Which is why there's so much excitement for Cliff and Illinois. He'll have a supporting class of upperclassmen.

 

For the record, I'm not totally buying into the final four or bust prediction other Illinois fans have. I'm not sure how refined Cliff's offensive game will be once he gets into the Big Ten.

Upperclassmen are underrated in college bball. Obviously everyone wants a Jarbari Parker etc, but I like rosters of guys who have been through the grind and can actually play college ball at a high level. For a good coach, they can do so many different things with experienced players, especially on defense.

Possible. If his stated goals of (1) playing time (2) being "the" guy and (3) winning, Illinois is his best choice.

 

over DePaul, but not over Kansas.

I went on here to look at all the big ten logos for 2014. Man there is alot of UK

 

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketba...rank/class/2014

 

Oh and the guy at the bottom for OSU, is actually 2016. Stupid missions.

Edited November 12, 201312 yr by RockRaines

over DePaul, but not over Kansas.

For winning, sure. For being "the guy" and playing time, I wouldn't put Kansas ahead of Illinois.

Also remember MSU will drop down without Payne and Harris, OSU probably takes a step back without Craft (though Rock you can better forecast that) Maybe Wisconsin loses Dekker. Indiana supposedly has a lot of talent with a bunch of McDAA's on the roster, but they'll be young.

 

This is almost certainly MSU's last shot at winning big for a while. It only takes one big class in college basketball to turn things around but Izzo's 2013 and 2014 classes were both incredibly underwhelming and when Harris goes pro after this year the only really good player left from the 2012 class will be Valentine. A starting lineup of Trice, Valentine, Dawson, Costello and Schilling? is probably a tourney team but that is about it. And the problem for Izzo is that the 2015 class in Michigan is really weak so he will again have to look out of state which he has struggled with the last couple of classes.

For winning, sure. For being "the guy" and playing time, I wouldn't put Kansas ahead of Illinois.

 

KU is undoubtedly a better program than Illinois but as crazy as it sounds with the gap between the two teams this year, with KU losing Wiggins plus likely losing at least one of Ellis, Embiid or Selden after this year you can make a pretty strong case Illinois would have a stronger roster around Cliff than KU next year. Of course if Self gets lucky like he always seems to and those three stay in school Kansas would potentially be a monster next year adding Cliff and Oubre.

IL Prep Bullseye predict Cliff to ILL

For winning, sure. For being "the guy" and playing time, I wouldn't put Kansas ahead of Illinois.

 

If he is as good as his ranking, he is gonna get playing time anywhere he goes. IMO that's not a concern anywhere he goes, especially in today's college landscape. I guess he would be more of the Big Man on Campus in Champaign, but the best player in Lawrence is pretty damn popular too.

Officially landed the top bball class in the conference.

 

class rankings:

 

1. Ohio State

2. Maryland

3. Illinois

4. Indiana

5. Michigan

6. Northwestern

7. Minnesota

8. Purdue

9. Michigan State

10. Rutgers

11. Iowa

12. Penn State

13. Wisconsin

14. Nebraska

 

 

Top Prospect: D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State

Best Scorer: Dion Wiley, Maryland

Best Passer: Quentin Snider, Illinois

Best Shot Blocker: Trayvon Reed, Maryland

Best Floor General: Quentin Snider, Illinois

Best Post Player: LeRon Black, Illinois

Best Athlete: Jae’sean Tate, Ohio State

Best Shooter: James Blackmon, Indiana

Best Rebounder: Jae’sean Tate, Ohio State

Edited November 13, 201312 yr by RockRaines

Officially landed the top bball class in the conference.

 

How can it be "official" when there are still undecideds?

How can it be "official" when there are still undecideds?

Apparently nobody can catch our class at this point, although there can be movement in other teams.

Officially landed the top bball class in the conference.

 

class rankings:

 

1. Ohio State

2. Maryland

3. Illinois

4. Indiana

5. Michigan

6. Northwestern

7. Minnesota

8. Purdue

9. Michigan State

10. Rutgers

11. Iowa

12. Penn State

13. Wisconsin

14. Nebraska

 

 

Top Prospect: D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State

Best Scorer: Dion Wiley, Maryland

Best Passer: Quentin Snider, Illinois

Best Shot Blocker: Trayvon Reed, Maryland

Best Floor General: Quentin Snider, Illinois

Best Post Player: LeRon Black, Illinois

Best Athlete: Jae’sean Tate, Ohio State

Best Shooter: James Blackmon, Indiana

Best Rebounder: Jae’sean Tate, Ohio State

 

If Illinois lands Cliff they have the best class in the conference. Especially with OSU losing the Mormon today.

