Tyger by the tail
Rumor, speculation and more...
*Rumor, speculation and general innuendo in regard to Illini news...
-Tyger Campbell UCLA point guard 'declared' for the NBA draft recently....'source' (AAU coach with reported strong ties to Campbell family) speculates 'if Tyger doesn't stay in the draft, Illinois has a good shot if he plays college next season'......Campbell friendship with a couple of current Illini players/good NIL offer (talk to mama)....key to 'the deal'.....'Even though he played four seasons, Campbell could have come back for one more year because of the eligibility extensions granted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.' (courtesy Los Angeles Times)
-Wing Terrence Shannon Jr. also 'declared' for the NBA draft last week...information is that barring a huge upgrade from NBA scouts....Shannon returns to play for Illinois next season.
-Illini forward Coleman Hawkins another 'declaring' for the NBA draft...consensus seems to be 'unless he (Hawkins) is awful working out for the NBA'....Hawkins staying in the draft.
-Purdue got a hoops transfer commitment from guard Lance Jones out of Southern Illinois....Salukis reportedly won't miss Jones but will miss Illini transfer pickup Marcus Domask....'Shooter, understands the game, good teammate not an idiot' word from Carbondale on the 6-foot-6 senior.
-Know three Illini boosters involved in the Matthew Mayer NIL....not happy about their return can't blame 'em, 'will give it another chance' hopefully Domask gives 'better return' on investment.
-Speaking of SIU...Former Illini player/assistant Jerrance Howard supposedly a 'candidate' for an assistant job in Carbondale...sounds like a 'rumor' Jerrance would have started....left his assistant job at Texas last fall to 'pursue other opportunities' (nice way to say he was fired?).....you know his old boss Bruce Weber won't recommend Howard...if you remember that odd Weber rant one of his last press conferences about 'dirty recruiting'....all directed towards Jerrance 'how he did business'...Jerrance story...Weber worried about how to keep five-star recruit Jereme Richmond under control once he got on campus in Champaign....Howard told the head coach, 'don't worry, I am tight with Jereme he listens to me...I will be his big brother' keep him in line HA HA HA....first time Howard got after Richmond about screwing up, freshman reportedly yelled back at the assistant, 'Why should I listen to you? You smoke more weed than me....out at the bars more than I am'....'youngster' wasn't lying.....safe to write as long as Josh Whitman is athletic director at Illinois, Howard won't have any role in the hoops program
-Bret Bielema's Illini staff recently offered a scholarship to Chandler (AZ.) 2024 defensive back prospect Kennedy Urlacher....Kennedy the son of Bears Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher....have a hard time thinking B. Urlacher wants his kid playing in the same state his mother lives in but that's me.....courtesy offer.
-Me? Pay little attention to the 'top 25' in-state football recruit list judge Illini recruiting class by who they signed off it....look more at how Illinois football recruiting does in their 'wheelhouse' areas they hit...places Illini historically have recruited well/areas strong ties to currently....keep track of staff does with recruits in the Chicago Public League, St. Louis (especially Illinois side) south/southwest suburbs of Chicago, east central/central down to southern Illinois and central down to south Florida....Bielema's staff does well in those areas, will have a solid recruiting class in 2024.
-Still feel Illini football will work hard at picking up an offensive line (kingdom for an experienced center), running back, defensive line depth and possibly 'big' wide receiver with the spring transfer portal now open.
-Derrick Burson named Illini sports information director recently replacing retiring Kent 'Autograph' Brown....Burson good dude, hard worker can believe what he tells you....old timers in the DIA nicknamed Brown 'Autograph' years ago cause, 'all he really started to care about was getting his shit signed by celebrities at Illinois games, picture taken (with them)'....Brown at Illinois forever knew where all the bodies buried why he was able to hang on to that 'job' so long.
*Three Illini 2024 football recruiting targets that have caught my eye...
-Trever Jackson quarterback Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange High School-Illini Jackson's first power five offer....C-USA/AAC schools have offered...bear with me, Jackson very similar athletically to former Illini QB Eddie McGee same build/athletic ability but with better arm/instincts/accuracy....'under the radar' type hope Illini can get an early commitment from before he hits the college camp circuit 'blows up'.
-Austin Alexander cornerback Chicago Heights Marian Catholic High School-school in the Illini recruiting wheelhouse....skinny cover cornerback that committed to Paul Chryst's Badger program last year before de-committing after staff fired....majority of Big Ten have offered.....supposed to visit Illinois this weekend....fits perfectly into the Illinois defensive scheme man coverage scheme.
-Karsen Konkel tight end Pinckneyville (Ill.) High School-6-foot-6, 230-pounder recently offered by Illinois....Indiana Hoosiers have offered....excellent hands/burst/knee bend.....can play either tight end/defensive end with the frame to bulk up play d-tackle...versatile....reminds of a John Mackovic era prospect that staff developed so well...stood out on his HUDL highlights lateral agility, able to take on, get off a block catch seal the edge make the tackle....another prospect in the Illini recruiting wheelhouse.