(2017) SF Kris Wilkes to UCLA

[Brass Cannon 25,212]

2 minutes ago, HoosierRob said:

lol groce.. keep dreaming buddy, you're days are numbered at a power 5 conference.

See I am kinda wondering if this stellar recruiting class saves him for another year, if not theres going to be some real talent going to be let out of their letter of intent.  If it does save him, we are going to see underachievement receive a new definition. 

[GnarlyNormEllenberger 1,462]

10 hours ago, hoosierpap said:

Oh weiirdddd. There's a connection there :)

 

Groce is notorious for this. Combination of knowing how these two work (Groce/negative and Kris/likes to mess w the media)and just the recruiting history led me to see the comments the other way though. Groce scrambled because he's behind. He knows IU is ahead, but not sold, and needs to put some doubt there. And that second  paragraph about "needing to get to know the staff" is Wilkes throwing a curveball. He knows what IU and the staff is about, I promise that. 

No doubt. Wilkes says he has been visiting IU since the 4th grade (which just happens to be around the time Crean became the coach at IU.) I'd be surprised if he is as familiar with another coaching staff or school any better than he is with IU. So I think his visit comes down to... does he like us or not? Straight up. Because I really don't believe there's much else for him to know at this point... he either "feels" us, or he doesn't.

My opinion? IU is at the center of this recruitment. And I think it's obvious that opposing coaches know this. So he either comes to IU, or he's talked out of it and then it could be anyone's game, i.e Illinois, UCLA, Xavier, etc.

I have no inside information. Just reading the tea leaves.

[hoosierpap 14,300]

@ UCLA for his OV this weekend. 

[Brass Cannon 25,212]

On the plus side if he picks UCLA we might get him next summer after Alford gets fired. 

[Brass Cannon 25,212]

Any word how his visit went?

[ElectricBoogaloo 4,319]

15 hours ago, Brass Cannon said:

Any word how his visit went?

It starts this Friday.

[Brass Cannon 25,212]

 

1 minute ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

It starts this Friday.

I'm talking about his his UCLA visit. There's apparently a scout article about it. But I'm not a subscriber

[WayneFleekHoosier 50,539]

Seems as though Wilkes will pick in early signing period. Said he plans to after visits. His family had a nice "vacation" to Cali now it's time to get real and pick IU.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

[WayneFleekHoosier 50,539]

The UCLA visit went well. They sold him on having championship level team. If he works hard, a shot at NBA, practicing against NBA guys in summers. He expects a good visit to IU and wants to hear the whole deal.

I hope we can field another championship level team for next year. It's going to be a challenge.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

[Brass Cannon 25,212]

Just now, WayneFleekHoosier said:

The UCLA visit went well. They sold him on having championship level team. If he works hard, a shot at NBA, practicing against NBA guys in summers. He expects a good visit to IU and wants to hear the whole deal.

I hope we can field another championship level team for next year. It's going to be a challenge.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

If we get Wilkes I think we can. Davis absolutely has to stay healthy though 

[HoosierAloha 30,102]

1 hour ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

The UCLA visit went well. They sold him on having championship level team. If he works hard, a shot at NBA, practicing against NBA guys in summers. He expects a good visit to IU and wants to hear the whole deal.

I hope we can field another championship level team for next year. It's going to be a challenge.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

I don't think freshman Wilkes can lead a team to a title as the centerpiece.  However, if we have a dynamic guard (Waters) and a big (???) IU could make a run. 

Edit:  UCLA under Steve has some talented teams that haven't done much.

[WayneFleekHoosier 50,539]

Rojo. Cujo. Wilkes. Juwan. DD. sounds good.

Or Newkirk. Rojo, Wilkes. Juwan. DD.

Still have a confident Mcswain. Starting 5 could be pretty good without getting other 5 stars with starting potential

Newkirk......Waters......Green
Rojo.....Cujo......Durham
Wilkes....Mcswain....Gelon
Juwan.....JSmith
DD.....BIG

This is a for example, what if..... We are guard heavy with Durham and Waters. Something will have to give even with Blackmon going.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

[WayneFleekHoosier 50,539]

May be a 3 guard lineup if proposed 13 player roster above comes to fruition.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

[Stuhoo 87,632]

3 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

May be a 3 guard lineup if proposed 13 player roster above comes to fruition.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

 

Ummm....

That roster does not have Hartman on it. He has a better chance of being on that list than a few that are listed, in my opinion. And I'm not talking about the '17s you listed.

[WayneFleekHoosier 50,539]

 

Ummm....

That roster does not have Hartman on it. He has a better chance of being on that list than a few that are listed, in my opinion. And I'm not talking about the '17s you listed.

Which is part of the reason I am seeing a 4 man class now. Unless an unlikely transfer. I already included grad transfer Priller.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

[Stuhoo 87,632]

9 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Which is part of the reason I am seeing a 4 man class now. Unless an unlikely transfer. I already included grad transfer Priller.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

 

I think that an "unexpected transfer" and a five man class is more likely than a four man class, the inclusion of Timmy P, or the exclusion of CH.

[HoosierAloha 30,102]

2 hours ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Rojo. Cujo. Wilkes. Juwan. DD. sounds good.

Or Newkirk. Rojo, Wilkes. Juwan. DD.

