Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

#76      
antwix
ColSLU69 said:
It's mentioned in an earlier post that 2025 4-star guard Amari Evans will be taking an Official Visit to Illinois on September 27th-29th. But so far no one has commented on that post.

I've seen Evans listed at 6'4" and 6'5". And his weight at 180 lbs and 200 lbs. And his position as combo guard and forward. He's from Pittsburgh, PA, but is playing for Overtime Elite in Atlanta. I'm assuming that Illinois is very interested in Evans, and that Evans is interested in Illinois, or this OV wouldn't be happening.

I know that Illinois has already offered Class of 2025 shooting guard Brandon Lee, 6'3" 185 lbs, from the Patrick School in New Jersey. At least one insider has stated that a commitment from Lee is more or less a done deal. For any of you recruiting insiders, if the Illini were to get a commitment from Evans, would the Illini still be interested in signing Lee?
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I like Evans ALOT! An athletic wing who can slam on ya or can just drain a three with the feathery shooting touch. He looks mean too! Reminds me of TSJ.
 
#77      
Joel Goodson
antwix said:
I like Evans ALOT! An athletic wing who can slam on ya or can just drain a three with the feathery shooting touch. He looks mean too! Reminds me of TSJ.
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Evans is an athletic specimen, no doubt, plus he's a flat out dawg. that's a combo we can use. prep TSJ I can see, Illini version? that's some pretty good projecting. bottom line: he's a take for me, all day long
 
#78      
Emerson Bigguns
mhuml32 said:
Based on the (lack of) responses here, you might be on to something. Wonder if people's recruiting juice is now going to be 80% portal, 20% elite, elite HS recruits.
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There was a time in the not so distant past that a 4-star recruit would be considered a starter for next year. Now they are a project. As long as Mr. Wagler embraces the process/competition, he will look great in Orange.
 
#80      
Mobi
Emerson Bigguns said:
There was a time in the not so distant past that a 4-star recruit would be considered a starter for next year. Now they are a project. As long as Mr. Wagler embraces the process/competition, he will look great in Orange.
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Were freshman Adam Miller on this year's team, he probably wouldn't start but not necessarily a project, either. I like Wagler but I will restrain comments until he enrolls.
 
#81      
3 point girl
Mobi said:
Were freshman Adam Miller on this year's team, he probably wouldn't start but not necessarily a project, either. I like Wagler but I will restrain comments until he enrolls.
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It's so bizarre to think Adam is still playing!!!!
 
#82      
ChiefLurker
Emerson Bigguns said:
There was a time in the not so distant past that a 4-star recruit would be considered a starter for next year. Now they are a project. As long as Mr. Wagler embraces the process/competition, he will look great in Orange.
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To be fair I do think there are 4-stars that could be considered a starter right away but 4-star is very broad at this point. In the class of 2025, the 17th overall player in the 247sports rankings is a 4-star and the 150th overall player (Keaton Wagler) is also a 4-star. Seems like we need to look more at rankings than stars currently when every player in the top 150 is at least a 4 star.
 
#83      
blackdog
His tape looks like the kind of developmental glue guy you love to have. Great shooter, good passer, hustles, moves without the ball, solid athlete. He's going to take what the defense gives him and won't need the ball a lot to make an impact. You can't have a whole team of guys like him but you need at least 1-2 of them to do be willing to do the dirty work and be ready in the corner while the main guys attack.

 
#84      
rtbritt
blackdog said:
His tape looks like the kind of developmental glue guy you love to have. Great shooter, good passer, hustles, moves without the ball, solid athlete. He's going to take what the defense gives him and won't need the ball a lot to make an impact. You can't have a whole team of guys like him but you need at least 1-2 of them to do be willing to do the dirty work and be ready in the corner while the main guys attack.

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Kind of reminds me of Alan Griffin’s HS videos and highlights..
 
#85      
robertgoulet
He's a 3" shorter Will Riley (wirey, smooth but not super athletic, can shoot lights out), which can make you a very good 4 yr college bball player (but probably not a future NBAer). We will need those guys to supplement all the 1st rd picks that are only here for 1-2 seasons.
 
