Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[logjam]

I think the key to success next year is feeding all these dogs enough to keep them engaged (and not necessarily fully happy). It reminds me of Dain last year. He could probably start on a number of fringe top-25 teams (okay, maybe top 40). He wasn't very happy about his role most of the year, but Brad and his staff do a great job of keeping guys engaged with the team. Accept their roles and contribute as needed.

I really hope if someone like Tre White gets moved to a bench role, he'll see the value in playing for a top-20 team and being a big contributor--even if it's not a consistent thing. Accept the role, and he'll probably have a bigger role next season if Riley bolts after a year.

He played at Louisville last year...he's definitely going to enjoy it more than his last season

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

Will Riley showing a 100% crystal ball on 247

Great! Tipton edit and Canadian...cup check time. I know all the insiders are alluding to a done deal, but until the signing has been announced by Daddy Brad himself

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Many things about Scheyer and Duke are absurd. Why would 3 or 4 top 10 players sign on to play for him every year? He hasn't proven a thing as a coach or developer of talent. Why does Duke get overwhelmingly favorable officiating? Why do pundits talk about what a great upset it would be for Scheyer-led Duke to beat a higher-seeded team that doesn't have nearly as much talent as Duke? And yes, why is he so highly paid?

Getting talent into the building is a huge part of the job. He is doing that extremely well. As Mark Pope has illustrated so far at Kentucky, recruiting isn’t just about the name on the jersey.

 

[doowink]

from time to time he may throw zone at the opponent. Not as a way of life, but just to disrupt chemistry of the opponent.

That would be a shock

 

[Illini in Italy]

UK fans sure are something else.

I am shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, that a) a Kucky fan might have a device that can connect to the innernet; and b) that he or she would know how to turn it in!

 

[LadyLoyalty]

The best part is that they have to pay to post on that blog lol. I was going to suggest that someone make an account and add fuel to the fire but I don’t want anyone putting money toward that garbage

I actually went to register so I could reply to the posts saying Illinois can’t get Riley because our scholarships are full… then I saw they pay $100/yr to post on their own trash blog!

 

[Illinifrank67]

from time to time he may throw zone at the opponent. Not as a way of life, but just to disrupt chemistry of the opponent.

I feel like this works in high school but everybody shoots the three to well these days for zone to be effective at the college level. Go to your local community college and watch a practice. Those are guys that are likely going to play D2, D3 tops and it will blow you away how rarely they miss uncontested threes.

 

[Illini IndyCar Fan]

I actually went to register so I could reply to the posts saying Illinois can’t get Riley because our scholarships are full… then I saw they pay $100/yr to post on their own trash blog!

That’s smart on their part; pricing out the muck of the UK fanbase probably makes it a lot easier to moderate.

 

[sharpshot16]

I guess you can't get much higher than 100%. My question would be, does he reclassify (whatever that means) to a '24? And if he so, would he be academically eligible for Illinois? My guess is coaches and academic advisors are working this out. I sure hope so. Way back in the day, when I was in h.s. we never heard of such a thing. After you were a junior, you were a senior.

After watching more film of him, I can see why he describes himself as "positionless." His range from deep is NBA stuff and beyond off the dribble, often with a hand in his face. But his inside moves are so superb you could post him up from time to time.

Yes reclassify to 24 and yes eligible. Canada makes it easier. He is going to try and be a 1 and done but could see him as a 2 year guy.

The interesting part will be culture within tre and ty. But they are bought into winning and you don't turn away a top 10 dude that wants to commit

 

[LadyLoyalty]

That’s smart on their part; pricing out the muck of the UK fanbase probably makes it a lot easier to moderate.

Based on the hate spewing vitriol and language, there appears to be no content moderation. I thought it would be fun to post these in reply to their bashing Illinois as “trash”.

 

[Combo]

This is an incredibly important point. I am going to guess that Jakstys and possibly Davis redshirt. I hope Davis finds a role and gets a few minutes. He can REALLY shoot off the dribble and he plays hard defensively, but I just don’t know where his minutes would come.

Anyway, if Jakstys and Davis redshirt, you would have 10 guys who can all really play and contribute. To this point, Brad has routinely used an 8 man rotation. I hope that changes this season and he uses those 10 guys as much as possible. We have quality depth for the upcoming season. We need to use it and not waste that advantage. Doing that would help alleviate some of the valid concerns you allude to.

As always, jmho…

I don't know of any current coach who uses a 10-man rotation. Early in the season, I could see BU going at most 9 deep. And that would likely shrink to 7 deep by tournament time.

 

[robjilla]

I saw Indy brought up Meleek Thomas earlier...

Probably too early to tell, but how much of a shot do you think we got here? Some real hefty comp here. If we're able to land the top 2 prospects in HS BB...both being top 10 players...Holy Cow...

The fit wouldn't be too much of a problem IMO - we've had 3 guard Starting 5s before: Trent, Adam, Ayo in '21...Curbelo, Trent, Plummer in '22...

Kylan, Kasparas, Meleek would be perfect IMO...

Uconn lean

 

[The Galloping Ghost]

That’s smart on their part; pricing out the muck of the UK fanbase probably makes it a lot easier to moderate.

