booth — 63.4%
Dre Gibbs-Lawhorn — 66.7%
Ty Rodgers — 58.5%
Morez Johnson — ?***
Jason Jakstys — ? (Redshirting)

*compilation from multiple leagues

**compilation from multiple leagues, including one 27/27 4-game stretch

***made second most free throws in Illinois high school last season (128), but I can’t find how many free throws attempted.

I expect DGL to increase his percentage with increased playing time. Ty, I’m not so sure.

I think our biggest concerns for next year are team chemistry and overall defense. Assuming the former is okay, the latter should eventually take care of itself.
 
#336      
Fighting I 95
illinoispeak said:
They were pretty accurate on their assessment. I woulda taken Lathon over KJ, but I'm not the coach so I hope he plays well. Need to work a little on his 3 ball
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Not in a million years imo and thats coming from someone who like Lathon and would have been happy to get him.

KJ has a chance to be Brads best NBA prospect and If that comes to fruition that will do much more for this program in terms of overseas recruiting and development to sell to other recruits than getting Lathon would have.
 
#338      
Emerson Bigguns
RabidDawgClassic said:
I think our biggest concerns for next year are team chemistry and overall defense. Assuming the former is okay, the latter should eventually take care of itself.
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I think the fact that we have so many guys who are really talented but have something to prove is going to help immensely on that front. The guys who show up ready to get stops will get the minutes. Anyone who doesn't want to work on defense has a hungry & talented backup... No one on this roster should come in with an entitled attitude. They will all have to fight for their share.
 
#340      
Fly Illini Fly!
#343      
phats22
mhuml32 said:
Kasparas just made this roster incredibly fun. Well done, staff.
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yeah, i think our offense will be dynamic. we really depended a lot on iso ball in the half court if TSJ didnt get a break away.

Domask booty ball was effective but lead to some predictability down the stretch.

This roster could be very high paced and fun to watch if they commit to playing as a team and making the extra pass, ala 2004....
 
#346      
hooraybeer
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Soooo...

What's the talk now moving forward?

These guys...?

247sports.com

Jasper Johnson, Overtime Elite , Shooting Guard

Jasper Johnson is a 6-4, 170-pound Combo Guard from Versailles, KY.
247sports.com 247sports.com

247sports.com

AJ Dybantsa, Utah Prep , Small Forward

AJ Dybantsa is a Small Forward from Brockton, MA.
247sports.com 247sports.com

247sports.com

Meleek Thomas, Overtime Elite , Shooting Guard

Meleek Thomas is a 6-3, 165-pound Point Guard from Midland, PA.
247sports.com 247sports.com

Larry David Hbo GIF by Curb Your Enthusiasm
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need to see more defensively from all three imo. if dybantsa wanted to give an NIL discount to play with Fears he might be a take
 
#350      
Greensboro
DJRichardson4threee said:
I know Coleman said he was seriously done with school, and wouldn’t want to come back to Illinois if he did come back to school, but I wonder if any of that had to do with him thinking Illinois would take a step back next year with losing TSJ and Domask? With the recent additions, is it possible that final scholarship is being saved for him? If I were him, I would be much more intrigued knowing what the roster will look like for next year with a true PG and a big man to help him defending the post. If Coleman somehow changed his mind, oh my 🚀
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I see several no way comments & while I believe that is probably true...on the other hand...

1) somewhere back a few weeks Underwood said the reason they would hold a couple open schollies was for an impact opportunity that might pop up now and/or at midyear. - Coleman would be the definition of an impact transfer. It would be stupid for us not to want him back.

2) Coleman said this was a business decision to leave himself options & it seems pretty clear he isn't planning on coming back...However, even if our NIL coffers are dry, there has been previous talk of being able to secure some extra funds for big names...With Coleman's history, would there be a chance he has more value to Illinois alumni than some random transfer? If we could find some extra funds for a Demin, Storr, ... why not Coleman who has some great history. So if it is truly a business decision, while I still expect the chance is low that we can outbid UNC/UConn or other suitors, I don't think it is zero & I wouldn't totally count out Underwood/Whitman to find some more money. I would also agree with your thought that where Coleman thinks we stand with our roster rebuild would weigh in as well.

So while I don't think it is likely; I don't see it as totally impossible.
 
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