[Music] good good Wednesday morning welcome into the Alana enquire podcast we are live on our YouTube channel thanks to everybody for joining us over there give us a like subscribe to us hit the notifications Bell wherever you are we appreciate it uh we could do one of these it feels like every day now uh since it is not the off season it is transfer portal season and nobody has been over it uh and covering it as well as Derek Piper our own from Ali inquire.com Derek good morning how is the uh offseason treating you so far it's not off uh but it's been wild so uh yeah it's been good it's in Vil it's something to to cover every day but it it's been a whirlwind as expected but when it hits you then you actually know you're in it so um there's a lot to talk about for sure yeah we have a new commitment for Illinois Trey white out of Louisville via USC former top 50 Prospect a couple years ago we'll talk about that we'll talk about a big name that we expected to hit the portal at some point and he did kylin B as well some visits upcoming for Illinois uh we'll hit on AJ store and get to some of your questions throughout this send in those questions super chats we appreciate all those we'll get to all that today we'll try to keep it to 40 45 minutes or under that we'll try to but there is certainly a lot to talk about and first erk it is Trey white this one popped up it seemed like Illinois worked this one quietly but six foot7 he's a playmaker he played mostly the four at Louisville you could call him a little bit of a wing because the way he can handle it uh but why did Illinois make Trey white who averaged 12.6 rebounds at Louisville a priority was an all freshman team guy at USC averaging nine and five as a true freshman started 55 games his first two years why was he in a line priority and what does he bring yeah it definitely was one that was worked in stealth mode by Tim Anderson and there wasn't a lot of Buzz out there about him his name first came up and I've been familiar with him him when he was a high school Prospect play with the m irin fire I know he's from Texas but obviously has a connection to Chicago in some way to play with them and was at one time of a five-star when he first popped up on 247's rankings he was number 10 in the country so U and that's kind of speaking to why Illinois was really intrigued is his upside and someone that at USC like you mentioned pretty darn good player on a winning team 22 wins for USC that year went to the tournament I think he was third in scoring uh and as a freshman you give nine 10 points a game five boards and play the way that he did I think that that was putting him in a all League all freshman team out there and uh from what I heard that kind of popped him up on the the NBA radar a little bit not to say that he was going to get drafted after year one but that he he was someone that people were taking notice of and if he takes the next step that he could be a Bonafide NBA Prospect now he didn't necessarily do that at Louisville he goes to a a bad situation takes some bad shots that whether he was part of the problem or he was just influenced by what was a one of the biggest messes if not the biggest mess in college basketball last year now Neal's probably up there too and probably every year but um shot selection was something for him but on the positive side he's a guy that as you see there goes to the glass that's a strength of his for sure he's got athleticism he's got good size at 67 205 and can do a number of different things I know they like his mid post game that's something that you watch some of the film and you see him backing guys down and and being able to play out of that it's kind of right here mid post ISO that looks pretty familiar right as far as Marcus mask now can he pass out of that he doesn't have a lot of assists that's one thing that you'd have to maybe work on that with him if you're going to play some booty Ball but can make plays off the dribble too he's someone that can get to the rim but also as you see uh W with that well he's not a great three-point shooter 20 29% on his career Two attempts a game his metrics say he's a really really good mid-range shooter that he's actually pretty darn good in that 17 18 foot range um so it's someone that you saw last year how much they like positional size and and just being big defensively and creating mismatches I think he can play he probably is a three4 we'll see how the the rest of the additions go I think that we I know we'll talk about AJ store here later we probably talk AJ store every day for a podcast but uh if you add him he's the three maybe Trey's the four we'll see how that goes because there's there's still a number of moving pieces here but I think it's someone that the evaluation from Illinois standpoint is someone that's hungry that kind of went to a situation that wasn't good for him last year and wants to be in a winning culture wants to be somewhere that's going to develop him get the most out of him and the best version of Trey white should be a pretty darn good player yeah I think you got two sides of this right like there's already really high four in this player like he is a starting High major player uh one for a winning team at USC one for a really bad team in Louisville but he's been a double digit scorer five six rebound guy in his two years his freshman and sophomore year so you know you got a really good contributor at at the worst part there the other parties are still upside here um he's a former number 35 Prospect in what the class 2022 um and if if NBA teams took notice him at us see like Illinois obviously sees something that they can unlock even more in him there's potential multiple years of Eligibility here as well that Illinois needs guys not only for next year but they need guys they can build around too like you got tan Shannon for two years you had Coleman Hawkins for four years like you're you're missing some guys who were pillars of your program so uh the skill you can see right like he can catch and shoot and catch and shoot opportunities who's 35% from three the mid-range he shoots about 44 45% which is really good you can see maybe he can operate in booty ball he has not a proven passer though so he'd have to do that but he can finish at The Rim six7 I don't know if he's an elite athlete Derek but he's a good athlete as we're seeing on the screen right here I don't I've heard he's not a very good Defender uh from from Louisville people but you feel like he should have some versatility with his length I imagine Brad Underwoods G demand that out of him so it's hard to evaluate out of what a mess of a program Louisville was but Illinois must have heard good things must know good things that this guy's GNA be bought in and that he realized I can't just go someplace and get stats I need to go someplace and make a winning impact so they must have seen something he has transferred twice in two years here he's been this will be his third School in three years that can always raise a red flag but Illinois must have done some homework and found out some things that they think this kid's got his mind on right yeah and I would say that they did based on what I've heard and it it did take some good Intel for them to trust that he was the right fit now Tim's known him for a while like you go back to aaou and playing m ir and fire obviously Tim being with mean streets and at the Paul Chicago Connections that there's a a long-term long-standing at least a number of years relationship there I know that Brad also has has long liked him as a prospect and what he could be so I I think it is kind of a bet on who he could be come but they they did need to to dig into whether it was and it sounds like they touched base with some NBA people and how they they saw him why was he popping up on the radar what did they think of him and yeah I will say to follow up and just add another log on the the defensive side like I think Illinois would even tell you in evaluating what he did last year he didn't didn't guard anybody so um I I I don't know I like you look at this guy he's a good athlete he's long he's he's versatile like I I think that guy should be able to guard two through four at the very least he should be pretty capable at the defensive end with his length with the way that he moves and again