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Post by 4ever4ester on Jun 13, 2012 18:12:20 GMT -5
What do you think your chances are with Bates-Diop? He is at the top of Beilein's list. I know he camped and Michigan and is guaranteed to get an offer on June 15th.
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Post by huisrealgood on Jun 14, 2012 0:33:07 GMT -5
Michigan is probably the biggest challenger, but honestly I really like Illinois' chances in this one. The kid lives 45 minutes from UI's campus and has been wanting an offer for a while. When one finally came last week, he was pretty excited. Michigan has a better shot than anyone else, but he's Illinois' to lose IMO.
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Post by huisrealgood on Aug 28, 2012 13:02:05 GMT -5
With the announcement of Rivals 2013 rankings, I thought it would be fitting to break my 2 month long silence on Illini basketball. A lot has changed since my last post. I'll do a numerical list to try and keep it readable.
1. The #2 (#1 in many rankings) overall player in the country Jabari Parker announced a top 10. The Chicago Simeon product did not include the Illini on it which was sad, but not all that surprising given his emphasis on having a long-standing relationship with the coaching staff at whatever school he ends up attending. Groce is late to the ball game given he was only hired last April, and therefore never had a real shot here. I like the fact that reports have surfaced in the last few days that Groce and his staff have continued to recruit Parker, given that they are in the thick of it with several top-end prospects in the 2013 class. The thought is that if Parker can see success from this year's team and sees talent coming in with him, that he will reconsider. That is the longest of all long-shots, and frankly I don't see it happening. It just burns me that Bruce Weber trashed this program to the extent where the top player in the nation, an in-state product who goes to an Illini-friendly school (Robert Smith the head coach has said he's an Illini fan, Nick Anderson & Deon Thomas are alums), one who by all accounts is running a clean recruitment (unlike recent top Chicago prospects like Anthony Davis & probably Derrick Rose), and himself grew up dreaming of going to your school (I've linked the interview where he said it on this forum before), has been on campus and really enjoys it (I could find the links, but don't have the time), won't consider Illinois because of the position the program is in. If Weber could have only sustained the success of the program the way Self did when Kruger left, we wouldn't be in this situation, and we could have a fun-filled season of watching Parker do his best Flyin' Illini impression on our way to a Final Four Carmelo Anthony style, but no... Bruce screwed the pooch. Ugh.
2. In spite of not being a real player for Parker, Illinois is a real player for some top tier prospects like Mishawaka's own Demetrius Jackson (#27 on Rivals, higher on ESPN & Scout), Simeon's Kendrick Nunn (#42 on Rivals), Xavier Rathan-Mayers (#25), as well as PF's Austin Colbert (#89), Demetrius Henry (#110), and 2014 stud Keita Bates-Diop (maybe a 5-star when the '14 rankings come out).
3. Jackson's recruitment is by far the most talked about recruitment in Illini-land right now. He is taking an official visit this weekend, and we are being told we have a legit shot with Notre Dame, Kansas, and Louisville being the other suitors with Kentucky being another possibility if they don't land their top choices. The reports on where he's leaning are wide ranging, so really I have no clue what to believe. All I know is that if he chooses Illinois, it would be a tremendous coup for several reasons. First, he fits perfectly in Groce's offense and would be the extra ball-handler we need to compliment Tracy Abrams. He would play from day 1 and is likely a 4-year player. He gets our foot in the door in Indiana, where Illinois has traditionally struck out. He also changes the perception of the program, and helps get other top prospects to consider playing at the U of I.
4. Kendrick Nunn has narrowed his list of choices to 5 with Illinois and Marquette being the main players. Marquette is thought to be in the lead, but Illini fans are hoping the numerous scandals going on in Milwaukee right now will shift him south. I don't get a great vibe here, but he too would be a huge coup. He's an in-state kid who can shoot and plays great D. He would get us some instant cred up in Chicago where the Illini's image is hurting the most at the moment.
