(2017) PG Mark Smith to Illinois

[323SGrant 1,176]

Nice to hear that his team apparently runs some nice sets to get good shots!

[WayneFleekHoosier 50,728]

That interview makes me think he stays home. Illinois in the driver seat probably.


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[Hovadipo 61,184]

That interview makes me think he stays home. Illinois in the driver seat probably.


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He's in Mizzou country so idk how much Illinois being the state school matters. Only about 45 minutes longer of a drive to Bloomington than Champaign. Groce is a great recruiter though, just not sure how much Illinois matters where he is.


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[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,367]

No brainer for me.  6'4" 215 lbs. Mark Smith over 5'9" Jordan Walker.

[8bucks 7,423]

That interview makes me think he stays home. Illinois in the driver seat probably.


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Sounded good for them but Groce is on a very hot seat in Illinois

[ap2345 11,240]

If this kid goes to Illinois he must not care if he doesn't see any playing time. Tejon Lucas will be sophomore PG who has played in 17 games. Not to mention they already have 4 star PG Trent Frazier and fellow 4 star PG DaMonte Williams. So I don't think that there will be a whole lot of playing time to go around for 4 point guards.  

[Stuhoo 88,133]

If this kid goes to Illinois he must not care if he doesn't see any playing time. Tejon Lucas will be sophomore PG who has played in 17 games. Not to mention they already have 4 star PG Trent Frazier and fellow 4 star PG DaMonte Williams. So I don't think that there will be a whole lot of playing time to go around for 4 point guards.  

Maybe he's hoping that the new coach they'll be getting likes him better than those guys.

[akhosrof 1,168]

Maybe he's hoping that the new coach they'll be getting likes him better than those guys.

Very well could be the case if they get Cuonzo Martin.


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[Demo 22,729]

This is going to be a really interesting recruitment. No long term relationships with coaches. No shoe company relationships. From a school that hasn't been a pipeline to any schools or conference. And he's only got 2 OA's left with probably zero chance that he goes to any school that he's previously visited. Yeah, he says not going to prioritize recruitment until his season's over. But once it starts it's going to be over in no time. We have GOT to get him on campus. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,367]

4 minutes ago, Demo said:

This is going to be a really interesting recruitment. No long term relationships with coaches. No shoe company relationships. From a school that hasn't been a pipeline to any schools or conference. And he's only got 2 OA's left with probably zero chance that he goes to any school that he's previously visited. Yeah, he says not going to prioritize recruitment until his season's over. But once it starts it's going to be over in no time. We have GOT to get him on campus. 

This is all your fault.  It was your scouting report some 50 posts ago that got us all excited about this kid.  If we don't land him, we are holding you personally responsible.

[8bucks 7,423]

Any chance he looks at playing baseball and basketball?

[Demo 22,729]

14 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

This is all your fault.  It was your scouting report some 50 posts ago that got us all excited about this kid.  If we don't land him, we are holding you personally responsible.

Well then, forget CTC and Jud. I'm taking this recruitment over. Am going to check him out again on Tuesday night against DeSmet, which will be a beating. Going to have to make sure the kid understands that my reputation with my favorite board is at stake. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,367]

Butler offered today.

[Yogi's Picnic Basket 5,004]

Picked up a cb for Northwestern today

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[Demo 22,729]

Currently watching Smith against DeSmet, which is a pretty mediocre team. Has 16pts, 5 assists and 2 steals at the half. 3 of the assists were just great looks. No longer worried in any way if he's a PG. Completely sold. Forget stars or ratings, this kid has a higher ceiling than any guard on our roster. The game is just incredibly easy for him. If work ethic matches talent he's a pro.

Hova, if you're seeing him next week, feel free to tell me I'm nuts.

 

[Hovadipo 61,184]

Currently watching Smith against DeSmet, which is a pretty mediocre team. Has 16pts, 5 assists and 2 steals at the half. 3 of the assists were just great looks. No longer worried in any way if he's a PG. Completely sold. Forget stars or ratings, this kid has a higher ceiling than any guard on our roster. The game is just incredibly easy for him. If work ethic matches talent he's a pro.

Hova, if you're seeing him next week, feel free to tell me I'm nuts.

 

Still planning on seeing him the 17th. I have a good feeling I won't have to tell you that.


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[LockdownD 2,248]

Really appreciate you guys sharing your observations on Mark Smith.  Videos that are put out to promote a player can be interesting, but actually watching a player in a real game can be more revealing.  Thanks for sharing. 

[Yogi's Picnic Basket 5,004]

Mark Smith has been moved to #78 on rivals and the starting five article by Eric Bossi suggest he could move up a lot higher as well. Nice job finding this kid but a lot of other schools noticed soon after.

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[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,367]

Edwardsville (21-1) rolled over DeSmet 73-52.  The Tigers are ranked second in the state in Class 4A and 25th in the nation by USA Today.  Smith scored 20 pts., grabbed 7 reb. and dished out 10 assists.

 

 

[Yogi's Picnic Basket 5,004]

Cal, Utah & Butler have offered in last 2 days. UNC & KU are supposed to both see him in the next two weeks. Oregon has made some calls nothing serious yet but this kid is special. You never see a kid blow up this big unless it is AAU season. For him to do this during a half of a season is amazing. I want this kid more than anyone. If we got him and Tucker we would have 3 top 80 kids with Charlie Moore having huge upside and Durham being a Legerald Vick type of guard for us. I could really get behind this class.

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