it's it's hard to know on the outside of it was was it just Louisville was non-competitive and I'm sure it would have been easy to to quit I Kenny Payne got fired on Twitter like eight times last year uh before it actually happened so uh I'm sure the outside noise and just the the losing and whatnot was hard to uh be able to stay focused and committed too but at the same time there probably isn't a mindset change that needs to happen out that to just give an example like quiny G kind of lost his rebounding motor at Oregon and really was something that he got away from and then Brad was able I know his inconsistency popped up later portions of of last year but I think yo feels like they can get the most out of people that can motivate people and Trey should be motivated because he's someone that if he wants to reach where he can actually go he's only got two more years to do that so um they felt like he was in the right state of mind and ready to to embrace some accountability and what it takes to to get the most out of him and we'll talk about this but like he should have more just open Catch and shoot opportunities if lands the lead guard the extra guard the wing that they want to where he's not having to shoot as much off the bounds so I do think that three-point percentage could go up for him if he's just you know a catch and shoot kind of guy that can also dribble off the bounds two things I've noticed they got they've had two players in the transfer portal so far here Derek Jake Davis and Trey white both have mostly played the four both have size and offensive ability some defensive questions what does this tell you about the roster building so far and just the vision they have this offseason yeah I think that's a good question I would say again positional size is something that they definitely want um offensive versatility and ability I mean Jake Davis why they really liked him they thought he was one of the best movement Shooters in all of college basketball like being able to come off actions and and shoot and to be able to do a little bit off the dribble they gota they got to work on that for sure but yeah there's there's some some questions defensively I I think that for him Illinois loved that he was so bought into a role like he he was a guy that that's what worked so well last year part of what worked so well is that when they identified people in the portal they had additions that were not trying to overplay what Illinois needed out of them now damask was someone they they they got a lot more than they envisioned and probably even sold him on but just the way the the chemistry of the team worked together you had to have players that would be okay coming off the bench players that were about winning and and and selfless so uh I think with Davis they they definitely realized that and they want to go get shooting make no mistake about it um outside of Trey white like that's a question with him but um you know Dante Maddox and that type of thing I think they believe Circle back they believe that they can make Trey white a decent Defender so I think just in general they want another big team positional size maybe some switch ability out there with a guy like Trey and they're not I mean the number of pieces they want like we're going to talk about it as far as the visits and whatnot but they're involved as the stretch four they're involved with potential adding a five they're involved with multiple guards I think they're they're having a lot of players and pieces that they are very interested in if not want to flat out go get and um obviously there are spots to to fill but I think there are there is a question too of how do they make all this work which I don't doubt them getting that done it's just interesting yeah this was an intriguing take for me at this time Derek because you know they still want probably two guards and a wing and a forward that's four more players uh they currently have three scholarships open I mean I I don't know who it would be you know people can speculate whatever I I think they're counting on another scholarship opening here just the way they're acting like Trey white to me is another front Court piece um you know he could play maybe three a little bit but he's really A four a skilled four so uh that that says to me that another piece could open up here so I know people counting scholarships the way they're acting the guys they're getting on campus and the guys they're going after it still feels like there's know four pieces they want to add to this roster yep fully agree with with that and player meetings ongoing this week uh I I know that we had Luke goody on the radio yesterday he said that later this week he'll have his sincer had his and put out a tweet that uh maybe indicates that he has interest in coming back I wouldn't say that it's firm and final as far as that goes and I mean I've seen I've seen some stories saying he has announced his return like I don't know I I know he tweeted something with il and a highlight video I I didn't say I am returning I just didn't get that I didn't get a press release I didn't get anything like that so you never know I mean Brandon paj jimsky didn't say anything until three weeks in and Illinois had added some pieces Y and uh sinere last year tweeted I'm coming back and then deleted it uh so we'll see how that goes I think that everybody and look this isn't just you know unique to Illinois I think that with the portal window open with coaching staff's going out there and trying to see who they can get and can they upgrade certain positions filling needs whatnot I think it's fluid I think it's fluid for who will can get I think it's fluid for the players on the roster who are having the ability to return to say whether they see themselves in a certain situation or how their playing time might uh be affected by that and then obviously if they need to make room they they got to flat out make room so the the portal window to enter is still through May 1 I think that there's still obviously potential and a likelihood that a spot maybe two will come open but uh it probably is dependent the number of that is dependent on who Illinois can get can say this I'm not saying this is a bad thing Brad Underwood is pretty ruthless when it comes to upgrading his roster like if he can upgrade he's gonna try and upgrade over you um which has led to wins for him but like I know we're used to like I'd like to see this freshman become the sophomore become the junior Brad Underwood's not guaranteeing that to anyone it doesn't sound like Derek that you know just from what we hear like he's guaranteeing these huge roles to everybody's saying you got to compete for this spot and that's part of being what Illinois is now like we we have set the expectation that we compete for Big 10 championships we can get to the second weekend of the tournament we want to play for national championships like we're not we're not just gonna hand a spot to a guy because we like you uh we we we want you to be the best player we want to be the best team no doubt it's work for him obviously uh there's that I would say that big time programs Through The Years Don't probably think a whole lot about especially unproven guys guys that have been bench players guys that were high school recruits and and for his highly touted as maybe they were you know we how many times we've seen guys go into Kentucky and not play and then have to transfer out and uh I just feel like that's how top tier teams have operated they just stack talent and see who is able to really show themselves to be worthy of of playing time and let it work out let the guys that fall by the wayside do it and um I think it's also maybe a counter punch to earlier uh there was Adam Miller guy that probably got some assurances or just year one opportunity didn't pull him out of the starting lineup because I'm sure they didn't want to upset him not that he wasn't a bad you know wasn't a good player on that that one seed team but he had some struggles at times and they played him 25 minutes 26 minutes started him every game and he transferred and skot Clark and Jaden neps were sharing the starting point guard role and both left so I think that's kind of the the way that Brad has maybe shifted or just approach roach where you can give guys everything