5. XRM's recruitment is a weird one. I've never felt great about it, but yet we're in his final 4. My bet is he goes to FSU which is his dad's alma-mater.
6. The Illini need an athletic "4" man in this class and Colbert and Henry both fit the bill. Henry has said he will wait till the spring which gives us time there, but his list continues to grow rather than shrink. Colbert would be a great get and he's scheduled to be on campus this fall, but I just don't know what to expect there.
7. There are a few back-up plans to Jackson for the PG spot. RaShawn Powell (#97) out of Orlando, Dayshon Smith out of NY (#121) and Logan Perrantes (unranked on Rivals but top 100 on Scout & ESPN) out of California. I feel more confident about Perrantes than the other two, but all of them would be rather "blah" compared to Jackson.
8. I feel much, much better about the 2014 class where Keita Bates-Diop has been on campus several times this summer including a day after a vacation to Florida earlier this month when he spurned an invite to visit Florida's campus from Billy Donovan even though he was just a couple hours away. He has blown up this summer and is just the type of top-tier down-state talent that Illinois has won with in the past (Frank Williams, Sergio McClain, Brian Cook, etc). Larry Austin Jr. is another down-state talent in 2014, but Groce has yet to offer. Not sure if he fits yet, but there is still time to evaluate him. Illinois also sits well with solid 2014 big men Sean O'Mara and Champaign product Michael Finke (Iowa & Wisconsin offers, but no Illini offer yet). We'll see how all this plays out, but I do feel confident in KDB being an Illini when all is said and done.
9. The Illini will have a plethora of scholarships available in 2015 and the in-state crop is rather bountiful from early signs. Illinois has already had many of those top prospects on campus and seem to sit well with a few of them.
10. As for this season, it will really hinge on the health and durability of Tracy Abrams (our only legit PG), and the ability of other veterans to step up (I'm looking at you Tyler Griffey and DJ Richardson). Brandon Paul sustained a broken jaw over the summer, but has fulled recovered now. Nnana Egwu sounds like he took the biggest step forward and should be a force down low on defense as a shot blocker and a rebounder, but he's also improved his shooting ability. Transfer Sam McLaurin has shown he will be a solid contributor, but we need more scorers. Paul will do a lot of scoring, but we need guys like Richardson and Griffey to help handle some of the load too. Best case scenario is 6th place in a loaded B1G Ten and a tournament berth. Worst case is injuries and another disappointing March-less season. We did get an incredible draw in Maui where we avoided a 1st round matchup with Marquette and Butler instead drawing USC (winnable game), and if we do win that we'll play Texas instead of UNC in the 2nd game which was also a surprise. The other side of the bracket will be loaded, but if the Illini can somehow sneak into the title game (where they will definitely get killed), it would really help our NCAA hopes.
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Post by huisrealgood on Aug 31, 2012 23:58:20 GMT -5
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Post by huisrealgood on Sept 14, 2012 0:08:44 GMT -5
Rivals #42 overall Kendrick Nunn of Chicago Simeon is making his way to Champaign for his official visit. After most felt like Marquette was his leader for a while, many now feel Illinois is leading for him after a 5 hour in-home visit on Sunday! The Illini will also have to beat out the Buckeyes for Nunn.
Illinois also feels good about their chances with Demetrius Jackson, but ND's move to the ACC may have helped them there. Kansas is hurriedly trying to move up his visit there, but if they land Cat Barber soon, it won't matter.
Illinois is also looking to host 4-star PF's Austin Colbert and Demetrius Henry for officials in the next month. A class of Jackson, Nunn, Hill, Morgan, and either Colbert or Henry would likely be a top 5 to top 10 class for Groce in his first year. How awesome would that be?!?! ;D
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Post by huisrealgood on Sept 14, 2012 19:00:49 GMT -5
Stud 2013 SG Xavier Rathan-Mayes (#25 overall on Rivals) is down to UConn, Florida State, and Illinois & will decide on October 13th. You've got to think UConn is damaged goods with Calhoun out and his replacement, Kevin Ollie, only on a 1 year contract. That said, Rathan-Mayes step-father starred at FSU, so I have to think that's his pick.
