Search for New Illini Assistant

[tornado]

Champaign reporter Paul Klee talks names......

http://www.news-gazette.com/blogs/basketblog/2007/09/06/notes_on_webster_and_possible

Simeon Head coach, Robert Smith says he would take the job if offered.
Does that affect the verbal of his point guard, Kenyon Smith?

http://blogs.suntimes.com/preps/

[DannyCooksey]

Champaign reporter Paul Klee talks names......

http://www.news-gazette.com/blogs/basketblog/2007/09/06/notes_on_webster_and_possible

Simeon Head coach, Robert Smith says he would take the job if offered.
Does that affect the verbal of his point guard, Kenyon Smith?
http://blogs.suntimes.com/preps/

I wouldn't think so. Jank and Robert Smith have been friends for years. There is a ton of mutual respect for one another. Jank recruited Robert Smith to Baylor years ago during Robert Smith's playing days and Smith credited Jank for going there. This was noted in the Sun-Times blog last Friday regarding the Kenyon Smith verbal.

I think it might affect the recruitment of Stan Simpson however, if Robert Smith were to be hired at Illinois. I would think it would help Simpson get to UC.

[cpacmel]

I also don't think U of I is going to recruit any PG's for 2008. They need scorers.

[Da Coach]

But they only have Chester Frazier returning as a point guard, and Weber seemed to lose confidence in him the last half of last season, and Demetri McCamey as an untested freshman. Jeffrey Jordan could play some point guard, but if they have to have a walkon freshman running the point, they are really in trouble.

I think Weber will go after a good juco PG. Most of the 2008 PGs, juco and HS, are already committed. So he may have to settle for another 2nd tier player.

[cpacmel]

Demetri McCamey won't be untested after this year. He will see a ton of minutes for them.

Also Trent Meacham plays some PG for them.

I don't see them going after a PG at all. Not for 2008. And if they do, it would probably be Verdell Jones.

[Da Coach]

One of the candidates for the open assistant coaching position at Illinois has withdrawn his name.
Dennis Gates, currently an assistant at Northern Illinois, says he's no longer interested. In this article, he sounds like he thinks he got a better job at NIU than Illinois.

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/gatesui.html

[meth]

Amazing, when a guy turns down an opportunity to go to University of Illinois to stay at NIU, it's as bad as losing all those recruits.

[Braves4Life]

One of the candidates for the open assistant coaching position at Illinois has withdrawn his name.
Dennis Gates, currently an assistant at Northern Illinois, says he's no longer interested. In this article, he sounds like he thinks he got a better job at NIU than Illinois.

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/gatesui.html

Kinda like he knows he has a sure thing at NIU versus potentially looking for another job within two years when Weber gets fired...............

[Da Coach]

The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy has an article about Bruce Weber, and the Illini. He suggests that Weber was hired because he is a good coach and because he is loyal to Illinois and won't leave for a better job like Bill Self did. Supposedly, Illinois AD Ron Guenther knew Weber wasn't a real good recruiter. So they feel they are right where they want to be.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=272817

[Da Coach]

Mark Tupper writes in his blog that Illinois will likely announce their new assistant coach on Monday or Tuesday. See the 2nd to last paragraph--

http://www.herald-review.com/blogs/marktupper/?p=400

It will probably be Jerrance Howard, who was the only candidate reported to have visited Champaign.

[bert notorius]

Mark Tupper writes in his blog that Illinois will likely announce their new assistant coach on Monday or Tuesday. See the 2nd to last paragraph--

http://www.herald-review.com/blogs/marktupper/?p=400

It will probably be Jerrance Howard, who was the only candidate reported to have visited Champaign.

...no one seems winning to let us know who they are.

I think he means willing. Spell check woulda missed that one.