they would want and they could still leave you so on the flip side Brad's going to get the guys that he wants and let that let that just play out as it will is the flip side of player freedom to move right is coaches have freedom to upgrade over you immediately like at any time and that's kind of what we're in right now and it's it's a business for both sides Jack I I understand the question any speculation who would be leaving listen what we're talking about is they can upgrade they have two guys returning right now Derek who have played more than 10 minutes a game last year Luke goody and Ty Rogers anyone else like is unproven at this point so while I like the idea of Amman hansbury and Dre Gibbs law horn and those guys have said the right things to this point and I I like the idea of you know nicoo Moretti being this change up point guard like bred under was trying to upgrade and uh I think any of those guys they're probably gonna be interested in the next couple weeks to see what uh Illinois adds to the rest of the roster speaking of that Derek this move to get Trey white does it have any impact do you think on the wings they're going after in AJ store egga OA or anyone else I don't think so especially AJ store they're still going to be very very much pursuing him as the top guy on their board in my opinion and it's one that maybe will take longer to play out you could say that in a in a way Trey could be a little bit of of AJ store Insurance not to say that he's going to be he they're different players like Tre is not going to be the the wing score that you need run stuff through get him 12 to 15 shots a night type of type of guy but it is someone with with good size athleticism upside and whatnot uh but with store I think he wants to go through the NBA draft process not to say he couldn't decide on the place that he would go if he does go back to school um so I I think illino from Illinois standpoint Trey white do not change at all how they go after AJ store I still think they like oo away a good amount and he'd be a guy that definitely brings a lot of defensive prowess for sure uh his offense isn't as prolific as AJ store but he's capable like he he shot really well on catch and shoot uh he can do some things especially in transition going to the basket so I I've been told that Trey white doesn't really change anything as far as who we already knew they were going after in terms of guards in terms of another Wing in terms of stretch four and all those things so um that's just what I've heard uh we got a question from Kenneth and I think it's relevant what if D Marcus Damas comes back uh could potentially and it sounds like he will apply for a waiver for hardship uh for the injury that he had during the pandemic season now he got that season for free we've talked about it here Derek like I I don't think there's a lot of optimism but you shoot your shot you hope you can get the Alex pesy thing here it's a different case but uh what do you make of of the Marcus damasque it seems like they're not counting on that the way they're going about their offseason here no they're not holding their breath for sure now they are keeping the the door open because who wouldn't want that guy back a first team all big 10 player and uh I do think that you can make it work like just because say you go get a point guard it doesn't mean that that point guard then doesn't matter if if Marcus deas comes back now of course he was very involved in initiating offense with booty ball and everything so uh bottom line from the outside it looks like Illinois doesn't have or Marcus I should say probably um doesn't have a a great case to get that six year of of ability to play but you never know what the in is so I think they're keeping the door open and you make it work if he can come back but as of right now I don't I don't foresee it being super likely that he does and and maybe if if that happens it wouldn't be a total shock if somebody they add says well this changes how I thought about things I'm I'm leaving and I think I don't think that like a transfer that's in the portal I don't know that you're necessarily out of the portal until like you arrive on campus so um that even it was past the May 1 date when it come we have no idea when the in BL is going to rule on Marcus damask they could maybe then open it back up and and go somewhere else so um that's kind of the the short of it is probably not super likely as far as I could see it but uh you wait and see what the in says and Jimmy no we have no timeline a Marcus to mass they do not spell that out they do not you know update us uh they usually don't update schools all that much uh so we'll find out when Illinois finds out all right let's talk I say is if they if they deny it he's gonna appeal it so that would just prolong it even more and uh see where that goes but it could take a while especially if the initial answer is no but if Marcus damask wants to be back he will be back like Illinois will welcome him back with open arms as one of the best players in the Big 10 and really one of the best in college basketball when you think about it all right kylin Boswell Carrie Booth Dante Maddox we'll talk about all those guys coming up but first let's hear from one of our great sponsors this episode of the Anana inquire podcast is brought to you by better help what's the first thing you do if you had an extra hour of your day go for a run take a nap read a book show up for a friend a lot of us spend our lives wishing we had more time the question is time for what if time was unlimited how would you use it the best way to squeeze that special thing in your schedule is know what's important to you and make it a priority therapy can help you find what matters to you so you can do more of it if you're thinking of starting therapy give better help a try it's entirely online designed to be convenient flexible and suited to your schedule just fill out a brief questionnaire to get match with the licensed therapist and switch therapists at any time for no additional charge learn to make time for what makes you happy with betterhelp visit betterhelp.com align today to to get 10% off your first month that's betterhelp hp.com Ali all right Derek Piper last time we were on the Pod or you were on the Pod you talked about kylin Boswell as a potential portal entry and finally it happened took a little bit longer than people thought but uh Jaden Bradley was phenomenal freshman stole some of his playing time weight in the season but kylin Boswell champagne native uh which which did you play Urbana Middle School Urbana okay um and obviously Illinois recruited him heavily as a five-star Prospect a couple years ago he reclassified into the class of 2022 he started a lot of games for a really good team at Arizona about nine points shot 37% from three at Arizona last season some inconsistency uh to his game that Arizona fans will certainly tell you about but just he's still 18 he's he's a sophomore with a grown man's body he turns 19 in late April here um so what is sincere Harris like two years older than kylin Boswell or almost three years older unbelievable but um Eric bossy 247 Sports National Rider put in a crystal ball last night for Illinois to land Boswell what do you think and why do you think this is a good match I think again as far as upside goes and you go back to the high school recruitment someone that was part of USA Basketball Junior national team highly regarded five-star those type of things went to college early and I don't know that he necessarily regrets doing that but it was a tough it's tough to go into college especially that level and on the type of team that he was on at like 17 years old so uh but the the upside for him and when he's at his best is really really good like you you see the game that he had at Duke uh early in the season had some really good moments in the in the Pack 12 but like you said he was inconsistent he does shoot the three really well even with a a kind of a slide late down the stretch and and that's where really I think the the noise around Arizona fans and kind of making him the the one to blame for not having the season they ultimately thought they were gonna have um he he didn't he didn't put up good numbers I think he was double figures once in his last five or six games