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General Category => Fighting Illini Basketball Forum => Topic started by: ILLINICHIEF on July 31, 2025, 08:06:46 AM

Title: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on July 31, 2025, 08:06:46 AM
https://x.com/EthanBrown2026/status/1950714669015965790

FIRST ONE...lets see what the staff does from here.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: No one in Mn on July 31, 2025, 08:29:10 AM
https://x.com/EthanBrown2026/status/1950714669015965790

FIRST ONE...lets see what the staff does from here.
His offer list. 🤔

(https://i.ibb.co/prxK6czF/Screenshot-20250731-082832-Chrome.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sJ21pnwY)
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLove1997 on July 31, 2025, 12:20:12 PM
He's a rising 4 star, hopefully we can hang onto him
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Miles Leonard on July 31, 2025, 03:00:51 PM
His offer list. 🤔

(https://i.ibb.co/prxK6czF/Screenshot-20250731-082832-Chrome.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sJ21pnwY)

Beating out Lindenwood for a recruit is a huge win
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on August 01, 2025, 09:38:10 AM
Beating out Lindenwood for a recruit is a huge win

Hamer has to put a feather in his hat at some point...LOL
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: bringbackself on August 06, 2025, 04:14:23 PM
Another recruit
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on August 06, 2025, 04:51:37 PM
Another recruit

Hamer Time...this kid looks the part of Richard Semrau, better offensively?
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Custard on August 07, 2025, 08:07:42 AM
August is slow white project month apparently
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ThePAMan on August 07, 2025, 12:28:39 PM
Do you really want to be compared to Richard Semrau?
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on August 07, 2025, 01:27:00 PM
Semrau was highly ranked at one point.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Judge Judy on August 07, 2025, 01:42:57 PM
Semrau was highly ranked at one point.

He got a nasty chest infection and was never the same after that…
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: bringbackself on August 07, 2025, 02:10:17 PM
Does recruiting really matter nowadays considering they can just leave right away?
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Judge Judy on August 07, 2025, 02:11:41 PM
Does recruiting really matter nowadays considering they can just leave right away?

Nope, now go take a shit…
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Judge Judy on August 07, 2025, 02:12:16 PM
And you get an A+ for the post because there were no grammatical errors…
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: bringbackself on August 07, 2025, 02:16:33 PM
And you get an A+ for the post because there were no grammatical errors…

I remember being heavily invested in recruiting

Always following along, looking at prospects. Just doesn't matter anymore
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLove1997 on August 07, 2025, 02:24:39 PM
Yeah its pretty lame when 80% of the team switches teams each year
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on August 07, 2025, 02:43:01 PM
Semrau was highly ranked at one point.

Just shows rankings ain't everything
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: bringbackself on August 07, 2025, 03:19:36 PM
I remember being excited by Mike Shaw and Myke Henry

Henry did play in Nba though so we messed that up lol
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on August 07, 2025, 04:13:08 PM
I remember being excited by Mike Shaw and Myke Henry

Henry did play in Nba though so we messed that up lol

Both ended up being scrubs
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on August 07, 2025, 08:50:05 PM
Shaw had a bad back.

Henry apparently didn't fit with Weber or Gross. He played pretty well for DePud, iirc.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Custard on August 08, 2025, 01:13:42 AM
Yeah its pretty lame when 80% of the team switches teams each year

I think i read that they’re going to go to a one time free transfer and then after that you have to sit out a year like the old days. Could be wrong. At least there is continuity on the football side!
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on August 08, 2025, 10:31:00 AM
Shaw had a bad back.

Henry apparently didn't fit with Weber or Gross. He played pretty well for DePud, iirc.

Both were overrated, underwhelming here or anywhere else. 2 bad players for us, and fallback I would argue after many other misses iirc.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLove1997 on August 08, 2025, 01:26:36 PM
I think i read that they’re going to go to a one time free transfer and then after that you have to sit out a year like the old days. Could be wrong. At least there is continuity on the football side!

