(2017) SF Kris Wilkes to UCLA

[Brass Cannon 24,928]

i feel like he wants to commit one place probably here. But thinks somewhere else might be better. 

This could all just him building suspense also. Who knows

[Brass Cannon 24,928]

12 minutes ago, Walking Boot of Doom said:

Marni followed him after his OV. We good.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

She followed Brown also 

did she follow Wilkes I didn't see him in her list of followers?

[akhosrof 1,168]

That most telling thing for me is how Wilkes said LA "is a pro town, where there's not a focus on one sport." That's a direct shot to what he's used to living in Indiana where it's all about basketball. Prior to that he said "I hear from (IU fans) all the time" but where he has the most fans isn't a big consideration.

IMO UCLA might be most appealing to Kris because there's the least individual pressure (living in LA is also pretty awesome), but still a great chance at winning and getting NBA exposure. If Kris comes to IU, no one here can argue that, fair or not, he would have immense pressure to be a star and deliver a championship.

It takes a certain type of personality to embrace that sort of pressure, Yogi had it. But I can't blame the kid at all if that's not what he wants. It's his college experience and that sort of pressure would be a huge distraction.

Maybe he just wants to blend in and be part of a team. He mentioned how Illinois is like a family. Obviously on the court he'll want to be a star, but he may not want all the off-court attention that comes with that, which he would certainly get at IU. If that's the case, UCLA is probably his #1 choice, and Illinois is sorta of a compromise between IU and UCLA where there's less pressure but his family could still see him play, albeit chances of winning are lower.

[HoosierRob 1,042]

I wonder if Albers is getting a little worried. If he gets this wrong, it will confirm what most IU fans think.. that he's a joke.

[mdn82 25,546]

I wonder if Albers is getting a little worried. If he gets this wrong, it will confirm what most IU fans think.. that he's a joke.

I doubt he is too worried. Fans on here putting words of an 18 year old under a microscope without context of the questions asked are the only ones up in arms. Not much has changed elsewhere on Twitter it seems.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

[GnarlyNormEllenberger 1,452]

I'd be careful not to over-analyze any of those new comments from Wilkes.

I fully understand this is a recruiting message board and we, as fans, like to speculate and discuss where a recruit may be leaning. That's definitely valid and I encourage further participation as such. But honestly, is there really anything in this new IndyStar article that is different than anything he has said in prior interviews? He likes all three schools. There are positives and negatives with each. It will be a hard decision for him. That sounds like basic recruit-speak to me. And from a guy who seems to like being recruited.

I know we were hoping that some of the rumblings of an impending Hoosier commit were true (and they still might be) but the fact of the matter is that we still stand as good of a chance as any other school at this point.

[HoosierRob 1,042]

I doubt he is too worried. Fans on here putting words of an 18 year old under a microscope without context of the questions asked are the only ones up in arms. Not much has changed elsewhere on Twitter it seems.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Sure.

Albers brings on himself. He claims to be an insider and has "sources" so when he says Wilkes is a slam dunk to IU then he's going to be criticized if it turns out he's wrong. Which happens more times then not.

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

9 hours ago, Walking Boot of Doom said:

Marni followed him after his OV. We good.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Oops I may have mistaken this for someone else... My bad. Deleting original post...

 

EVERYONE PANIC

[mdn82 25,546]

Sure.

Albers brings on himself. He claims to be an insider and has "sources" so when he says Wilkes is a slam dunk to IU then he's going to be criticized if it turns out he's wrong. Which happens more times then not.

He is young too and takes the information he gets to extremes too. I am not a fan of his by any stretch, but I don't think he is stressing this like people on here are.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,831]

The latest from Albers from his website albers.com:

What I know about Kris Wilkes

Let me preface this post by saying that I no longer work professionally in the basketball recruiting world. I created this site for fun, a place to share my opinions and ideas on certain topics, and a place for Jordan Hulls and I to continue to connect with the Indiana fans we know and love. It’s a good place to put my podcast so that those new to the world of podcasting that would like to listen have an easy way to do so.

I say that because I am looking at this issue — the Kris Wilkes recruitment — sort of from the outside. The Indiana beat is a competitive beast, and looking at a recruitment like this one while you’re inside the beat is completely different. Your bosses expect you to work as many angles, talk to as many people, etc. to get the information others don’t have, no matter how many hours per day that takes you.

So it’s a rather refreshing feeling for me to observe this one from the outside, without the stress that comes with knowing any kid could commit to any school at any time. The media world is an on-demand business, and while it’s mostly an enjoyable job, there’s never really a time when you’re not working. And if there is a time when you’re not working, then you’re falling behind. And you can’t afford to fall behind. My good friend Alex Bozich and I used to refer to it as “the grind.” That’s exactly what it is.

To make money, we need readers. To get readers, we need content the readers want. And what readers want is as much recruiting news as is humanly possibly. That’s especially true at Indiana, and with high-profile players. I’m sure I noticed it when I was covering it, but it’s even more clear to me now just how crazy you guys are about recruiting.

It’s like an addiction. Once a basketball fan gets just a sniff that a 5-star recruit may or may not be making his decision soon and said fan’s school is still in the running, they can’t get enough. Forum threads grow and grow. People plead for updates every day, sometimes even more often than that. Rumors, often floated just to create buzz, cause the fans to clamor even more. Then the decision is made, and it’s on to the next one.