Still have a confident Mcswain. Starting 5 could be pretty good without getting other 5 stars with starting potential

Newkirk......Waters......Green
Rojo.....Cujo......Durham
Wilkes....Mcswain....Gelon
Juwan.....JSmith
DD.....BIG

This is a for example, what if..... We are guard heavy with Durham and Waters. Something will have to give even with Blackmon going.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners

Soooo many guards...  Blackmon Jr., Newkirk, Johnson, Jones, Green, Gelon, Durham, and possibly Waters.  That's possibly 8 guards on the roster next season.  Now, I'm not that naive to believe all will remain on the roster.  Blackmon Jr. probably goes along with a transfer to get down to 6 guards.  However, two guards would be lost after the following season in RoJo and JN.  Having a steady diet of guards would be better than having three in two classes.

Newkirk - RoJo - Wilkes - JMo - DD     (Waters, CuJo, McSwain, JSmith, and a big)

That would be a starting 5 that could contend for a conference title.  The reserves would be solid as well, as long as we got a big that could compete.

The wings would be solid with Wilkes, JSmith, and McSwain.  I guess the bigs would do as long as we landed a serviceable big to backup DD.  I don't like the idea of JMo being the other big.

If we land Wilkes and Waters could we nickname them KWilkes and TWaters?

 

[Stuhoo 87,632]

I was doing a little digging for y'all this morning while eating my Honey Nut Cheerios. I found this on the Illini board. The poster is a one off on the Illini board, and has posted briefly on the Nebraska board with a profile covered in IU swag. The poster also is a premie IU poster, and has weighed in on bball coaching software websites.  Take it for what it's worth...here's your sunshine pump for the morning:

CoachSS 

All, I promise I come here in peace. 

Just want to touch up a bit on Kris Wilkes. 

I've seen a few posts suggesting Illinois may get him and they are in prime position. While I certainly applaud John for the work he has done behind the scenes and openly (especially in regards to staying in the ear of Kris' personal instructor) I think that the enthusiasm should be tempered a bit. 

Wilkes' high school coach has said privately he's fairly certain that Wilkes will go to Indiana and even his own father suggested a quite a bit of surprise about UCLA being a finalist. 

As most have correctly said, no lineup or returning starters will have any bearing on Wilkes' decision. When you are that good, you go to a school and you play. End of story. 

Having had the chance to see Smith and Wilkes multiple times, I can say, categorically, that they will be playing together and not competing for time. Smith is a guy the IU staff can slowly bring along whereas Wilkes will walk in and start at the "3" right away. 

I am here to talk Illinois basketball. I'm a big fan of John and really hoping he turns the corner this coming season and desperately hoping everyone stays healthy. 

I come here to help shed some light on some of the recruiting stuff that I know about.

 

[HoosierRob 1,042]

Anyone else have trouble seeing it??

[HoosierAloha 30,102]

10 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

I was doing a little digging for y'all this morning while eating my Honey Nut Cheerios. I found this on the Illini board. The poster is a one off on the Illini board, and has posted briefly on the Nebraska board with a profile covered in IU swag. The poster also is a premie IU poster, and has weighed in on bball coaching software websites.  Take it for what it's worth...here's your sunshine pump for the morning:

CoachSS 

All, I promise I come here in peace. 

Just want to touch up a bit on Kris Wilkes. 

I've seen a few posts suggesting Illinois may get him and they are in prime position. While I certainly applaud John for the work he has done behind the scenes and openly (especially in regards to staying in the ear of Kris' personal instructor) I think that the enthusiasm should be tempered a bit. 

Wilkes' high school coach has said privately he's fairly certain that Wilkes will go to Indiana and even his own father suggested a quite a bit of surprise about UCLA being a finalist. 

As most have correctly said, no lineup or returning starters will have any bearing on Wilkes' decision. When you are that good, you go to a school and you play. End of story. 

Having had the chance to see Smith and Wilkes multiple times, I can say, categorically, that they will be playing together and not competing for time. Smith is a guy the IU staff can slowly bring along whereas Wilkes will walk in and start at the "3" right away. 

I am here to talk Illinois basketball. I'm a big fan of John and really hoping he turns the corner this coming season and desperately hoping everyone stays healthy. 

I come here to help shed some light on some of the recruiting stuff that I know about.

 

Couldn't see it on that app (still just seeing a ton of read threads remain in the "unread" portion and won't go away).

Seeing if you can read after it's been quoted.  (didn't work)

Let's try this...

All, I promise I come here in peace. 

Just want to touch up a bit on Kris Wilkes. 

I've seen a few posts suggesting Illinois may get him and they are in prime position. While I certainly applaud John for the work he has done behind the scenes and openly (especially in regards to staying in the ear of Kris' personal instructor) I think that the enthusiasm should be tempered a bit. 

Wilkes' high school coach has said privately he's fairly certain that Wilkes will go to Indiana and even his own father suggested a quite a bit of surprise about UCLA being a finalist. 

As most have correctly said, no lineup or returning starters will have any bearing on Wilkes' decision. When you are that good, you go to a school and you play. End of story. 

Having had the chance to see Smith and Wilkes multiple times, I can say, categorically, that they will be playing together and not competing for time. Smith is a guy the IU staff can slowly bring along whereas Wilkes will walk in and start at the "3" right away. 

I am here to talk Illinois basketball. I'm a big fan of John and really hoping he turns the corner this coming season and desperately hoping everyone stays healthy. 

I come here to help shed some light on some of the recruiting stuff that I know about.