That would help, the football side has been kind of amazing to be honest
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on August 08, 2025, 02:29:15 PM
Both were overrated, underwhelming here or anywhere else. 2 bad players for us, and fallback I would argue after many other misses iirc.

You have high standards

Myke Henry

Played and started in 63 games, compiled 809 career points and 366 rebounds in two seasons at DePaul.

As a senior at  DePaul in 2015-16, played and started 31 games, averaged 28.9 minutes, 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists a game. Shot 53.6% from the field, 36.7% from 3-point and 72.4% from the foul line.

As a junior at DePaul in 2014-15, played and started 32 games, averaged 28.1 minutes, 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists a game. Shot 46.4% from the field, 37.3% from 3 point and 68.7% from the foul line.

On January 13, 2018, signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies and he went on to play in 20 games

Named MVP of the 2016 USA Basketball 3x3 National Tournament.

https://www.usab.com/players/myke-henry
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on August 08, 2025, 03:31:47 PM
https://x.com/Sam_Vecenie/status/1953617743573549485?t=EE6CVILYMCxx7nRXCHgwyA&s=19
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ThePAMan on August 08, 2025, 03:53:38 PM
3 x 3 MVP you say? Impressive. Too bad games are 5 x 5 though.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on August 09, 2025, 10:22:35 AM
You have high standards

Myke Henry

Played and started in 63 games, compiled 809 career points and 366 rebounds in two seasons at DePaul.

As a senior at  DePaul in 2015-16, played and started 31 games, averaged 28.9 minutes, 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists a game. Shot 53.6% from the field, 36.7% from 3-point and 72.4% from the foul line.

As a junior at DePaul in 2014-15, played and started 32 games, averaged 28.1 minutes, 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists a game. Shot 46.4% from the field, 37.3% from 3 point and 68.7% from the foul line.

On January 13, 2018, signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies and he went on to play in 20 games

Named MVP of the 2016 USA Basketball 3x3 National Tournament.

https://www.usab.com/players/myke-henry


Maybe I do have high standards, as an ILLINI fan and the University and the team as a whole should.

You used Depaul for validity, that alone proves my point. Depaul has had NO 1 player worth a crap since what Meyers (sr) and Cummings/Aguirre/Strickland days....who since has done anything. Sorry I stand by my scrubs analysis, they both were.

Record while at Depaul - 24 wins and 39 losses. Scrub
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on August 09, 2025, 11:11:09 AM
3 x 3 MVP you say? Impressive. Too bad games are 5 x 5 though.

https://fiba3x3.com/en/index.html
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on August 09, 2025, 11:21:34 AM
Myke Henry was a good high major basketball who had a cup of coffee in the NBA.

He played for two of the worst coaches we had at IL and was maybe a poor fit.

Mike Shaw had to quit basketball because of a chronic back problem. He had
'three degenerative disks in his lower spinal column, two of them herniated ..."
https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/college/basketball/bradley-hoops/2015/10/27/injuries-force-braves-senior-mike/33205396007/

Shaw looked like a stud when he was younger. He ran the court and threw down lobs.. MSU and UNC were recruiting him..

Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on August 26, 2025, 04:35:58 PM
I think Maximo Adams final list depicts where the fabled big "blue bloods" are, vs where the ILLINI want to be, but aren't yet. Granted it wasn't expected for us to be there in the end, BUT, the staff is obviously trying.

2026 Top-30 overall recruit Maximo Adams has scheduled official visits Kentucky, Michigan State, Kansas, North Carolina, Texas and Duke, per Rivals.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on August 28, 2025, 04:00:48 PM
Quinton Kitt just visited, pics with Ty, can't think of a better young man to have an affiliation with than Ty. Probably our best ambassador for the program, MeanStreets tie in. This kid for some reason makes me think of a mini me version of CoHawk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLaVm-F_Mb4
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on October 14, 2025, 05:12:35 PM
This is "RICH" I will never become "transactional", C'mon Cal. You and Sampson just want to set your boys up like Pearl did, lets not pretend. The current stance is  just for convenience so that when that day comes, the kids will take over. Cal nor any other coach can stop the train that is rolling full steam ahead.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46596467/calipari-retire-becoming-transactional-coach

Memphis vacated 38 wins due to his connections with players, furthering families?