and uh really went dry from three but even with that he shot like 37% from Beyond The Arc so uh that shows how good he is as a shooter he's got a a really strong build um not the maybe quickest guy I think maybe you can tap in a little bit you want to lean him up a little bit to try to make him a little bit quicker but uh he's someone that's good in pick and rolls as you can see there he's a guy that can play Spot up I think he can be a decent Defender especially with his physicality and a fresh start could be really good for him that's I I've heard that a lot I do think that uh he has to take some monus in that like it's it's not just that hey Arizona was bad for him or or anything like that he's he's got some maturing to do but kind of add another reference to it like he turns 19 next week Trent Frasier was like 19 as soon as he showed up on campus as a freshman so uh the idea that he does need to to mature or just grow or whatnot uh those are things that aren't super surprising based on how how young he still is so uh to have two years of high major experience to play on really good teams and to see him starting on last year's team even through a little bit of struggle shows what Arizona thought of him Arizona didn't want to lose him like they were trying to keep him uh Tommy Lloyd and Company and at one point uh maybe thought they were going to but I think that from Illinois standpoint I I think with his family the connections back to Champagne I I believe and I've heard that the idea that Illinois would be a big-time option was was on the Family's mind when they were making their decisions so him popping in the portal I think that kind of aligns with what boss's probably thinking and what a lot of people are probably thinking is that coming home a spot that has a point guard opening andh could be could be a match after the uh the second try man a Junior League guard who Derek is kind of known for his um competitiveness for his ability to score at all three levels like he's got this big body can can kind of bully himself to the rim uh can get to the free throw line shoots at a higher rate um he doesn't get to in the free throw line probably enough but really good three-point shooter this is this is as good of a compliment like there's times you watch him and he like there's some Jaylen Brunson there like there there's just some of that kind of uh lead guard mentality and Marcus damask was unbelievable it's hard to find another one of those so to to get like there's a lot of value here sure there's some risk because he had some inconsistency issues but at 19 years old year 19 of what he'll be playing uh potential multi-year guy like they know him extremely well I mean they recruited him they recruited Trey white so they the high school recruiting pays off sometimes in this transfer Port just because you have some background and knowledge of these guys I think he'd just be a big-time addition in one of your best players next year 100% agree and I think that from the maturity standpoint you know new new scenery but also going back to a place where there's a lot of family around him could could help him to to be a little bit more accountable as far as that goes a little bit more dialed in and just just grow as a as a as a young a young man and someone that's in college basketball and um similar though to Trey white even though he's still a young Prospect like he's a guy that two years of Eligibility left he needs to start getting on that path because he does have BigTime Pro upside potential I'm not saying he's gonna be a lottery pick or anything but he could be an NBA draft pick if he figures it out so I I think that he could be I know I was listening to uh your podcast with troter and I fully agree like he could be one of the best guards in the Big 10 if only I can really tap into who he can be so uh I think that again shooting pick and roll uh being able to set the table for other guys and just also maybe he does booty ball some people you know Jaylen Brunson at Villanova was an ability if he saw a smaller guard that he wanted to take into the post he did that a lot I think kylin can do that and uh I think it'd be a really really good addition I'm I know that there are some out there and look it's when you when you have transfers and guys that maybe haven't there's a reason they're not transferring to the NBA draft like there's going to be some reasons that has things haven't gone perfectly um so you're going to hear different things um some would say that kylin you know whatever reservations about about him and and taking some of the the Intel or just what Arizona fans have said about him but I would be thrilled with him if I was Illinois personally I think that they obviously really really want him yeah like 247 Sports has not given him the rating quite yet I know Adam felstein has a really good scouting report on 247 Sports search kyin Boswell and you can see his transfer scouting report and I think it's a lot of things we've talked about he's gonna be a top 30 transfer like so that that's what we're talking about here and that kind of talent Illinois needs talent and to get somebody that's experienced at that high level and was part of a winning program and part of that winning uh I think would be a huge addition uh but ill Illinois the dead period's going to end I believe after today right Derek um so visits are on the horizon here right after uh Thursday after Thursday so this weekend they start visits and uh do you want to go ahead and share who who the first visitor will be here sure yeah Carrie Booth another Dame transfer son of Calvin Booth who former NBA player went uh played at Kentucky and uh another guy that's that's pretty young I think he's still only 18 years old didn't have a great season at Notre Dame you see him being able to step out and make threes and he is a a definite stretch for his percentages from Deep last year weren't fantastic I think he's around 30% maybe even 29 uh but someone that it's another upside play it's another guy that they just love who he can become it's kind of and I know that he was thought of this as a prospect he was I believe a top 50 Prospect in the 23 class but uh a pro just a matter of not if but when Once his body Dev vs and as you really tap into all the skills that he has but he is able to play on the perimeter go off the bounce right there that's pretty nice like I I know we can look at his percentages Derek he shot a little under 40% from the field a little under 30% from three just look at these flashes like as we're running the film here on our YouTube channel like that's what a pro looks like and as you said he's still 18 so keep keep going but you just watch film you're like that guy looks like he could be in the NBA someday right I think it'd be a really good compliment to marz Johnson who is his strengths are what Carrie doesn't necessarily do well is the the nastiness the physicality the rebounding the the ability to play through contact the ability to to hang in the paint uh car wants to play more on the perimeter wants to be more of a stretch four uh has skill to him like the shooting the ability to do some things off the dribble that morz now morz has gotten better as a shooter but it's still not going to be something that he is is great at are really you know stretching the floor so uh I think it's interesting it's probably a conversation in itself but the idea of if you land booth and and I think him coming in as the first visit shows how much they want him it sounds like Alabama's also a pretty big player as well but if you get him kylin obviously Trey white even you could throw in AJ store although if AJ comes to Illinois he's probably thinking uh you know one year and then then go to the league but is this a multi-year potential build like MZ Johnson is is also someone that you know as a sophomore you bring in Jeremiah fears a year from now this could be a really if they go if this is what really comes together for Illinois it's possible that and I know you can never really fully plan for years ahead Beyond just one in the portal era because guys can transfer again but that following year could be really really promising if some of these guys come back and then obviously MZ is a sophomore um Amman if he's still here as a junior and then Jeremiah FS cominging