This is the five 5* lineup, IMO.
Tre White is also a high 4* talent so it's hard to get upset at him playing.
I struggle with the right words to say this but guys like Ayo and Kofi were essentially 3-year guys that were 4*, top 50 players. TSJ was another 4* talent that developed over multiple seasons.
We almost never have gotten 5* freshmen in the last two decades of Illinois basketball recruiting. Dee Brown was that. Deron was a 4* type comparable to Ayo and Kofi. Jereme Richmond was that but mentally was a 1*.
From what I can tell, not only do we have 5 elite newcomers, but they have 5* attitudes. You see KJ incredibly engaged on the bench when he's not playing and working until 2 AM in the gym when he loses. This is a 1-year player from another country who seems more committed than almost anyone. Ivisic is willing to play any role that is needed in terms of usage rate and playmaking vs shooting. Morez is communicating so well. Riley doesn't let his shooting slump affect his effort level and doesn't pout about coming off the bench even as a projected first rounder. Boswell is 100% bought in on defense and is clearly leading the newer guys with less experience. Tre White is taking criticism and accountability and looking like a different player than he was at Louisville.
This group is really something special and it's a roster that I'd never thought we'd be able to put together at Illinois. I've talked for years about "leveling up" the talent and recruiting and it took a different approach than I expected (going international.)
We might not see it every night but these 30+ point demolitions of other teams are not going to stop happening. I think we should be super excited about the prospect of getting to watch these guys for the next 2-3 months.