#86      
BalloonsTheElephant
So ILL said:
Right. Not that I dont like the commitment, but I also liked the Fears and Butler commitment. Which is to say, isnt this the exact type of recruit we got a commitment from only to recruit over them in the portal and watch them leave. Which is to say the same type of upside recruit Chester was landing? My only guess, based on things that were said about previous 2024 recruits is that maybe Wagler is coming in without the same kind of immediate playing time expectations as the other guys and is willing to take the time to build his game and body and compete for playing time. More like a Jakstys? Or even DGL (who I might more excited to see on the court this year than everyone except maybe KJ).

Either way, love the commitment and happy to see Wagler on board!
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This is why the Morez Johnson recruitment is such an anomaly now.

Committed two years early
Was considered behind James Brown but developed past him
Survived NIL enactment and probable poaching attempts
Actively recruited players to compete with him at his position
Guy who recruited him is leaving on not great terms

I never thought I'd see this kid actually play in an Illini uniform. This is such a "wear your cup" Illinois recruitment on all levels. I hope I'm not jinxing anything here.
 
#87      
BalloonsTheElephant
mhuml32 said:
Based on the (lack of) responses here, you might be on to something. Wonder if people's recruiting juice is now going to be 80% portal, 20% elite, elite HS recruits.
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100% it is. When you have freshman that start all year leave from their dream school (Miller) or quit in the middle of the season (Skyy), or start after the guy quits (Epps), it's really hard to get excited. I love the GM/recruitment mode in games and projecting rosters and needs. That takes some excitement away for the fall recruitment season, but adds more to the spring when the portal opens and the world's largest game of musical chairs begins.
 
#88      
Joel Goodson
ChiefLurker said:
To be fair I do think there are 4-stars that could be considered a starter right away but 4-star is very broad at this point. In the class of 2025, the 17th overall player in the 247sports rankings is a 4-star and the 150th overall player (Keaton Wagler) is also a 4-star. Seems like we need to look more at rankings than stars currently when every player in the top 150 i'm is at least a 4 star.
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exactly. does Wagler have a shot ar immediate tick? of course. impossible to assess the odds right now. need to see what our roster is and, even then, predicting stuff is oftentimes a fool's errand. am very happy we landed him, as I am dreaming of a Christie type, with better D and distribution skills.

his shot and range are elite. and he's not a chucker. has a VG idea of what's a good shot
 
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#89      
Indy Illini Fan
ColSLU69 said:
It's mentioned in an earlier post that 2025 4-star guard Amari Evans will be taking an Official Visit to Illinois on September 27th-29th. But so far no one has commented on that post.

I've seen Evans listed at 6'4" and 6'5". And his weight at 180 lbs and 200 lbs. And his position as combo guard and forward. He's from Pittsburgh, PA, but is playing for Overtime Elite in Atlanta. I'm assuming that Illinois is very interested in Evans, and that Evans is interested in Illinois, or this OV wouldn't be happening.

I know that Illinois has already offered Class of 2025 shooting guard Brandon Lee, 6'3" 185 lbs, from the Patrick School in New Jersey. At least one insider has stated that a commitment from Lee is more or less a done deal. For any of you recruiting insiders, if the Illini were to get a commitment from Evans, would the Illini still be interested in signing Lee?
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We don’t lead for Evans … I was told it’s essentially a done deal he’s going to Tennessee … But crazier things have happened … We’ve got O and O is super connected with his people … That’s the reason for the visit and they’re going to give us a shot … Xavier took a guy over him otherwise that’s where he was going to wind up …

As for Lee … I’ve been told by a certain staff member (I think we all know who) from the second he got back that Lee was a done deal … Seton Hall just offered … Shaheen actually coached his brother at St. Peter’s so there’s a connection there but nothing like the connection O has … If we want him (which we do) … Lee is ours …
 
#92      
PepeSilvia
Indy Illini Fan said:
Same thing I told Brad …

If he would’ve stayed, Alan would’ve been an All Big Ten guy … Truly believe that …
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He would've been a huge upgrade for that 2021 team that could have used some more size on the wing(plus shooting).

Frazier, Ayo, Griffin, Grandison, and Kofi would have been a great lineup and they would have had a deep bench with good freshman Curbelo, Miller, Giorgi, and Damonte.
 
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