as a freshman you're hitting on a thing that I've been noticing DK um the guys they are targeting most of them uh obviously store's got multiple years of Eligibility but he'd probably be a one-year guy Dante madx we'll talk about here in a second one-year guy um last year was all about just get the most you can out of that roster which included teren Shannon and Coleman Hawkins you didn't know for sure but they had a decent idea that they could have a chance to get those guys back um I think they are gearing up here for the next window which is like a two-year window that's probably all you can really plan for in the portal era and even then you could lose guys right so I think that they're setting themselves up with Trey white potentially two years now if he's great and goes to the NBA after one year phenomenal if AJ store was that way but kyin Boswell I think is a two-year player uh wherever he goes and then Carri boo certainly I think would be a two-year kind of player this year you could compete you can compete in the top of the Big 10 I think you'd make an NCAA tournament with it this kind of group uh but then that next year you could potentially be special no doubt yeah dude shout out to John I said Kentucky for Calvin Booth he went to Penn State yeah and that that helped the connection he was gonna go to to Penn State with shrews and then stick with it and went another name which is we know um Illinois has a connection to Calvin Booth who's the Denver Nuggets GM a former L staffers on his staff uh and with the Denver Nuggets so they have they know the Boost well yep we that a couple games already yeah it could definitely help for sure and just as you're talking to other people the the idea that eyes of an NBA GM are on pretty much all of your games that's not a bad thing uh to think about but yeah two years from now the thought of what that could be again you never fully know because of just how Wild and Free the player movement is right now that guys could come in and then go to another school and not be limited even on multi- transfers and whatnot but uh I do think Brad I don't want to say that his mindset is totally shifted I think he's still someone that is pretty much Allin every year like wants to go far every single year but I think that there there's we'd be ignoring the signs if we weren't saying based on kind of who they're going after and whatnot that maybe it is an ability to put something together that could hold for for two years we saw that uh in previous iterations obviously of Illinois it was a little bit of a different era because we weren't fully all out pedal to the metal nil and pedal to the metal transfer portal but being able to like teren Shannon coming back for another year you mentioned Coleman Hawkins or or the way that you were able to get obviously um IO and Kofi together for multiple years that could really pay dividends if kylin comes in and ultimately needs two years before he goes Pro or uh Trey white needs two years to really prove and show where he can go Cal uh Carrie Booth as well so uh I think it's interesting because you know Xavier Amos from Northern Illinois uh there there's some other older like the uh hum Rick house from Evansville as well who we we like I think the staff really likes one year of Eligibility um the idea that they they really like Boo speaks to his upside but also maybe speaks to the potential of having multiple years of him vers one year of a rental and can I just point out if you zoom out the talent we're of the guys we're talking about here Derek uh kin Boswell was a fstar prospect uh Carrie Booth was a top 70 Prospect Trey white was a top 40 Prospect like these are NBA type guys like that that PE people in the NBA are watching these I mean we know AJ store is is a potential NBA player like you get a lot of these guys we're talking about you're the most talented rosters in the Big 10 and one of the more talented rosters in the country absolutely yeah and that's something that they have they've really raised the bar we've talked about it through the years uh here recently they're running success of raising the bar like look at the guys who were coming off the bench for Illinois this past year you know ammani was a top 50 Prospect uh you know Dre at one time was a was a I think at one time was a five star I know he slipped as his uh High School career went on but you've got some some talented guys you know sincere Harris was fourstar boarding on top 100 decided like I I I'm in a red shirt because Illinois is stacked so Quincy was a top prospect right Quincy was yeah for sure so uh I think that that's obviously a big deal you do need pieces that fit too and I think that I'm not anything that they've done so far any kind of thinking that they have as far as how things would put together like let's just say it flat out like if they get Boswell Dante Maddox AJ store have an option to play you know Trey Wyatt at the four maybe Carrie booth and we know marz the five Amman probably a a five four type of guy maybe they go out and and want another five I wouldn't be shocked if that was the case I think that makes sense but uh the Big 10 could be pretty wide open next year no Zach Ed and um whether it you know say what you want about how Purdue is going to be or what Wisconsin bring back just the idea that Illinois will be talented enough to once again be in the top five of The League is if they get there you know there's still they've only added two pieces they got to go get those those others but that would be um kind of what you're hoping for in terms of consistency of a program yeah I have no idea who's gonna be at the top of the Big 10 check back in a month uh but I think Michigan's gonna be better and I think uh Ohio State's gonna be better so th those programs are are going to get better here so the depth I still think is going to be really really good uh let's mention uh another guy that you've talked to and said he's going to visit the guard Market Derek Illinois is hoping to get this guy on a visit before after he visits another school Dante Maddox from Toledo another Toledo Pursuit that turned your stomach I understand but he goes to Louisville to start off uh his visit to her right after the Dead period he'll be there on Friday uh I know that Jody demling of of cardinal Authority reported that first and then after that Illinois started next week Xavier he told me is a visit that he had locked in after Illinois and then he's also it's been released that he has a top five which also includes those three schools uh in addition to Michigan and kraton so looking into visits for those two places as well I'm sure that Louisville will try to close him this weekend and make sure he goes nowhere else Illinois is very much gonna if he gets to Champagne try to make sure that's his last visit and and close that deal and make sure that's done but a really really good shooter I talked about Jake Davis being great off movement so is Maddox I mean spot up and off movement as well deep range I mean that's an NBA plus three right there 40% on on threes and has some I know he's only 6'2 but uh I know that Michael tulip is pointed out the wingspan uh you know maybe six eight 69ine wingspan strong can can play in the lane uh has been an off ball guy most of his career but after Ray J Dennis left Toledo he then became essentially their point guard last year uh so has an ability to make some plays off the bounds uh improved his assist rate last season I don't think Illinois is pursuing him as their point guard as we talked about kylin Boswell but I do think as a as a combo who can start uh I don't know I mean the way that you gotta probably sell him based on how much others want him and I think just the way Illinois's really gotten to the point of making him a big priority probably got to think of him as as your two guard as a starter and whatnot but I I think he's a really really good player would be a great addition and Illinois uh being for an instate guy and someone that you know I think Tim has been working really hard and just the the staff wants him really bad they've been yeah turn up the heat on that and they definitely hope to get that done yeah my concern would be another school can sell you as being the guy right is he going to be that at Illinois like they could just sell it