If you had some time to kill where would you rate players from year to year that played at Illinois?
Another discussion got me thinking a bit (I hope I don't hurt myself) and while initially it was kind of more pointed towards Weber's recruiting with Jerrance so I thought I'd see where people rank players we had.
I don't want this to get into a debate whether or not we had a talent when Groce got here it really doesn't matter right now but I would like to fairly discuss how good players from those classes were.
2009:
I'd consider D.J. Richardson an overall average big ten starting SG.
I'd argue Brandon Paul was above average and a good player his junior and senior years... Only all big ten player I can point to.
Tyler was below average in talent.
Joseph Bertrand was below average in talent.
2010:
You have Jereme's freshman year which was solid but that's it. A solid year production wise and gone.
Crandall Head.. Moving on.
Meyers was your typical big frosh but had a very solid sophomore year. Would definitely have been Weber's 1a or 2b recruit with BP.
2011:
Mike Shaw: Not a big ten player
Langford: Not a big ten player
Djmide: Not a big ten player
Myke Henry: Average big ten player? Needed time to get there and couldn't expect immediate results but could have been above average junior and senior years? Somewhat similar trend to BP which is fine if we have anything from 2010/2011?
Abrams: Below average big ten player
Nnanna Egwu: Below average big ten player
2012: Nobody
2013: Hill (we'll give him Hill who looks like he will be arguably the 3rd or 4th best player Weber got in 5 years and one of 4-5 average/above average big ten players)
Agree/disagree and if so why? I think I'll take the most flak for calling DJ Richardson an average big ten player but that's exactly what he was. Big ten freshman of the year but pretty much peaked in every way possible and his game never expanded. I'll argue all day long Abrams and Egwu are below average big ten starters but would be very good energy/hustle guys off the bench.
Henry.. You can be more patient with if Jereme Richmond is still here.. Brandon Paul.. First two seasons weren't great but he got better and had above average production as a junior and senior.. Which kind of reaffirms why you try to stack guards in multiple classes too.. Behind Nunn/Hill (if you want to call him that) who will be here the next two years at the 2/3 we have JCL and Jordan who will have time to settle into roles as frosh/sophomores...
As much focus as there was about Weber not being able to get a point guard his class balance was just atrocious too. Too many players we didn't multiple year production from that would be considered above average and then we over rely on freshman.. The 2009 class was acceptable judged by itself but the 2010/2011 classes were just a debacle purely from a production standpoint.
Another discussion got me thinking a bit (I hope I don't hurt myself) and while initially it was kind of more pointed towards Weber's recruiting with Jerrance so I thought I'd see where people rank players we had.
I don't want this to get into a debate whether or not we had a talent when Groce got here it really doesn't matter right now but I would like to fairly discuss how good players from those classes were.
2009:
I'd consider D.J. Richardson an overall average big ten starting SG.
I'd argue Brandon Paul was above average and a good player his junior and senior years... Only all big ten player I can point to.
Tyler was below average in talent.
Joseph Bertrand was below average in talent.
2010:
You have Jereme's freshman year which was solid but that's it. A solid year production wise and gone.
Crandall Head.. Moving on.
Meyers was your typical big frosh but had a very solid sophomore year. Would definitely have been Weber's 1a or 2b recruit with BP.
2011:
Mike Shaw: Not a big ten player
Langford: Not a big ten player
Djmide: Not a big ten player
Myke Henry: Average big ten player? Needed time to get there and couldn't expect immediate results but could have been above average junior and senior years? Somewhat similar trend to BP which is fine if we have anything from 2010/2011?
Abrams: Below average big ten player
Nnanna Egwu: Below average big ten player
2012: Nobody
2013: Hill (we'll give him Hill who looks like he will be arguably the 3rd or 4th best player Weber got in 5 years and one of 4-5 average/above average big ten players)
Agree/disagree and if so why? I think I'll take the most flak for calling DJ Richardson an average big ten player but that's exactly what he was. Big ten freshman of the year but pretty much peaked in every way possible and his game never expanded. I'll argue all day long Abrams and Egwu are below average big ten starters but would be very good energy/hustle guys off the bench.
Henry.. You can be more patient with if Jereme Richmond is still here.. Brandon Paul.. First two seasons weren't great but he got better and had above average production as a junior and senior.. Which kind of reaffirms why you try to stack guards in multiple classes too.. Behind Nunn/Hill (if you want to call him that) who will be here the next two years at the 2/3 we have JCL and Jordan who will have time to settle into roles as frosh/sophomores...
As much focus as there was about Weber not being able to get a point guard his class balance was just atrocious too. Too many players we didn't multiple year production from that would be considered above average and then we over rely on freshman.. The 2009 class was acceptable judged by itself but the 2010/2011 classes were just a debacle purely from a production standpoint.
