Basketball

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One can understand why a true center in the 2021 recruiting class may not have given the Illini a long look. The question of Kofi returning casts a shadow over the roster until the July 7th NBA draft deadline hits.

The class of 2022 should be totally different. Illinois will recruiting with Omar Payne as the only center on the entire roster. The sense of urgency from the Illini staff to find a reliable option in the middle should be something recruits can pick up on. If the staff is getting the right messaging across, recruits should be able to see the opportunity available at this position for Illinois.

At the NY2LA Lone Star Invitational tourney in Dallas, I had a chance to catch up with Danny Wolf. Wolf is a 6'10" F for the Mac Irvin Fire 17U team. 

Danny is a player that has grown in the last year and a half. He's now a full 6'10" tall but has handles and passing skills that are a step above what you would normally see from a high school big. He sees the court very well and will pass the ball in situations that many bigs would force shots. 

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At the NY2LA Lone Star Invitational tourney in Dallas, had a chance to catch up with Seth Trimble. Seth is a 6'3" PG for the Phenom U 17U team. Currently, he is ranked at #109 by Rivals and #101 by 247 for the 2022 class.  

Seth is an extremely quick but physical PG. A quicker Jalen Brunson would be a way to envision his game. He appears to be woefully underrated right now.

At the NY2LA Lone Star Invitational tourney in Dallas, also had a chance to catch up with Seth's teammate Danilo Jovanovich. Danilo is a 6'8" F for the Phenom U 17U team. Currently, he is ranked as a 3-star recruit by both Rivals and 247 for the 2022 class.

With Illinois probably adding their 3rd, and final, assistant coaching position later this week (for the sake of Illini fandom sanity), it should become clear which recruits will be prioritized in the coming weeks.

In my last article I covered the point/lead guard because I believe it’s probably the biggest need moving forward. After that, it looks like center might be the most important. The last few years Illinois has been spoiled by having Kofi Cockburn as the aircraft carrier in the paint who absolutely dominates that position.

The other half of the Illini's class of 2022, Reggie Bass, is not going anywhere.  How do we know?  He said so publicly at a recent AAU event.  And, he is out to prove naysayers wrong. 

"I received a call from Coach Chester Frazier. He offered me a scholarship to play basketball at Illinois. This puts me at nine offers so far," Howard said. ... “I know Coach Frazier. He's a really good coach. I want to build a great relationship with him,” Howard said.

At the NY2LA Lone Star Invitational tourney in Dallas, I had a chance to catch up with Anthony Black. Black is a 6'7" PG/SG for the 3D Empire 17U team. Currently, he is ranked #74 by Rivals and #85 for 247 for the 2022 class. Based on the play he's demonstrated recently, Black is going to get a rocket strapped to his back and shoot up the rankings in the near future. 

Anthony is a player that can play the 1, 2, 3, or 4 position depending upon the matchup. He has the ability to bring the ball up against pressure, shoot the three, drive and has a solid midrange game. He is also is a determined defender who can leverage bigger players and has the length to guard smaller players. His basketball IQ is off the charts. 

At the NY2LA Lone Star Invitational tourney in Dallas, I had a chance to catch up with JJ Taylor. Taylor is a 6'8" G/F for the Mac Irvin Fire 16U team. Currently, he is ranked #21 by Rivals and #8 by 247 for the 2023 class.

JJ has the ability to shoot the deep three. His range is impressive. He is also dynamite in the open court and takes the ball to basket often and with intensity. Here's what he had to say. 

Setting aside the hiring of our 3rd assistant coach, Illinois basketball's biggest question for the future is how can they capitalize on the recruiting trail. Getting on the trail and finding impact players for 2022 should be prioritized. Building these relationships will be key, and while other teams may have a “head start” with our staff just now being completed, this recruiting cycle is truly unprecedented due to the COVID restrictions for the last 15 months.

At the NY2LA Lone Star Invitational tourney in Dallas, had a chance to catch up with Owen Freeman. Owen is a 6'10" F from the 16U MidPro Academy team.

Owen is an athletic big man who has worked to develop the ball handling and passing skills that aren't often seen by many 4s and 5s in today's game.

At the same NY2LA Lone Star Invitational tourney in Dallas, also had a chance to catch up with Owen's teammate, Ty Pence. Ty is a 6'6" G for the MidPro Academy 16U team. 

Ty is an athletic big guard with hops who has a long range three point shot to go with solid ballhandling skills.

"The University of Illinois is my dream job.  It's my pinnacle job.  It's what I watched growing up.  It's what I know.  I think it's the best of the best."  Alexander says he got the coaching bug after attending the 1991 NCAA championship game in Indianapolis with his dad, when Duke defeated Kansas for the school's first title.  He played for his dad at Lincoln and, after two years at a junior college in Iowa, he went to play at Western Illinois, where he would meet an assistant coach who would change his life - a guy named Brad Underwood.

At the NY2LA Lone Star Invitational tourney in Dallas, I had a chance to catch up with AJ Casey.

Casey is a 6'8" F for the Meanstreets 17U team. Currently, he is ranked #21 by Rivals and #20 by 247 for the 2022 class. 

Recently, rumors had it that Casey was willing to look at the Illini after a period of time where he didn't show a lot of interest. After his Meanstreets team played well this weekend, he was kind enough to spare a few minutes to talk basketball with an IlliniGuy.