UMASS scandals while there

Kentucky, scandals, didn't want to be responsible for players on vs off campus? Furthering families, as long as the kids tow the line?

Hypocrite to the highest degree imo.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Miles Leonard on October 24, 2025, 02:15:31 PM
New commit: 4 star guard Lucas Morillo. Played on the Dominican national team this past summer.  Ranked #32 overall in the ‘26 class.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on October 26, 2025, 08:40:45 AM
New commit: 4 star guard Lucas Morillo. Played on the Dominican national team this past summer.  Ranked #32 overall in the ‘26 class.

Underwhelmed by scouting reports/video's. Overall you can see the kid has game, very cerebral, almost dare one to say "slow" in style. Malcolm Hill 2.0 maybe, without a 3 pt shot. We will see if this is a above average type of player being a 4* now, or a below average B1G player down the road.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on October 26, 2025, 05:55:02 PM
Morillo makes me think of a taller, mentally stable Curbello.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on October 26, 2025, 07:12:11 PM
Morillo makes me think of a taller, mentally stable Curbello.


Because he is PR? Sorry I don't see Curbello in him in at all....that is a good thing.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Judge Judy on October 26, 2025, 07:21:52 PM
Morillo makes me think of a taller, mentally stable Curbello.

I’ll take a racist comment from the old guy for $200, Alex…
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Custard on October 26, 2025, 10:46:31 PM
Getting a top 35 player used to be a big deal for this program. Doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of buzz but that’s probably because college ball is unrestricted free agency at this point and only the very best true freshmen players matter at all anymore.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on October 27, 2025, 03:34:30 AM
Because he is PR? Sorry I don't see Curbello in him in at all....that is a good thing.

No, because he has a good handle, passing skills, sees the court the well, can get to the rim and finish and finish or kick ou. Has a nice midrange game.  Not overly athletic, does need to work on his jump shot. Besides, he is Dominican.

btw, others compare him to Feliz.

Curbelo.was a head case, but we forget how good he was before the head and neck injury

"Andre Curbelo's honors include Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and Big Ten All-Freshman Team for the 2020-21 season, Illinois Freshman of the Year, and Sun Belt Player of the Week in January 2024. He has also received preseason watch list honors, such as the Bob Cousy Award watch list and the Lute Olson Award watch list."

https://youtu.be/RiPPV-kVxMY
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on October 27, 2025, 03:37:48 AM
I’ll take a racist comment from the old guy for $200, Alex…

Only in your mind.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on October 27, 2025, 08:36:20 AM

Besides, he is Dominican, corrected me on that, both with heavy Antigua ties from recruiting, so my bad here.

btw, others compare him to Feliz, only Daddy Brad from what I've seen, could be others.

Curbelo.was a head case, injury aside, prior to that you could see "signs" of how good "HE" thought he was and the ILLINI program was in such a place he was given a LONG rein to run with.

Curbelo = Abrams to me, Morillo = Hill to me. 6'1/6'2 and 6'6/6'6' size-skill sets-potential best case for the ILLINI.


Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on October 27, 2025, 03:43:20 PM
Hill was a 3/4:in college. Morillo is a 1/2. They have similar heights and athleticism, but different overall  games, different roles. Hill could create his own shot. Morillo can create for himself and others, like good Curbelo.

Don't see any similarities between Abrams and Curbelo.Abrams had terrible court vision Good . Curbelo had eyes in the back of his head.

Curbelo was B1G 6th man of the year with an NBA trajectory. He was a showboat with a long leash, but was not out of control until after the head injuries.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on October 28, 2025, 07:48:06 AM
Hill was a 3/4:in college. Morillo is a 1/2. They have similar heights and athleticism, but different overall  games, different roles. Hill could create his own shot. Morillo can create for himself and others, like good Curbelo.