right now but like I think he and kylin Boswell can play together I know they're short guards at 62 but as you said both have size to them they're they're both bigger bodies with good frames uh and I do think Maddox has some length to him plus if you're surrounding him with a Trey white an AJ store a Ty Rogers MZ Johnson kri Booth like these kind of players am Monty hansbury like they have positional size everywhere else so uh I love him I think he'd be a great one-year player for Illinois just gives you a veteran that can shoot it score it and if you're thinking about the roster You're Building I think think it'd be more I only say this because all five starters scored in double digits it'd be more like Yukon where you're not so reliant on one or two players to do all your scoring I think it'd just be a more balanced attack for Illinois and I just think he's he just plays like a winner man when when you watch him and his ability to score and and make others better so I can see why so many schools really really like him even if he doesn't have probably an NBA ceiling yep fully agree with that son of a high school coach up there in the Chicago area and I think if you're trying to open up the the lane for or you're trying to just open up things for AJ store similar to what you were able to do for teren Shannon this past year having a a guy in a point guard like kylin Boswell it can shoot it off the off the ball have Maddox off the ball to shoot it assuming you can get a higher percentage out of carry Booth if you were to land him uh we know that Luke goody obviously can shoot it uh those are things that can really maximize a downhill player uh which Terren was which AJ can definitely be um he's a shot Creator and it does like I I fully agree I think that it is funny how whoever wins the national title is then like the blueprint like how do you become this team and that happens like that's legit conversations with coaches out there of how do we become like them but Brad loses to Houston he's like I gotta get that I I gotta be that then he loses to UK I gotta get that yeah yep like Kansas was when Kansas won with aaji and and Christian Brown that then became the how do we get big big wings how do we get big wings that can make plays um and create and then put pieces around those maybe even have them as our init initiators and whatnot so uh it's funny how that works but the Yukon thing is uh to have depth a bunch of talent and just guys that can play roles but also just not to have maybe one guy that needs to to get it all and not they only had that last year even though teren had a phenomenal year they did have other capable players but the off defensive balance the just loading up on Talent like Yukon just just loaded up that roster they got talent everywhere um the the REM eater Off the Bench I always go back Samson Johnson or whatever his name is they just got a bunch of talent athleticism and obviously all wants the same I think I said madx out of Rockford that's Marcus Hill and that's AJ store he's out of Chicago Heights went to B Township so uh I just want to correct that before we wrap up here we got some questions Derek but um anything else to monitor moving forward obviously I think we focused on their top targets anything else to monitor as we move ahead these these next couple weeks obviously I think a big week week and a half ahead to to close on some of these top guys yeah I I think some of the priorities have obviously become clear now with with Maddox I think Boswell will be a big one obviously AJ store uh the four spot I think if if they don't get Carri Booth it would be then we go be pivoting back do they get Xavier Amos on campus uh is Ben hum Rick house from Evansville someone they can get in as well I I would still on my radar is still a five like do they find a five that they really like uh to come in and be a rim protector or just how that ultimately works out because I don't think that they're necessarily comfortable with saying MZ you're GNA start for us and play 25 minutes a game like right that's just probably unrealistic you know what I can Envision for morz Johnson as a freshman big man foul trouble yeah right I I have no doubt he's going to be able to hold up he's big boded plays hard like some of the things we like about ammani supercharge with a bigger body maybe more athletic like I think he's gonna translate really well it's just I think he's gonna foul Big 10 level early yeah no I fully agree with that and hand in hand just to speak honestly like I I think that as interesting as who they're going to bring in and and evaluate I think just the reaction of the current roster uh is going to be super intriguing like I I admit like seeing Trey white he's not the same player but Ty Rogers might say hey this is a guy that can do some of the things that I do as far as size athleticism rebounding but he has an offensive game that I that I don't necessarily have I'm not saying you can't find a way to make that work and the Tai becomes inval or not having value or uh things like that but I think that's interesting with him the forwards I mean you're adding all these forwards where's ammani fit in I think ammani can play with k Booth I think he can play with Trey white but the minutes all of a sudden like I think ammani is deserving of a big role at the high major level as a sophomore I think he's a really interesting Prospect um but if they're if they're trying to upgrade like what does he think of that like is he is he fine splitting time with MZ Johnson at the five playing 15 to 25 minutes like I think those are all things we can fairly speculate I'm not saying these guys are leaving or anything like that but you know fans are thinking about it like these guys are thinking about it uh right now so you've talked with Luke goody I think he's pretty locked in I think his role is is going to be there on a team but all these guys we talked about before like they got to be as interested as us in what Illinois is adding and jce Butler certainly was interested in what Illinois was adding I think they're all are for the most part uh I know that uh yeah I think DGL is coming back for sure that seems to be pretty solidified even if they go out and get some guards um things can change though I wouldn't write anything thing in in permanent marker necessarily so uh sincere's another guy admittedly that based on who they add if they bring in uh Maddox they bring in kylin Boswell what that ultimately looks like uh for him um because he's going to be in competition with DGL too Off the Bench and and all that so I I don't blame anybody uh whether you're if you're sitting there on the roster and if you want to come back or how if you're out the door what whatever I think that evaluating your situation is important um even though people don't like uh the idea of of players I think it's it's always an immediate critique when someone's played at multiple schools over a course of two three years and they're like oh that's that's a bad well sometimes sometimes it works out sometimes it works out and that's the best thing for that player like if and then like if ammani wanted to go somewhere if they get Carrie Booth especially if they get a five like I wouldn't blame him one bit if he wanted to then go uh go somewhere else so I I think that it's important though for for Brad and the staff to really feel like to understand and and who they want to make comfortable like do they want to to maybe dial back at one position to make sure that this guy's not going to get upset and leave but for the most part because let's be honest a lot of the guys that could return are are role players that the role players that um you could upgrade from at certain spots for sure and it's not going to hold them back as Brad has shown of of going getting who they want yeah this isn't like you had I dmu's freshman year and you're trying to out recruit him right like or Kofi like those guys you're not going to over recruit but n these other guys have quite proven that 318 says I missed the days when you recruited then you watch you guys grow for four years this is more like free agency no connection with players teams anymore seems all about self I wouldn't put that towards the players though either like it's the coaches too because this has been really good for