Illini Zip

Zips add Prince Mosengo.

What do we know about Michael Wynn? The last I heard he entered the transfer portal. We might have one scholarship left. I will update the chart sometime today.

Five years ago I came onto this forum and congratulated you all on the hire of Coach Groce. After showering Groce with similar praise I believe @clarkwgriswold asked me if I was a member of his family. Ha!! As the founding member of the Homers for Groce Association I am very pleased to see the ranks have swelled to new heights. But not the least bit surprised. Go Zips!!

I thought there was already a dedicated strength and conditioning coach. I was asking about it anyway. Great news all the way around.

Zips add Trendon Hankerson.

Zips add Sammy Hunter.

I am leaning towards Ali maybe wanting to be closer to home in Indiana. And I bet, Groce sold Ali on Matta and Matta on Ali. I think it could be a great fit for Ali. Best of luck to him. Now hit the gym and the protein shakes young man.

I think The Pointer Sisters sang about this back in the day. "I need a Center with a soft hand, I need a Zip with an easy touch."

Aziz Bandaogo departs.

I agree with that. But Ali had carried the team in games and this was the season finale. I am just wondering if there is more to it. That's all.

I will say I am surprised by the news of Ali leaving. But I did notice that Ali was absent in the UCLA post-game interview. Granted Ali didn't have his best performance and you have to give UCLA some credit for that. But it's the last game of the season and one of your team leaders is back in the locker room? Might mean nothing.

Ali Ali and Sekou Sada Kalle depart.

When was the last time a MAC team achieved this accomplishment? Did Buffalo a few years ago?

This is something I have been thinking about lately. I do think our Zips will continue to improve next year and have plenty of success. But they are now the hunted. Expect to get everyone's best effort.

I agree. That is a great moment between player and coach. On a side note, I mentioned Groce's first year team in a previous post and completely forgot about Eric Parrish. I really liked him. Too bad it didn't work out.

I am looking at Jacob Tracey's Verbal Commit page. Are you certain this is a commit and not just an offer?

Jeremy Harris was a hybrid like Ali. He is actually smaller than Ali. But those are SF/Stretch 4 skills in your video. Allow me to go to what I know. Illinois under Groce. Michael Finke, #43 (6-10", 230 lbs.) was an awesome stretch 4. He could post up, drive, pass, pick and pop and drill it consistently from behind the arc.

OP Position? I understand pinning something, but have never done it. I just need someone to tell me what to do.

Nate Johnson: https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/nate-johnson/X-dcicsyEeeT-Oz0u-e-FA/default.htm I suggest anyone interested to revisit the "2021 Offers" page under Basketball Recruiting. There might be more there.

Kobi Mitchell:

Not sure if this is going to work, but here is my post on Prather Jr.

It surprises me how close these stat lines are to each other. This team is already closing in on the 2019-2020 gang which had such amazing team chemistry. What I see so far In the highlights, but time will tell; Prather Jr. is a strong bodied guard like Dawson. Will play the wing or 4 spot in a 4 guard line up. Kobi Mitchell is a pure shooting guard, 2 guard like Banks. Not sure what he brings on Z-Fence yet. But he hits his 3 pointers. According to Groce, Nate Johnson is a versatile guard who can play all 3 guard spots. He's a shorter Tyler Cheese in the making.

Thanks guys. I do appreciate the kind words. Do you believe it has been 5 years already? It feels like yesterday that we were watching Duvivier, Ivey, Utomi, Cotton, Patton and JPoke. Groce recently brought up Lucas Smith. I remember joking at the time, somebody hurry back to the rec. center and see who else you can find. I didn't even know where Akron, Ohio was back then. Of course I had heard of it. Now I know Zippy is a girl. I recently read that your motto is "Blue Collar. Gold Standard.", which I really like. I also know that @NWAkron is deathly afraid of the T-shirt cannon. Groce just killed Buffalo. I know you play games in a J.A.R. and everyone hates the running track. I have learned so, so much already. Too much to itemize, but most importantly is that the future is indeed bright in Akron!! It's 8:48 on Sunday morning and...

I have to admit, this does concern me about Tavari. Tavari, Ali and Aziz have to eat nothing but pizza, pasta and protein shakes this Summer. That should do it.

Thank you. @LZIp I'm not happy with Illinois lately, but that is a long boring story. Just as Groce does more with less than any coach I know, Underwood does less with more. Still my Big Ten team, but I spend more time over here these days. You are all my kind of people. Thanks for having me. Go Zips!!