Fears is really damn good. So someone that plays same position and better than Fears??(Riley shouldn't matter)
Will Riley
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
Will Riley
We didn’t want Fears in 2024 …
2 years ago … shoot, 2 months ago, this news would have been devastating. Today, it is just, “That sucks.” Man, how times have changed.
Imagine this during the Groce years …
Oh wait … We can’t … We never got a player of Fears caliber …
…
I can understand where they're coming from and it's a reasonable reaction from them.
Sounds like the Illini are doing what's in their best interest and the Fears family is doing the same. Unfortunately, sometimes those two "best interests" don't always line up with each other.
These are the types of "problems" that Elite programs have. It's amazing how far we've come. Wish Fears nothing but the best. I've really enjoyed watching him play the last few months.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Imagine this during the Groce years …
Oh wait … We can’t … We never got a player of Fears caliber …
From the #1 class in '25 to no commits just like that. Hope we can land one of the five stars we're after. If anything I guess this helps our chances...?
Loyalillini10
- Urbana, IL
You never know what will happen, but I don't think we will be hurting for guards in the 25-26 season.
Jasper Johnson, Link Academy , Shooting Guard
Jasper Johnson is a 6-4, 170-pound Combo Guard from Versailles, KY.
247sports.com
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
Glad to be at the point where I just shrug at a decommit and think, "sucks for them."
B-ILL
- Working From Home
This is a hilarious post from just earlier in THIS thread (8am this morning).
Illinois is going to go from #1 class in 2025 to literally NO commits once Riley shows up as a 2024.
We are #doomed.
Hoping we still stand good here. Lose a top 30 guard, just to bring in a top 10 guard...would be pretty nice...Jasper Johnson, Link Academy , Shooting Guard
Jasper Johnson is a 6-4, 170-pound Combo Guard from Versailles, KY.
in addition to all those salty comments from KY people that will come raining down (if we can land him of course).
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Translation: Fears can reclass and wants his NIL bag now, Illinois spent its remaining resources on Will Riley and isn't going to start robbing Peter to pay Paul trying to divert the 2025 war chest forward (if that is even possible) for a player whose 2024 playing time ambitions it doesn't feel it can meet anyhow.
The idea that we refused him an existing open scholarship is of course laughable, these are more money-based discussions these days.
(These fake basketball eligibility factories that can slot kids into whatever graduating class they want are a menace btw)
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This was every Kentucky fan's reaction to us getting Will Riley. I'd never say never in this day and age, but it seems kinda far-fetched.
texillwek
🔶🔹🔸🔷
My prediction was more tongue in cheek than anything, but, honestly, I don't think it seems far-fetched.
sacraig
- The desert
Buzz on the street is that Fears will be a 24 at a school that has a stud with the same name as a poster on our board that meme's a lot.
I can't blame them whatsoever. It wouldn't have sat right with any of us posting if it happened to us.
Not a fan of what happened here, but on the flip side, these staffs across the country have to deal with kids that will leave over a nickel and won't think twice before doing it.
It goes both ways and circumstances ($$$) change by the second.