Simpson to Illinois

[BradleyBrave]

Obviously he wasn't as concerned with the system and the personnel as we thought.

http://www.news-gazette.com/blogs/basketblog/2007/10/15/simpson_to_decide_today

[lefty]

Obviously he wasn't as concerned with the system and the personnel as we thought.

http://www.news-gazette.com/blogs/ba...o_decide_today

do you think Illinois is back on rise now BB?

[Lakeview Brave]

I think the last few days have take alot of pressure off of Weber. I dont think they will be very good this year and who know if all three of the guards will make it to campus in 0'9. IMO they are still not on the way up but have stopped going down.

[BradleyBrave]

do you think Illinois is back on rise now BB?

Eh, I am not ready to say that just yet. Illinois has no guards, and they run a guard-oriented system. Simpson is a nice get, just like Brian Carlwell was a nice get. But with no guards to shoot, dribble, or feed these big men the ball, how good of a 'get' can any of these guys be? Line Simpson up behind Carlwell, Semrau, Cole, Tisdale, and Davis. All this in a 3 guard, motion offense.

As far as the '09 guys, it's progress but I wouldn't say anything to get too excited about yet. Imagine BU getting 3 Daniel West-like commitments. I found it hard to get too excited about West, first since it was so far away, and second because so much can happen between now and then. Illinois, of all schools, should know this.

Illinois should be excited about DJ Richardson. He's been highly-regarded by just about everyone, and he projects out to be a very fine player. I will be surprised if all 3 of the other guys make it to Champaign, and I am not sure how good the kid from Warren really is. '09 commits are great, but what about this year and next year? What programs and fan bases find it acceptable that a staff has essentially planned for at least 2 down years? Following Illinois as long as I have, I personally expect more.

[Da Coach]

Obviously he wasn't as concerned with the system and the personnel as we thought.

http://www.news-gazette.com/blogs/ba...o_decide_today

But I wonder if he had the same concerns about Bradley. Bradley features a guard-oriented system, like Illinois has in the past. And we have several good big men, too. So I doubt this was a reason to favor Bradley. In the end, Illinois was probably his best offer, considering Arkansas was going after a couple other kids. Too bad BU couldn't have landed him. That makes 5 or 6 very good recruits we've finished 2nd with.

[Da Coach]

Here is a blog entry from the Chicago Sun Times with essentially the same information. I wonder, though, don't they use spell checkers at the Sun Times? Three times they spell Illinois--> Ilinois!

http://blogs.suntimes.com/preps/2007/10/simeon_center_stan_simpson_exp.html

[Da Coach]

ChicagoHoops article--

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/simpsonui1.html

[MacabreMob]

ChicagoHoops article--

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/simpsonui1.html

That article says he chose UIUC over Arkansas (guess BU was outta the picture).

I am happy for BAM to finally reel in a Chicago boy. Maybe the bad relations have been repaired... by Howard?

Good luck to ya Simpson.

[lefty]

Eh, I am not ready to say that just yet. Illinois has no guards, and they run a guard-oriented system. Simpson is a nice get, just like Brian Carlwell was a nice get. But with no guards to shoot, dribble, or feed these big men the ball, how good of a 'get' can any of these guys be? Line Simpson up behind Carlwell, Semrau, Cole, Tisdale, and Davis. All this in a 3 guard, motion offense.

As far as the '09 guys, it's progress but I wouldn't say anything to get too excited about yet. Imagine BU getting 3 Daniel West-like commitments. I found it hard to get too excited about West, first since it was so far away, and second because so much can happen between now and then. Illinois, of all schools, should know this.

Illinois should be excited about DJ Richardson. He's been highly-regarded by just about everyone, and he projects out to be a very fine player. I will be surprised if all 3 of the other guys make it to Champaign, and I am not sure how good the kid from Warren really is. '09 commits are great, but what about this year and next year? What programs and fan bases find it acceptable that a staff has essentially planned for at least 2 down years? Following Illinois as long as I have, I personally expect more.

well we will see how theyplay the next couple of years. they have been to the dance a few years in a row with 23 W's last year. I don't know they planned two down years....since they have not even played them yet...maybe we should wait and let them play before we say those years are down.

[Daniel Poneman]

http://www1.freewebs.com/chipatsj23h/simpsontoillinois.htm

[tornado]

That article says he chose UIUC over Arkansas

Here's the real reason Simpson chose Illinois....
the only other big school offer he had was Arkansas, and that offer got pulled yesterday,
as the Arkansas people tired of waiting and nabbed a verbal from a 6-10 prep school kid
who is rated considerably higher than Simpson is.

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/204636/

[chitownBUB]

Another week has gone by and the predicted verbal by Crandall Head has not come to pass.
He was supposed to make his decision by early last week and hasn't, so all the talk and optimism has disappeared.
Verbals from Simpson, DJ Richardson, Joe Bertrand, and Brandon Paul may have bought a few years for BAM in Champaign, but will all these kids ever make it to Illinois?