Like I said, the grind.

This Kris Wilkes recruitment has been an interesting one for me to watch. I’m not on the beat anymore, but I know enough people in the Indiana basketball circles that I still get recruiting information from time to time. I really don’t seek it out like I used to, and I know very little information about the vast majority of recruits.

I’m amazed at the number of Facebook messages I get — most from people who aren’t even friends with me on Facebook — Twitter questions, texts, etc. asking me about Wilkes. In Wilkes’ case, I do know a couple of people close to the situation that I greatly trust, and so I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on. I do not know which school Kris is going to pick, and to be completely honest with you, Kris isn’t sure yet either.

To answer all of the questions I’ve been getting at once, I will tell you what I know as of right now. It’s Indiana or UCLA, Illinois is a distant 3rd. Kris has envisioned himself at Indiana for quite awhile, and they’ve mostly been the leader in his mind throughout the process.

But UCLA is appealing to Wilkes because he believes being out west, in the Los Angeles market, will give him a great opportunity to become a pro after one year, something he would like to try to do.

Kris is an intelligent kid with intelligent people around him. He’s not going to make a decision on a whim, and if you read what he told Kyle Neddenriep of The Indianapolis Star on Tuesday, he plans to wait until early November to decide. Sure, he could change his mind and announce a decision tomorrow, but that’s unlikely, which is why it seems crazy to me that so many people are freaking out over this decision right now.

My personal opinion, based mostly on what I’ve been told by those I trust, is that Wilkes will be a Hoosier. If he waits until November to announce his decision, that means he will likely have attended Hoosier Hysteria again, and I can’t see him turning Indiana down.

Tom Crean has been recruiting him for years, has gotten to know him on a personal level for years, and I think that matters. I think staying home matters. I think the Indiana fans matter.

So that’s all I’m going to say about Wilkes until after his decision is made. That’s all I know. And while I understand Indiana basketball recruiting is very important to all of you, I encourage you to just take a deep breath and relax for a second. Don’t get all worked up or stress so much over a decision that likely won’t come for another three weeks. Everything will be OK.

By the way, I hope you enjoy the new site. Let me know what you think in the comment section. And yes, Tom Crean is still scheduled to be the next guest on my podcast. That’ll happen before Hoosier Hysteria.

Hope you all are well, thank you for reading, and God Bless.

[mdn82 25,546]

I can honestly relate to what he is saying. I have been caught up in this site, HSN, and 247 as a mod for the last 6 years. When you are in a website at any capacity for Hoosier sports it wraps its web around your daily life. It changes you. Obviously his content is different than what I had to deal with, but when you are in a different area than others, people tend to react to your every word. No matter the role you are in it wears on you. I am sure it is much more enjoyable for him to be out from behind that area of IU basketball.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

[AKHoosier 7,064]

All I hope is that he visits for Hoosier Hysteria and we follow that up with an in-home visit.  Hopefully that would be enough to clinch it for IU.

[Bowhunter 2,720]

That seemed pretty honest about what he has been told and how crazy we all are as fans. I hope he is right about us leading. Crean and IU needs to be landing Indiana's best recruits as much as possible.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BtownBanners mobile app

[BGleas 7,917]

I don't see how going to UCLA over Indiana gives anyone a better chance at being a one and done? I mean Washington is pumping out one and dones. If you're good enough to be a one and done at this level, going to IU, UCLA, Kansas, OSU, NC State, Maryland, Syracuse, etc. isn't really going to make any difference. If you're THAT good, then as long as you work hard, play hard, etc., you're going to be a one and done. 

Now, if he's talking about networking/marketing in LA for the year, meeting agents, celebrities, etc., then that is something different. There could be a little value to that. But, even that won't matter much if you get drafted by the Bucks or Grizzlies for example. 

[Brass Cannon 24,928]

What he says kinda matches what I was sensing  he wants to come here but Alford convinced him UCLA is better for him. 

[BGleas 7,917]

1 minute ago, Brass Cannon said:

What he says kinda matches what I was sensing  he wants to come here but Alford convinced him UCLA is better for him. 

If I was Crean I would be sending him NBA highlight reels daily of Wade, Deiner, Novak, his other Marquette NBA guys, VO, Zeller, Vonleh, and even Troy from last night, and in each note ask how many guys Steve Alford has put in the NBA. 

[HoosierAloha 30,077]

If I was Crean I would be sending him NBA highlight reels daily of Wade, Deiner, Novak, his other Marquette NBA guys, VO, Zeller, Vonleh, and even Troy from last night, and in each note ask how many guys Steve Alford has put in the NBA. 

And then a mic drop and point towards Wilkes at Hoosier Hysteria

[AKHoosier 7,064]

Dammit.

Poster on the other site who is very reputable says the winds are shifting to SoCal.

God it would be such a huge blow to not land a single one of the in-state kids this year, one season removed from winning another B1G championship.

[Brass Cannon 24,928]

1 hour ago, AKHoosier said:

Dammit.

Poster on the other site who is very reputable says the winds are shifting to SoCal.

God it would be such a huge blow to not land a single one of the in-state kids this year, one season removed from winning another B1G championship.

This combined with no confirmation he's coming to HH is very disconcerting. 

losing him is going to be tragic. 

[BubbleKnuts 569]

Relaaax. No commitment anywhere yet.