Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

#401      

ChiefGritty

ChiefGritty
Chicago, IL
ChiefGritty
NashvILLe05 said:
If you watched this year’s draft, at least 11 of the picks came from overseas. Many of the U.S. players drafted were on NBA scouts’ radars coming out of high school. Guys like Cody Williams, Ja’Kobe Walter, Reed Sheppard are just gifted differently (I’d lump KJ and WR with that group) and the league wants them young. They were all taken ahead of TSJ, who had to grind for 5 years to make the 1st round. Fears seems like he’ll have to follow the TSJ path.

Reminder of the most recent Illinois draftees. Do you see Fears developing into someone of that quality? I have my doubts, but I hope he does…Podz shocked us all.
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The way that fans, coaches, players themselves, etc all need to pretend every player is going to be taken in the first round of the next year's NBA draft isn't really good for anybody and just makes these discussions fake and dull.

I hope NIL starts to change that.

Also just for the record:

Reed Sheppard: 43rd in the 247 composite for 2023
Jeremiah Fears: 33rd in the 247 composite for 2025
 
#403      

PepeSilvia

P
PepeSilvia
ChiefGritty said:
The way that fans, coaches, players themselves, etc all need to pretend every player is going to be taken in the first round of the next year's NBA draft isn't really good for anybody and just makes these discussions fake and dull.

I hope NIL starts to change that.

Also just for the record:

Reed Sheppard: 43rd in the 247 composite for 2023
Jeremiah Fears: 33rd in the 247 composite for 2025
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We will see what happens in the draft. Not much use in speculating now.

One note on Sheppard though is that he shot like 52% from 3 in his lone college season. If Fears can do that then he absolutely can go one and done but nearly nobody shoots that well from 3.
 
#408      

NashvILLe05

N
NashvILLe05
ChiefGritty said:
The way that fans, coaches, players themselves, etc all need to pretend every player is going to be taken in the first round of the next year's NBA draft isn't really good for anybody and just makes these discussions fake and dull.

I hope NIL starts to change that.

Also just for the record:

Reed Sheppard: 43rd in the 247 composite for 2023
Jeremiah Fears: 33rd in the 247 composite for 2025
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Yes, great points. Reed’s ability to shoot the 3 is way ahead of Fears, but I like the historical ranking context. Fears reclassing to ‘24 should drop him in the rankings, though not sure how/if the composite factors in age and physical readiness.
 
#409      

Emerson Bigguns

Emerson Bigguns
Emerson Bigguns
Iamgroot said:
www.aseaofblue.com

Jeremiah Fears contacted by Kentucky after reclassifying into 2024

Fears just decommitted from Illinois.
www.aseaofblue.com www.aseaofblue.com
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Wait... So Riley wasn't a take in 2024 for UK, but Fears is?

the phantom menace GIF by Star Wars
 
#412      

Illini09

Illini09
Illini09
Indy Illini Fan said:
And to add a little more to this … We’ve got an open ride …

And if anyone’s learned anything about Brad … If he can upgrade the talent … He will … He will recruit over kids …

You add Jasper to this team and it’s a no doubt top 5 preseason team … No doubt … Man would that be fun to watch …
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Second place is 1st loser said:
We're putting this down as a good thing?
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I don't think it's a good thing, but it's the reality of the NIL world we find ourselves living in. Gone are the days of the 2-4yr player development program. Players want to play/get paid today not 1-2 years down the road, so they leave at the sniff of a better opportunity elsewhere. Likewise, any smart coach has taken his 2-4yr team development blueprint and tossed it out the window. They have to recruit with the intention to make the team better today, not in 2 years, because the talent necessary to win a natty isn't sticking around that long.

Personally I find this to be a bit of a sad state of affairs, but it's what's necessary to win.
 
#413      

Combo

C
Combo
NashvILLe05 said:
Yes, great points. Reed’s ability to shoot the 3 is way ahead of Fears, but I like the historical ranking context. Fears reclassing to ‘24 should drop him in the rankings, though not sure how/if the composite factors in age and physical readiness.
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It's way ahead of just about everyone. Someone said 52% over one season of college ball. If anyone shoots that on reasonably high volume against good competition, they're a 1st round pick, regardless of their other qualities.
 
#414      

Fly Illini Fly!

F
Fly Illini Fly!
GatorMcKlusky said:
It sounds more and more like the only sure one-and-done next year is Pope.
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Sure seems to be helping us out to say the least...I don't want him to be a one and done.

