Illini celebrate Dosunmu

Inovacat

Redshirt
May 30, 2016
257
3
13
"Five-star" Ayo Dosunmu announced he's going to attend Illinois in an event today. Illini faithful are buzzing on the word and the potential that Ayo and Mark Smith will be "the championship backcourt."

Rivalry might be a little closer I guess.
 
Jun 1, 2014
4,774
292
70
"Five-star" Ayo Dosunmu announced he's going to attend Illinois in an event today. Illini faithful are buzzing on the word and the potential that Ayo and Mark Smith will be "the championship backcourt."

Rivalry might be a little closer I guess.

Love it. If there's a huge rivalry between the schools, I'm all for it.

Lou posted the text that Ayo sent him when Lathon committed to the Cats (hence ending their recruitment of Ayo) and he seems like a grade A, class act kid. Hope he does well at U of I outside of the 2x a year he plays the Cats
 

EvanstonCat

Senior
May 29, 2001
50,759
762
73
"Five-star" Ayo Dosunmu announced he's going to attend Illinois in an event today. Illini faithful are buzzing on the word and the potential that Ayo and Mark Smith will be "the championship backcourt."

Rivalry might be a little closer I guess.

Funny how they are so willing to celebrate our rejects. How far we have come.

I'm kidding of course. Kind of.
 

mikewebb68

Senior
Oct 24, 2009
9,811
501
113
Since they're picked to finish 12th (12th!) in the conference this year, they better hope they have excellent recruits....
 

mickbula

Junior
Jul 1, 2011
2,911
239
63
Ayo claims that he "will play for Illini one year and then head to the NBA." I like our recruits and where we are collectively as a team. I hope Ayo has a great career ahead of him. I just hope we win against Illini bball this season and many more to come. I wonder if Underwood will face any repurcussions for his recruiting techniques at OSU though. That may come back to bite him on the butt?
 

Medill90

Junior
Jan 30, 2011
6,910
321
0
I wonder if Underwood will face any repurcussions for his recruiting techniques at OSU though. That may come back to bite him on the butt?

On the Illini basketball forum the "NCAA Corruption" thread is the fourth most-recently read thread and runs over 55 pages.

So, you're not alone in wondering.
 

GOUNUII

Junior
Jan 4, 2004
6,418
238
63
Ayo claims that he "will play for Illini one year and then head to the NBA." I like our recruits and where we are collectively as a team. I hope Ayo has a great career ahead of him. I just hope we win against Illini bball this season and many more to come. I wonder if Underwood will face any repurcussions for his recruiting techniques at OSU though. That may come back to bite him on the butt?

The burdens of receiving a 5 star rating are numerous. Especially when to an objective, educated observer things don't add up. I too wish AD the best, but the chances of him ever being a guard in the NBA are remote at best. Hope he didn't pick Illinois on the assumption he's a one and done NBA talent. But my guess is he has had numerous people tell him that is the case.

GOUNUII
 

Jonny2TheP

Junior
Dec 11, 2007
8,550
298
57
Ayo claims that he "will play for Illini one year and then head to the NBA." I like our recruits and where we are collectively as a team. I hope Ayo has a great career ahead of him. I just hope we win against Illini bball this season and many more to come. I wonder if Underwood will face any repurcussions for his recruiting techniques at OSU though. That may come back to bite him on the butt?

Seems like a great kid and I will never get down on a kid for having confidence and goals about fulfilling his dream. But to come out before he's even stepped foot on a college basketball court and saying that he'll be a one and done is a bit...much. He's a great talent, but unless he really takes his game up another level or two, I don't see him as a one and done...Again though, while I think that comment is a little over the top, he truly does seem like a good kid and I wish him nothing but personal success (just not team success).
 

scru

Redshirt
Sep 4, 2005
2,388
8
0
I guess I'm a big time jerk, but I don't wish a kid with this type of attitude success. I actually hope his plan fails so that it provides an example for others to learn from. When you have an opportunity to gain an outstanding education and prepare yourself for life and to make a contribution to society, that should be your number one priority. If you are lucky enough to be in a position to be drafted by the NBA after your freshman year, then that should be gravy, not your expectation or your priority.

I'd like to see more kids grow up actually valuing the educational opportunity their athletic achievements bring them than viewing it only as a stepping stone to the NBA and getting out as quickly as possible. I always liked that MJ actually went back and completed his degree at UNC. How many kids do that anymore?

And yes, while you're at it, get off my lawn!
 

Deeringfish

All-Conference
Jun 23, 2008
21,017
1,288
63
Seems like a great kid and I will never get down on a kid for having confidence and goals about fulfilling his dream. But to come out before he's even stepped foot on a college basketball court and saying that he'll be a one and done is a bit...much. He's a great talent, but unless he really takes his game up another level or two, I don't see him as a one and done...Again though, while I think that comment is a little over the top, he truly does seem like a good kid and I wish him nothing but personal success (just not team success).
OTOH, if he doesn't promote himself, who is going to do it? That being said he may embarrass himself.
 

Medill90

Junior
Jan 30, 2011
6,910
321
0
I don't have a problem with the kid acting like an 18 year old. My son is 20 and just send me a text about how he's figured out how to solve the world energy crisis. He hasn't, but that doesn't make him a cretin.

Focusing on the good, Ayo kept the whole recruitment pretty tight-lipped until the end. And he looked at good schools, did a thorough jobs. My sense is good kid and from a good family.

Best of luck to you Ayo.