Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

#276      

HensonHall71

H
HensonHall71
RockfordIllini said:
One could argue Kylan made a mistake reclassifying
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I don’t think there is an argument- at least in terms of draft stock it has certainly fallen. When I think of the players who reclassified and still went high in the draft - guys like Andrew Wiggins, Nerlens Noel, Karl-Anthony Towns, Marvin Bagley Jr. they are Forwards and guys with the physical attributes the NBA covets - so they didn’t seem to be as impacted by going to college a year early

For guards and certainly PG’s it’s just much more rare for it to work out- which should be obvious to the families and advisors- but I also understand this is an unparalleled NIL environment so I don’t blame kids for going for the money grab- they should just be realistic on what it means for their role and use their freshman year to really develop
 
#277      

BDMAN

B
BDMAN
HensonHall71 said:
I don’t think there is an argument- at least in terms of draft stock it has certainly fallen. When I think of the players who reclassified and still went high in the draft - guys like Andrew Wiggins, Nerlens Noel, Karl-Anthony Towns, Marvin Bagley Jr. they are Forwards and guys with the physical attributes the NBA covets - so they didn’t seem to be as impacted by going to college a year early

For guards and certainly PG’s it’s just much more rare for it to work out- which should be obvious to the families and advisors- but I also understand this is an unparalleled NIL environment so I don’t blame kids for going for the money grab- they should just be realistic on what it means for their role and use their freshman year to really develop
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You, Sir, are on Point no pun intended (y)!!!!
 
#278      

Bbuck21

B
Bbuck21
IndyIllini2 said:
Does anybody else find it odd that in today's recruiting landscape, European players don't have any ranking system whatsoever on the main recruiting sites? There are sites that rank only euro players, but none of that is translated over to the American sites. 247Sports has our 2024 class ranked 50th because the 2 international players are considered 0 star players. Just seems odd to me.
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I am surprised no recruiting site has taken up the effort to include the international players in their rankings. Unless I just don't know how to find it:unsure:!
 
#281      

IndyIllini2

IndyIllini2
IndyIllini2
Bbuck21 said:
I am surprised no recruiting site has taken up the effort to include the international players in their rankings. Unless I just don't know how to find it:unsure:!
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Typically, if you just look up an international player's name, it will take you to the FIBA site or something like it. There is usually a ranking of players right on the player's page. Eurobasket is the page I have used before as well.
 
#285      

IndyIllini2

IndyIllini2
IndyIllini2
IlliniFan42 said:
It's weird that they can regrade transfers yet grading international players is beyond them.
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Agreed. Their is obviously no perfect science to it. You see highly ranked players flop all the time and lowly ranked players perform well. Just goes to show that each coach and system are different and a single player can perform differently based on those aspects.
 
#286      

Bbuck21

B
Bbuck21
CoalCity said:
Not trying to be sarcastic-totally sincere here-but just watch some of his tape. The answer to your question will explode off the screen. You won't even need to know which player he is, it will become apparent as you watch.
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Not to be sarcastic, but I would rather to just be told. I can watch BB and recognize the different talent levels. But, I don't know how a freshman guard can change THIS existing 2024 roster into a top 5? There are a lot of very knowledgeble BB people on this site and thought I would ask.
 
#287      

foby

foby
Bonnaroo Land
foby
Bbuck21 said:
Not to be sarcastic, but I would rather to just be told. I can watch BB and recognize the different talent levels. But, I don't know how a freshman guard can change THIS existing 2024 roster into a top 5? There are a lot of very knowledgeble BB people on this site and thought I would ask.
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The word "preseason" is very important here. The roster is already Top 5 caliber, however the "experts" who vote in the polls look for several key indicators when voting and having another highly ranked freshman on our team would "impress the judges" enough to move us into preseason Top 5 territory.
 