Illinois this been really good for Brad Underwood so far um you know going to the portal has really really helped him I we could talk about 2223 like it wasn't a success but think if you didn't have teren Shannon or Matthew Meyer on that team like that was a successful portal it was more less successful because you handed the keys to freshman guards who didn't stand stay around uh and you had guys on the wing who just didn't shoot it all that well uh RJ got hurt Luke got hurt so that that plan didn't ultimately get the most success that they wanted but the portal has been extremely successful for Illinois and Brad Underwood and they've been selfish and over recruiting players but I don't blame them because players can be selfish too so I get it Derek it's not the same it's it's different you're not growing up with most of these guys for three4 years and the team grows together Tom ISO certainly loves that approach it's not working for him like it it is not working for him this approach is working for Brad Underwood it's the reason Illinois basketball is successful it's certainly different and I understand some people aren't as idealistic about it it's more like the pr right I I get the the way that you want to have the attachment and it's it's hard like there are people as fans that go out and buy jerseys of of guys and then they're gone the next year and and I I fully understand that and it was fun even as even covering it to see a certain player go through the process of like Coleman Hawkins to be able to cover Coleman Hawkins watch his maturation watch the way that he came into a role it was can I give you a random one Maverick Morgan yeah like that guy would have transferred by a sophomore year nowadays but like he obviously they weren't good teams then so we're talking about the other thing but like seeing him develop into like an impact Big 10 scorer was that's cool to see you're not going to see that probably as much Coleman is the recent exception there for sure yeah it's I so I understand all that but I I do also you know the the portal allowed Illinois in their down year to go to the tournament like in their in their down year where they're a nine seed with Terren and Matthew Meyer to go to the tournament and I think if you take the a look around even in the same era you take a look around the Big 10 see what Michigan's down year looked like see what Indiana's down years have looked like Ohio States like you should feel pretty excited that being able to go into the portal and get what you need can make that look like that or just to be able to reload after you know in a normal roster build and not having the portal when you lose all the Illinois about to lose it could when are you gonna get back to that level when are you gonna get back to having being a second week in team and and how that there would be a real question to that so and I think a lot of people enjoyed watching Terence Shannon Jr he he never comes to Illinois without the portal and you throw nil in there as well yes uh as teams are doing what's best for them so are some play is going to do that it's it's I think from and admittedly for me because I remember what we you know we've done this long enough to you go back seven eight years ago how much High School recruiting that's how we started this site right was like you go into peach jam and covering Jeremiah Tillman and Javon picket and all there's not not really a reason to go to peace Jam anymore yeah it's stay stay at home and work your phone right it's crazy how that's changed and I I do I I liked and appreciated what that that certain way of roster building was like and it was fun to build relationships and and see that it was going to be over a longer term period uh but now that the busiest time as far as roster building is literally right after the season and what we're doing right now the portal which is and and it's crazy but it provides it's good to Illinois it it provide a lot of opportunity and then for Illinois to get involved on the money side let's be honest with it like or knew it Jos call it yeah yeah right Whitman knew this was like all right we're behind right now this is way to catch up like I'm going to embrace this we're gonna play Within the rules but like whatever the rules are right now feel like there are no rules but like they were like Hey we're gonna Embrace this while other Schools Michigan were were tough to catch up right away right and no doubt they were on the the front end of being able to be in a great position and then I know the the rules changed in terms of involvement with the with the school and and and then the uh invention of the collective and whatnot but they they've been able to they on the front end were very well positioned then pivoted with the the collective and everything and they've as far as being able to raise the the interest and the money and of course you got to have it helps to have a winning to have Brad have done the winning with IO and Kofi and have the belief in and the dude that's running the program and where it's going to then get the money uh to go out and spend it but uh it's been something that's been outstanding for the at to keep someone like Terence Shannon for two years or to get Kofi to to pull out of the draft and come back to make it a pretty penny and whatnot so uh that's all been uh super positive for Illinois and I will drop just to I it sounded like Illinois's the collectives nil fund has gone up here recently I've heard that from a couple of people and I think lead eight run probably uh help that Elite eight run seeing what a guy like Terence Shannon could do for your program a guy like Marcus deas could do for your program yeah that helps um all right few more we did we went way over the 45 minutes I allotted for this Derek but uh de ask I'm sure Aline aren't pursuing but do you guys think Robbie Avala it should be Aila but I heard it's Avala would be Adam Fletcher's greatest career Triumph or would he take five years off Fletcher's life well we could share this right like Illinois staff like there's somebody on set that loves Robbie Avala and how could you not so skilled I don't think he could defend anybody I would imagine he's gonna follow his coat shirts to uh slooh but I would imagine there's a lot of high Majors interested in him and boy go make that nil money Robbie go go make that nio money but yeah I think they're focused on more the the switchable athletic springy skilled guys offensively it'd be a lot of fun like his skill storywise come on I mean story I want him to to bring in Robbie here yeah right no I get that and a Mean Streets guy from the state of Illinois I think just the defensive end and the the fact that can he guard anybody and and how does he I think also maybe can he do the same things against High major athletes and and uh all of that is a question didn't play very well in the Michigan State game but admittedly obviously had a f fantastic season great story and a a pretty darn good player but I think that at times he was a guy that you kind of raised your eyebrows at seeing what he was doing earlier in the season and knowing that he was with Mean Streets play with Ty Rogers has a relationship there we know with uh Tim Anderson the the mean Street's connection I think it was a a Wonder a thought kind of like a if this guys go goes in the portal but I don't think at this time Illinois is is GNA be really involved and I it does sound like there's a lot of Buzz out there for him to go to slooh and in the past knowing some of the it competing with slooh in uh recruitments that there is money in the SLO area for sure uh I forgot the repor the TV reporter who's always on all this stuff Frank kusumo right yeah yeah just remember all the sleo stuff is coming back uh in my head now but I think that's a great hire because if you can get that roster that Indiana State roster at slooh with the coach who I think is a really good coach that'd be a pretty big thing for slooh uh let's see just a few more Colton Jeremy and Derek if you had to choose between store Dante Maddox or Boswell and rank them what would you think yes give me all give me all all right John gross once called me up because we did a radio show and somebody asked me the question would you rather have Jaylen Brunson or Jawan Evans I said both of them want