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Post by huisrealgood on Sept 15, 2012 20:26:34 GMT -5
Kendrick Nunn to Illinois!!!! This is big for several reasons... stud in-state recruit, CPL kid, Simeon pipeline reopens, great shooter, puts Groce on the map as a closer, gets the attention of other top kids (Jackson, XRM), beat out big name programs for him (Ohio State, Marquette) just to name a few. Big, big night for Illinois basketball. Here's a fantastic highlight reel showing off what Nunn can do: ballislife.com/kendrick-nunn-season-mix/On the downside, Cat Barber, a 5-star PG committed to NC State which means that Kansas will be more desperate for Jackson. It's going to be a battle between Notre Dame, Kansas, and Illinois for that kid. He's special, and I would love to pair him with Nunn and Hill in the Illini backcourt for years to come!
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Post by tubballfan on Sept 15, 2012 23:15:49 GMT -5
If there's one thing Groce has shown he can do is recruit. He knows how to get good players he is very good at forming relationships. I think Illinois made a fantastic move when they went with Groce, even if it wasn't the big name choice they originally wanted. Don't count him out in these battles, he knows how to connect with kids well.
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Post by rubalamp on Sept 16, 2012 8:11:37 GMT -5
He is certainly a better coach to get now than the Frankenstein-esque guy from KSU.
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Post by huisrealgood on Sept 16, 2012 14:45:07 GMT -5
He is certainly a better coach to get now than the Frankenstein-esque guy from KSU. I admit I wanted to Martin and wasn't impressed with the Groce hire initially, but the way he's been able to come in and get in the mix and even close on some top kids in the 2013 class has me very, very excited. He also seems to know what he's doing coaching with all of the individual skill work he's putting the players through. Off-season reports are always positive in basketball, and everyone always believes they're going to the Final Four, but it does really sound like Groce and his staff are really getting through to the current players. This is looking like a dynamite hire!
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Post by huisrealgood on Sept 18, 2012 11:29:32 GMT -5
Lots of positive buzz about Illini recruiting right now. Many Notre Dame fans even believe Jackson is leaning towards Illinois: www.ndnation.com/boards/showpost.php?b=thepit;pid=222000;d=all Also Groce and his assistant Dustin Ford were in Canada last night talking with Xavier Rathan-Mayes' mother, and they are in Huntington, WV (where XRM goes to school) today to talk to Xavier. They are trying to set up a trip for this weekend for him. If they get him on campus, I am growing more and more confident that he will be an Illini. What an incredible class it would be to land a top 30 PG in Jackson, a top 30 combo in XRM, a top 60 2G in Nunn, a top 75 wing in Hill, and a top 150 center in Morgan all in Groce's first recruiting class!!! In a guard driven offense, this would be a tremendous haul!!!
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Post by huisrealgood on Sept 25, 2012 9:19:55 GMT -5
PG Demetrius Jackson will announce Thursday between Illinois and Notre Dame. I'm very nervous about this. I've heard that if it were strictly a basketball decision he would pick Illinois, but he's going to have a very tough time telling family and friends that want him to stay home and go to Notre Dame no. If you asked me right now where I think he's going, I'd say ND, but I really, really hope I'm wrong!
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Post by huisrealgood on Sept 27, 2012 14:34:47 GMT -5
Jackson to the Irish. Apparently he just couldn't tell the hometown team no. It's too bad, because he would have fit perfectly in Groce's system.
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Post by huisrealgood on Oct 19, 2012 9:15:17 GMT -5
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Post by huisrealgood on Nov 12, 2012 15:46:11 GMT -5
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