In addition to Mr. Jack Gohke and SMU for firing their coach...

just can't thank Scott Drew enough for not taking that job...

Unless of course he comes in and scoops in Jasper - if we're 1st (seems like we might be), seems like they might be 2nd?
 
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#415      

NashvILLe05

N
NashvILLe05
Combo said:
It's way ahead of just about everyone. Someone said 52% over one season of college ball. If anyone shoots that on reasonably high volume against good competition, they're a 1st round pick, regardless of their other qualities.
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Yeah, which is why Reed shot up draft boards compared to his recruiting ranking (which ChiefGritty called out), was the 3rd overall pick, and top American drafted.

I was trying not to harp on the drastic difference in shooting, but you’re right…Reed was 52.1% from downtown last year, per his NBA draft profile. Fears shot 24% from 3 this year at AZ Compass Prep, which is pretty rough. Here’s a list of some of the worst 3pt % NBA players with at least 3,000 attempts…they all were at least 30%. Hope Fears develops.
 

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#416      

Illini2010-11

I
Sugar Grove
Illini2010-11
Illini09 said:
I don't think it's a good thing, but it's the reality of the NIL world we find ourselves living in. Gone are the days of the 2-4yr player development program. Players want to play/get paid today not 1-2 years down the road, so they leave at the sniff of a better opportunity elsewhere. Likewise, any smart coach has taken his 2-4yr team development blueprint and tossed it out the window. They have to recruit with the intention to make the team better today, not in 2 years, because the talent necessary to win a natty isn't sticking around that long.

Personally I find this to be a bit of a sad state of affairs, but it's what's necessary to win.
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I take a slightly different viewpoint, and this has nothing to do with the new reality of NIL. The job of the coach is to always be looking at ways of upgrading the roster, even if it means "recruiting" over players. At top flight programs, you always strive to have the best players you can get. If players start seeing their role diminishing more than they want (or perceive promised), then it is in their best interest to move on. If we want to be a top-tier school, it is time we act like the top-tier programs. Brad clearly gets it, and I am glad this is the direction we have gone.
 
#418      

Orangetool

O
Orangetool
Illini09 said:
I don't think it's a good thing, but it's the reality of the NIL world we find ourselves living in. Gone are the days of the 2-4yr player development program. Players want to play/get paid today not 1-2 years down the road, so they leave at the sniff of a better opportunity elsewhere. Likewise, any smart coach has taken his 2-4yr team development blueprint and tossed it out the window. They have to recruit with the intention to make the team better today, not in 2 years, because the talent necessary to win a natty isn't sticking around that long.

Personally I find this to be a bit of a sad state of affairs, but it's what's necessary to win.
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I agree with your post but its not sad, just different.
It is way overdue for players to have freedom of movement and compensation for their contribution to these schools

Let's call it evolution.
 
#420      

Uihoop2023!

U
Uihoop2023!
#422      

derrick6

D
Illini Dawg
Seattle
derrick6
Illini09 said:
I don't think it's a good thing, but it's the reality of the NIL world we find ourselves living in. Gone are the days of the 2-4yr player development program. Players want to play/get paid today not 1-2 years down the road, so they leave at the sniff of a better opportunity elsewhere. Likewise, any smart coach has taken his 2-4yr team development blueprint and tossed it out the window. They have to recruit with the intention to make the team better today, not in 2 years, because the talent necessary to win a natty isn't sticking around that long.

Personally I find this to be a bit of a sad state of affairs, but it's what's necessary to win.
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Yeah, player development is now at the NBA level. At least with the Lakers
 
#425      

Second place is 1st loser

S
Second place is 1st loser
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Seriously this is the viewpoint stemming from the possibility of adding a top 10 player?

LOL
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The question is, but at what cost? Your word carries value and when the value of your word is damaged.... you've got real problems.

So, we get a one and done, while undercutting another kid/family. The instant gratification is most definitely there. However, insiders, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is the exact issue that Chester got irate over and ultimately it led to a parting of ways. Is that accurate?

At the end of the day, recruiting is about relationships, with the final nail being money.

We still don't know what this team is going to be in 2024-2025. It's a crapshoot. I can, with certainty, tell you that the way we did things this past year(a complete roster overhaul) is not sustainable YoY. When you start recruiting over guys....you better damn we'll be sure that the top 10 player plays like a top 10 player. If you're going to go down that path, your conversion rate has been be 100%.

That's just my take.
 
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