I want either of them it doesn't matter Illinois needs talent and I think I SED with Jaylen because I liked his game a little bit more uh and I got a call from John gr said hey Jan evans's mother was listening to you can you not say that so I I'm not gonna say one because uh Illinois wants all these guys Derek and I think they're all helpful they call playay together yeah they want all of them if I have to pick I say I want AJ store the most have you notice like because there's on the chat I try not to pay attention to like what the vocal minority or whatever the loud stuff is on Twitter but there's like a lot of people like doubting whether you should take AJ store and listen I get it like there's there's times he hurt Wisconsin but he really helped Wisconsin in the long run I don't buy into the fact that oh they're better without AJ store we saw the Big 10 tournament we saw what he was able to do in that non-conference like this guy has unbelievable Talent he still young he's just a sophomore I think he can get better I think he can get better in a more freedom offense uh he's he's a top five transfer on 247 sports for for reason there's a reason it's Illinois Kentucky Kansas old like they are the big schools want AJ store for a reason 100% I mean he's a second Team all League guy and if you would have done the voting after January he'd be a first teamer y just as Wisconsin had a slide in in February uh he didn't play all that well uh during that stretch was phenomenal at the Big 10 tournament you saw really the the best version of what he can be the upside I mean he's a great athlete can attack the rim get his own shot uh can can be a bucket maker mid-range from three yeah defensively needs to get a lot more Buy in there and needs to be better and more dialed in and I I think shot selection at times he didn't shoot a bad percentage I think that there are obviously critiques of the fact that he didn't he had less than one assist per game last year improve like he needs to improve yeah yeah as a guy that had the ball in his hands as much as he did now admittedly like you look at Chucky heer was really their their facilitator and initiator but I I think that some people just forget that he's a sophomore that he's a sophomore and gonna become a junior and i' we've talked about it on a pod before like look at his his numbers compared to I would assume is was a sophomore and and some of these other guy look at look at who he was as a sophomore compared to what Terence Shannon Jr was at Texas Tech Terence ter Terence Shannon was a spot up three and D Wing at at Texas Tech he wasn't and yeah he could play in transition but he was not a primary on ball scorer and and just a star he was he was a complimentary piece to Texas Tech if Illinois really and they do believe in their developmental abilities like they should be drooling at AJ store I know that they're they're big time on that one I'm not saying you got to like again everybody that's transferring and I I think also I want to touch on again the schools with AJ went to a lot of high schools I do know that um St John's Wisconsin this will be his third school so I understand some of the hesitancy there but even if you only said you're only guaranteed one year of AJ store perfect I'm cool let's do it yeah there's risk in there like there there's some risk that maybe he's got some Caleb love to him like that sorry that's not deterring me like Caleb Love's a phenomenal college basketball player who can get Buckets and yeah some games maybe he could shoot you out of some things but like Brad Underwood has shown that he can develop he can make players better and that guy's probably gonna get me to tournament or help me as part of this roster he certainly helped Wisconsin get a five seed last year so I get it it's not he's not a perfect player but he's a darn good one and he'd be in the mix like if AJ store went to Illinois he'd be in the mix for Big 10 preseason Player of the Year yes right it'd be Braden Smith and him unless Marcus Damas comes back right those are the guys we'd be talking about 100% yeah and would be fully you don't want that guy like that yeah right that doesn't make sense to me um again yeah he'll have to he'll have to guard he'll have to maybe get a little bit more of discretion with this shot selection but uh and work on finding other guys making other guys better but I'd rather add to what he already has then than try to take someone a lot more unproven who hasn't put up 16 a game in the Big 10 before I that's crazy and you said it right there I mean the teams that want him tell the story it is a high price tag but I think he's worth it yeah uh thank you to Ryan for the $20 Super Chat we really really appreciate you guys any final thoughts Derk we did go over an hour by the way sorry I would have taken the over going in so it's not a problem uh yeah I mean I think we we've covered it all this is um a wild time I should mention how does the Kentucky coaching change affect their involvement with store would would Kip Perry be involved at Arkansas with store where's chin Coleman gonna land that's a big question the guy that got store committed to Illinois I think that's worth bringing up um I don't have any doubt that kck's gonna hit a home run uh with their higher I I think they'll they'll at least get Scott drew in my opinion just based on kind of what's out there but um maybe Antigua I I've been hearing some stuff Antigua will have interest in staying at Kentucky versus maybe following Cal to Arkansas so that make a lot of sense for whoever gets that job yeah oh 100 perc I think he's one of the best assistants in college basketball so I I wouldn't be you know put it past him that a guy that's pretty familiar although he wasn't the lead recruiter uh on store with when Coleman was there and got him committed to Illinois if he whoever's next to Kentucky is involved with trying to get AJ and whatnot so uh that's worth that's worth throwing out there I think yeah uh Scott drew Billy Donovan I they got to wait a little bit I don't think the Bulls are GNA mean the play in that long but they might have to wait a week before uh they're able to to do that but I I I I think Scott drew is a home run like it it just makes too much sense to me uh do you buy into anything that Brad Underwood is potentially in the mix for that job D I wouldn't be surprised if he's on a list yeah um that that wouldn't surprise me at all I just heing that right yeah I just don't see him being in the top five candidates now some of the tops like you can probably cross off Dan Hurley and obviously Nate oats has crossed himself off but I I wouldn't see why they'd want no disrespect to Brad why they'd want Brad over Scott drew as won a national title or uh even I'm in full agreement with tro like Shawn Miller has always been someone that's made a lot of sense in case that job opens up so uh it says a lot that that Brad is uh considered or thought to be maybe on on that list if they if they don't get some of their their top wants although I know Illinois won't want that because they want to keep their dude um but yeah he he should be attractive because he's he's done a heck of a job with consistency finally got to the elite eight here and um knows how to operate in the portal era and in nil and everything so um I only I should feel good about their dude and they do all right for Derek Piper I'm Jeremy wner thanks to the 400 500 plus that joined us on the live YouTube channel we appreciate you guys hit that like button subscribe to us hit the notifications Bell we appreciate you guys doing that if you're listening on the podcast give us a follow rating review wherever you get your podcast Dereck has been all over this stuff if you're not a VIP member now is a great time to sign up for the latest on the portal he's been all over it we got our transfer portal big board up and we're continually upgrading updating that I gotta take Trey white off the board this morning and add him to the addition list here uh but we'll be all over it and Joey Wagner and I covering Spring ball we got Johnny Newton's pro day coming up the NFL draft we'll both hit the road for that so plenty coming up at Alana enquire everybody have a great day take care of each other we'll talk to you next time right here on the Alana enquire podcast