Simpson decision re-opens old wounds, but other targets remain
By Alex Roux
September 10, 2015
Maybe I should save myself some time.You see, when a high-profile Illinois basketball recruit sets a date and time to announce his college decision, I have to be prepared. I’ll write two stories in advance of the announcement — one will say the recruit picked the Illini, the other will sa...
Groce set to host a double dose of Xavier
By Alex Roux
August 25, 2015
Most popular athletes have cool nicknames.“Air Jordan.” “King James.” Anthony “Sizzle Chest” Rizzo is my personal favorite.So when it was announced that 2016 basketball recruits Xavier Sneed and Xavier Simpson would take official visits this upcoming weekend to the Illinois campus, the lo...
It’s time to focus on this year’s team
October 22, 2014
Is anyone else ready for basketball season to start? I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to watch actual Illinois basketball, featuring actual Illini players. You can only do so many fantasy projections of lineups two years down the road, happily plugging in every five-star recruit on John Groce’s...
Thomas “relieved” as recruitment nears end
October 20, 2014
When Elijah Thomas announces his college decision Tuesday afternoon, it will mark the end of a wild recruiting process for the star forward out of Texas. Recruiting never ends for college coaches and programs, but for many aspiring Division I basketball players like Thomas, it’s an experience they will ...
Catching up with Elijah Thomas
October 9, 2014
During this roller coaster of a recruiting season, no Illini recruit has been more fun to follow than Elijah Thomas. Sure, Illinois fans received the best news of the fall so far when Jalen Coleman-Lands committed to John Groce on Sept. 23, but Coleman-Lands’ recruiting saga had a more toned-down approach than...
Illini recruiting watch: Marcus LoVett
October 7, 2014
Who is Marcus LoVett? In a recruiting class where the names Jalen Brunson, Jawun Evans, Elijah Thomas, Jalen Coleman-Lands and Carlton Bragg have been etched into Illini fans’ collective wish lists, the name LoVett carries less recognition. But now LoVett, a 5-foot-11 senior point guard out of Morgan Pa...
Moving on from Jawun Evans: Where John Groce goes from here
October 2, 2014
Shortly after Jawun Evans picked Oklahoma State over Illinois Wednesday, Sports Illustrated released a story on Illini head coach John Groce. The article provided some solid insight into how Groce approaches these high-stakes recruitments, and how he deals with his prized targets committing elsewhere....
Evans visits Oklahoma State, will decide next week
September 26, 2014
Mark your calendars for next Wednesday and Thursday. The Jawun Evans commitment watch has just been upgraded to a commitment warning. The Evans recruitment is nearing an end, according to his mentor Lamont Simmons. Expect the stud point guard out of Dallas to announce his college decision Wednes...
Indiana guard Jalen Coleman commits to Illinois
September 23, 2014
John Groce, basketball head coach, plucked his most recent commit out of enemy territory Tuesday. La Lumiere prep school combo guard Jalen Coleman, 6-foot-3, committed to the Illini, becoming Illinois’ first commit from the state of Indiana since 1985. Coleman is ranked the 33rd best recruit in the...
Illini recruiting watch: Elijah Thomas and Jalen Coleman
September 18, 2014
A busy basketball weekend on campus just got even busier. Elijah Thomas, one of the best forwards in the country in the Class of 2015, was already set to visit campus this weekend. Now Jalen Coleman, another highly-ranked prospect, is scheduled to join him. Coleman is ranked as an elite combo guard...
