Illini Zip

Garvin Clarke, Kobe Mitchell and Prince Mosengo depart. Zips add Shammah Scott.

Here’s a close up. https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1597943666064076801/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1597943666064076801&currentTweetUser=FIBA

Twitchy is a great adjective. Afraid I’m going to have to steal that one. Ha!!

Understood.

Thanks. That’s too bad.

Scott also has a floater.

I see a player who can create for himself and has a quick release. Works for me. I am thinking he starts out at the off-guard position, but in time likely plays all 3 guard spots. If he played one year at a Juco and one at Wichita State he has 3 years of eligibility left, correct?

Scott (#1 red) vs. Clarke (#1 gold) in high school.

Not sure what is going on with Wichita State, but they had 8 players transfer out last year and another 4 players hit the portal this year.

I agree. Also, I expect Marvin to play immediately at the 3 and 4. Groce likes his small forwards. Ali and Malcolm Hill (Illinois) both played right away.

A bit strange that Garvin Clarke helped recruit Sammy Hunter with the Bahamas connection and now Garvin is leaving.

My guess is 2 immediate impact guards and a high school big likely to red shirt.

I am hoping/thinking Groce and Company release players into the portal in order of the least productive and as replacements are landed. Which would mean they might already have two players lined up and believe they can make the team better yet. We didn't get to see much of Kobe Mitchell and Prince Mosengo, but we did have an idea of Garvin Clarke's value. So his release should give us a gage of how the recruiting process is playing out behind the scenes. My theory anyway.

And Michigan State will be the only Big Ten team in the Sweet Sixteen out of 8 teams sent. Worse than I predicted.

Maybe the head coach leaving had something to do with it. 🤷‍♂️ https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/report-arkansas-state-fires-head-mens-basketball-coach-mike-balado/ar-AA18IeMa

Random thoughts; I think Amani Lyles was brought in to play the Camron Reece role. Slightly undersized power forward with great strength, physicality and athleticism for rebounding. Even if he develops a shot from range, his bread and butter will be dominating the lane. Darrion Baker, I have penciled in as Sammy’s replacement at the stretch 4. And I am hopeful we use the two open scholarships on a shooting guard and a legit shot blocker like Aziz would have been.

That sounds familiar. So that would be a new permanent rule change then. I thought it was just a COVID adjustment. Thanks.

Wouldn’t he have to sit out a year?

I just want Garvin to be more of a scoring threat. And he needs to eliminate the occasional lazy pass turnover and running straight into a shot blocker under the rim. Otherwise he is developing nicely.

Marvin Musiime-Kamali? 🤞🤞🤞

My best guess is that Mosengo was recruited over with incoming power forward, Darrion Baker. But I have no rationale as to why.

I agree. Call me cautiously optimistic. Groce had a point guard at Illinois named Tracy Abrams who was never quite the same after rehab.

I find that encouraging pertaining to Dawson’s health.

I think you already answered it. Do the players want it? Some guys enjoy each other and competing so much that they don’t want it to ever end. Sometimes missing out on a trip to the dance is too big of a disappointment and they lose heart. The experience would definitely help the young players.

I agree, I would definitely give NWAkron’s right arm for such a player.