I don't know. Have you actually read any of the threads? It's almost entirely pure, uncut muck. I can't imagine paying $100 for that level of illiteracy, ignorance, and hate. The contrast in quality between there and here is stark. Thank you again, @Dan, for all you do to keep this board up and running. It could not be more appreciated.

 

[Altuve27]

I don't know of any current coach who uses a 10-man rotation. Early in the season, I could see BU going at most 9 deep. And that would likely shrink to 7 deep by tournament time.

I hope that’s not the case, but you may very well be right. 10 is probably stretching it. There’s no reason we can’t go 9 deep comfortably, but given Brad’s history I may have unrealistic expectations. I just feel like it would be wasting some of this talent we’ve accrued. 9, I feel, is very doable.

One thing I will say is that these things usually work themselves out. Somebody gets injured, or somebody completely face plants or whatever…. You never know. I just, personally, would like to see a little deeper rotation given the increased talent level throughout the roster. They are not as top heavy this year on paper.

 

[illinifan1987]

I actually went to register so I could reply to the posts saying Illinois can’t get Riley because our scholarships are full… then I saw they pay $100/yr to post on their own trash blog!

$100???

 

[Combo]

I hope that’s not the case, but you may very well be right. 10 is probably stretching it. There’s no reason we can’t go 9 deep comfortably, but given Brad’s history I may have unrealistic expectations. I just feel like it would be wasting some of this talent we’ve accrued. 9, I feel, is very doable.

One thing I will say is that these things usually work themselves out. Somebody gets injured, or somebody completely face plants or whatever…. You never know. I just, personally, would like to see a little deeper rotation given the increased talent level throughout the roster. They are not as top heavy this year on paper.

Brad's history? What a backhanded comment. Brad plays a pretty typical rotation for college basketball.

You would be wasting talent if you didn't have your best players on the floor as much as possible.

Injuries, face plants - yes, sh..t happens and you rarely end up with the depth you thought you had preseason.

 

[Noblesville Illini]

Brad's history? What a backhanded comment. Brad plays a pretty typical rotation for college basketball.

You would be wasting talent if you didn't have your best players on the floor as much as possible.

Injuries, face plants - yes, sh..t happens and you rarely end up with the depth you thought you had preseason.

My prediction for the rotation sans injury…

 

[Brosky]

I attend countless D3 games every season. They don't shoot from distance any better or worse than D1.

 

[Altuve27]

My prediction for the rotation sans injury…

I’ll take a stab:

Boswell
KJ
Riley
Humrichous
Ivisic

Rodgers
White
Johnson
DGL or Booth

DGL and Booth are competing for the last rotation spot because I do agree with Combo that it is unlikely we go 10 deep. The first 8 guys I listed I think are very likely to be in the rotation so who gets the last spot if the rotation goes to nine?

 

[FreshlySqueezed]

I’ll take a stab:

Boswell
KJ
Riley
Humrichous
Ivisic

Rodgers
White
Johnson
DGL or Booth

DGL and Booth are competing for the last rotation spot because I do agree with Combo that it is unlikely we go 10 deep. The first 8 guys I listed I think are very likely to be in the rotation so who gets the last spot if the rotation goes to nine?

And just to add, there's a pretty good chance we've got one of those guys banged up more often than not.

 

[BIG_G2332]

So where do we stand with Coleman?

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

So where do we stand with Coleman?

He's visiting next week I heard

 

[SescIllini]

I’ll take a stab:

Boswell
KJ
Riley
Humrichous
Ivisic

Rodgers
White
Johnson
DGL or Booth

DGL and Booth are competing for the last rotation spot because I do agree with Combo that it is unlikely we go 10 deep. The first 8 guys I listed I think are very likely to be in the rotation so who gets the last spot if the rotation goes to nine?

DGL will play we are low on true combo guards. His on ball defense and shooting improved at the end. Don't know enough about Booth, but hope he gets minutes, likely backing up Humrichous.

 

[Altuve27]

DGL will play we are low on true combo guards. His on ball defense and shooting improved at the end. Don't know enough about Booth, but hope he gets minutes, likely backing up Humrichous.

Yep. I think you’re right. You can never have too many guards. Also, I think he brings a toughness mindset defensively that we are going to need.

Same thing with Ty, even if he doesn’t start, he’ll play 20-25 minutes because of the defensive toughness he brings, tenacity on the glass and passing. Being able to surround him with shooters will give him even more pace to operate down low and if that is cut off he doesn’t have to force it. Just fire it out to one of our 87 three-point shooters.

 

[Combo]

I’ll take a stab:

Boswell
KJ
Riley
Humrichous
Ivisic

Rodgers
White
Johnson
DGL or Booth

DGL and Booth are competing for the last rotation spot because I do agree with Combo that it is unlikely we go 10 deep. The first 8 guys I listed I think are very likely to be in the rotation so who gets the last spot if the rotation goes to nine?

I agree with this 9-man rotation to start the year. Someone will inevitably get banged up (as another poster reminded us), so other guys will play.

But by tournament time, it will be more like a 7-man rotation.