Yeah Illinois would definitely be better if Cliff goes there.

If Illinois lands Cliff they have the best class in the conference. Especially with OSU losing the Mormon today.

I dont think thats the case based on the scout rankings. I could be wrong. The article said its settled.

Yeah Illinois would definitely be better if Cliff goes there.

I dont know how they calculate points but if you do more power to ya. Does Cliff make their class go from 18 to top 5 automatically?

Officially landed the top bball class in the conference.

 

class rankings:

 

1. Ohio State

2. Maryland

3. Illinois

4. Indiana

5. Michigan

6. Northwestern

7. Minnesota

8. Purdue

9. Michigan State

10. Rutgers

11. Iowa

12. Penn State

13. Wisconsin

14. Nebraska

 

 

Top Prospect: D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State

Best Scorer: Dion Wiley, Maryland

Best Passer: Quentin Snider, Illinois

Best Shot Blocker: Trayvon Reed, Maryland

Best Floor General: Quentin Snider, Illinois

Best Post Player: LeRon Black, Illinois

Best Athlete: Jae’sean Tate, Ohio State

Best Shooter: James Blackmon, Indiana

Best Rebounder: Jae’sean Tate, Ohio State

 

I really want to see Blackmon sometime this year.

I dont think thats the case based on the scout rankings. I could be wrong. The article said its settled.

 

Using composite rankings Illinois will have landed the #3, 33 and 40 players in the country and OSU #18, 30 and 63. Each class also has an unranked big man.

Using composite rankings Illinois will have landed the #3, 33 and 40 players in the country and OSU #18, 30 and 63. Each class also has an unranked big man.

Oh the article and rankings I use are Scout. KBD and Russell are 16 and 19. Snider and Black are 32 and 47. Probably why that writer declared it over. Based on those composites it looks like ILL would take over for sure.

 

Guess we'll just have to sign Myles Turner...

Using composite rankings Illinois will have landed remember i #3, 33 and 40 players in the country and OSU #18, 30 and 63. Each class also has an unranked big man.

Yeah if Alexander committs I dont think anyone would take OSUs class over Illinois. I read the same scout article too and dont remember saying anything different.

Even without Cliff, that's a great recruiting class for Illinois and for Groce in his 1st real year.

Yeah if Alexander committs I dont think anyone would take OSUs class over Illinois. I read the same scout article too and dont remember saying anything different.

Apparently only Scout would. They dont like KBD much huh.

 

We need another big at some point, maybe he'll just roll it over to the 2015 class which is already off to a nice start.

Even without Cliff, that's a great recruiting class for Illinois and for Groce in his 1st real year.

Got a nice start to 2015 as well. Momentum is huge. MSU is a real head scratcher.

Apparently only Scout would. They dont like KBD much huh.

 

We need another big at some point, maybe he'll just roll it over to the 2015 class which is already off to a nice start.

The way scout does their rankings has Cliff being equal to a guy like KBD (both 5 stars). I would bet if you asked anybody that actually worked for scout, they would take an Illinois class with Cliff over the OSU class. Their system is just flawed.

 

Either way both schools have really good classes.

Apparently nobody can catch our class at this point, although there can be movement in other teams.

 

This is based on Scout right? IF Illinois were to land Cliff, the classes would stack up as:

 

Ohio State

16 - Russel

19 - KBD

54 - Tate

N/R - Bell

 

Illinois

5 - Alexander

32 - Snider

47 - Black

N/R - Finke

 

That's pretty close. I'm not sure how Scout figures their class ranks, but those are two great classes IF Illinois manages to land Cliff and there isn't much between them.

 

Now, Groce still needs to land Cliff for this discussion to even matter... but fun to discuss nonetheless.

The way scout does their rankings has Cliff being equal to a guy like KBD (both 5 stars). I would bet if you asked anybody that actually worked for scout, they would take an Illinois class with Cliff over the OSU class. Their system is just flawed.

 

Either way both schools have really good classes.

Maybe we'll pull Turner and make it moot (not likely).

 

I know we lost the guy who never should have committed in the first place, but how does someone who isnt enrolling for 2 years counting as a 2014? Thats insane to me.

 

I think Matta is trying again in 2015 to hit a HR going all out for Kennard and Bragg.