Don't see any similarities between Abrams and Curbelo.Abrams had terrible court vision Good . Curbelo had eyes in the back of his head.

Curbelo was B1G 6th man of the year with an NBA trajectory. He was a showboat with a long leash, but was not out of control until after the head injuries.

Agree to Disagree....Curbelo was NEVER in control however. 2.8/2.6 T/O per game at Illinois...2.7 T/O at St Johns, almost 4. T/O at South Miss. Pts and Assists were very close before and after as well.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Custard on October 28, 2025, 09:31:52 AM
Curbelo was special towards the end of his freshman year. He 100% was not the same player after that fucked up incident where he landed on his head and his neck broke his fall.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Jobu on October 28, 2025, 09:49:44 AM
Then, the one dude that kept his ass in line, Antigua, left.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on October 28, 2025, 09:51:19 AM
Curbelo was special towards the end of his freshman year. He 100% was not the same player after that fucked up incident where he landed on his head and his neck broke his fall.

His brain maybe wasn't the stats says differently. Very similiar is all
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on October 28, 2025, 09:52:04 AM
Then, the one dude that kept his ass in line, Antigua, left.

Good point, no one else could yell in the language....LOL
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Murph’s Dog on October 28, 2025, 04:49:21 PM
I think i read that they’re going to go to a one time free transfer and then after that you have to sit out a year like the old days. Could be wrong. At least there is continuity on the football side!

That’s what I’ve been saying they should do.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Judge Judy on October 28, 2025, 04:50:57 PM
That’s what I’ve been saying they should do.

I think the 5 years to play 5 is a good idea by Bielema…

I also like the one-time transfer and then like the old days rule too…
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on October 28, 2025, 04:58:01 PM
Agree to Disagree....Curbelo was NEVER in control however. 2.8/2.6 T/O per game at Illinois...2.7 T/O at St Johns, almost 4. T/O at South Miss. Pts and Assists were very close before and after as well.

 How about games played, minutes played, total.points, total assists?

Shooting?

Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ILLINICHIEF on October 28, 2025, 05:01:27 PM
How about games played, minutes played, total.points, total assists?

Come to your own conclusions.


https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4432195/andre-curbelo
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Murph’s Dog on October 28, 2025, 05:02:44 PM
I think the 5 years to play 5 is a good idea by Bielema…

I also like the one-time transfer and then like the old days rule too…

I don’t understand. With the current rules they can play 4 in 4.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Murph’s Dog on October 28, 2025, 05:03:34 PM
How’s Curbello’s HOF track looking?
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: ThePAMan on October 28, 2025, 05:12:03 PM
How’s Curbello’s HOF track looking?

LOL.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on October 28, 2025, 05:12:35 PM
Come to your own conclusions.


https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4432195/andre-curbelo

Those are per game

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/andre-curbelo-1.html

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/4432195/year/2021
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Judge Judy on October 28, 2025, 05:19:08 PM
How’s Curbello’s HOF track looking?

He was headed in that direction until the head injury. Dude was a baller his freshman year. I did say when I declared that, if injuries don’t happen…
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: illiniray on October 28, 2025, 06:09:56 PM
I don’t understand. With the current rules they can play 4 in 4.

They have 5 years and sometimes 6 to play 4. With covid it got up 7 to play 5. Now NAIA and JuCo ball apparently don't  count, 22 year old Balkan pros are sophomores, and whassup with teh G League dude, so who knows how all taht works out.
Title: Re: RECRUITING 2026
Post by: Custard on October 28, 2025, 11:13:12 PM
Curbelo was special towards the end of his freshman year. He 100% was not the same player after that fucked up incident where he landed on his head and his neck broke his fall.

(https://i.ibb.co/5hd67TgH/IMG-1048.png) (https://ibb.co/b5xPf1M9)

Played some pretty good teams in that stretch too.