#289      

HensonHall71

H
HensonHall71
Bbuck21 said:
Not to be sarcastic, but I would rather to just be told. I can watch BB and recognize the different talent levels. But, I don't know how a freshman guard can change THIS existing 2024 roster into a top 5? There are a lot of very knowledgeble BB people on this site and thought I would ask.
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I’ll give it a shot- it’s his elite scoring ability that would elevate this years team- he lead team USA with 42% from three in Argentina- he has a crafty game with floaters, runners and is very good at finishing at the rim at 6’4 with a 6’9 wingspan. He plays PG for his HS team but played off ball for team USA and was very comfortable in that role

Adding that kind of offensive firepower to Riley and KJ - with Hummer and Boswell as good shooters who can play-make some themselves makes it an extremely dynamic offense

Plus just adding another top 10 recruit from a pure talent standpoint will raise the bar and likely preseason rankings on that alone - I mean, we would have four 5 star kids on the team if you count KJ
 
#291      

Fan Since '70

Fan Since '70
OBS, Florida
Fan Since '70
No need to knock Fears. Fears is a very good player and does have good form on all 3 levels of scoring. Fears needs hours in the gym daily shooting 3-pointers and needs lateral movement exercises and willingness to guard opponents tenaciously like a 2nd skin. But that is true of most young recruits and players new to a defensive minded team and coaching. Fears best route to NBA is to develop and hone his point guard skills, his outside shot. and show he can guard. This 24-25 Illini team has a wealth of offensive weapons and I believe offense will not be an issue in any game, even if a player or several are off. I am looking forward to seeing them play as a cohesive unit and use their athletic ability and depth to play intense defense. If they do that, they will surely go far.
 
#292      

Emerson Bigguns

Emerson Bigguns
Emerson Bigguns
Second place is 1st loser said:
I ask because the term getting "Creaned" was always being thrown around here as a super negative. Is it NIL that has changed this stance and now makes it a great thing and a requirement to win?
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I think the difference is that previously, when a player committed to school, they were completely at the whim of that coaching staff, unless they chose to sit out a year. Not playing? Not having fun? Homesick? You can stay or you can be penalized with not being allowed to play.

This is a completely free market on both sides. Players come and go as they please. Coaches should be planning accordingly, which means stockpiling as much talent as you can to prepare for the inevitable attrition.
 
#294      

IndyIllini2

IndyIllini2
IndyIllini2
jezzadownunder said:
Are we growing and maturing as a board?
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Ginger Squirrely Dan GIF by Crave
 
#295      

lstewart53x3

lstewart53x3
Scottsdale, Arizona
lstewart53x3
Fan Since '70 said:
No need to knock Fears. Fears is a very good player and does have good form on all 3 levels of scoring. Fears needs hours in the gym daily shooting 3-pointers and needs lateral movement exercises and willingness to guard opponents tenaciously like a 2nd skin. But that is true of most young recruits and players new to a defensive minded team and coaching. Fears best route to NBA is to develop and hone his point guard skills, his outside shot. and show he can guard. This 24-25 Illini team has a wealth of offensive weapons and I believe offense will not be an issue in any game, even if a player or several are off. I am looking forward to seeing them play as a cohesive unit and use their athletic ability and depth to play intense defense. If they do that, they will surely go far.
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No one here is knocking Fears as a 25 recruit. From what I’ve read, we’d all love to have him in that class.

What people are saying is, for Fears to be a productive player and/or star his game and his body likely need an extra year of development.

And based on his current game, he’s likely not worth the investment of resources (minutes / NIL) in 2024 that Kasparas or Riley are worth who are more ready to compete right away.

Beyond that, based on the way Brad & co are recruiting, we aren’t overly concerned about the loss because we’ll likely land someone as good if not better through the high school ranks or the transfer portal.
 
#296      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
Jasper Johnson showed me that he is head and shoulders better than Mr. Fears as when JJ came into the U18 games he provided an instant spark to the team with his shooting skill and he was an absolute stud at attacking the rim for dunks and or layups......
he also seemed to enjoy playing d........Mr. Fears playing D consisted of getting beat on the dribble and trying to steal the ball as the opponent drove by him.......It worked some of the time but trying to do that at a HM competition level would mean him getting to ride the bench for long periods of time.......

I would take JJ over JF every day of the week and twice on Sunday's.....There is a reason why JJ got double the minutes in the U18 over JF...........JF would be better served with another year in HS but the lure of the $$$$$$ seems to be his and his family's main objective........

Sometimes you can cut off your nose to spite your face for the almighty NIL bag of bucks.....I hope it works out for JF , but with his slight frame I think this might explode his plan of being a 1 and done.......Now , if he was 7' and had a wingspan of 7'2" I would maybe have a different opinion.........

As always this is JMHO.................................
 
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