With the immense talent coming from Chicago, you would expect the Illinois basketball program to be a perennial contender in the Big Ten Conference. However, after losing 12 of their last 14 games and failing to even make the NIT Tournament, Bruce Weber was fired and the program must now start anew.
In order for new head coach John Groce turn the program around, he has to change the culture of last season’s team. The Fighting Illini did not exhibit much fight at all as they took on the characteristics of thousands of bad teams before them. They blew late game leads, played lackluster defense, played selfishly and just lacked overall energy.
Groce will have an opportunity to change all those things, but he must start by recruiting a higher quality and character of player. Last year’s team lacked leadership and intangibles. Groce can implement some of that into his team, but he also must recruit players who display those qualities.
One player who fits that description and is currently considering Illinois is Kendrick Nunn. Nunn would certainly add talent to Groce’s roster, but his biggest impact may be through his intangibles. Nunn is known for being an unselfish player. He is also a good decision maker on and off the ball.
Illinois will need more players like Nunn, whose game is in sharp contrast to the perimeter players on the current roster who tend to stand on the perimeter, dribble without purpose and jack up long distance jumpers.
Groce has made it an emphasis in the class of 2013 to recruit players such as Nunn, Demetrius Jackson and Semi Ojeleye who all are unselfish and possess top notch intangibles.
It is important that Groce realizes the deficiencies in his current roster and is addressing them through recruiting. However, Groce will also need to do a better job of recruiting talent than Weber, especially in the talent-rich area of Chicago.
Although Weber brought in four freshmen from Chicago in the 2011 recruiting class, none were big producers last season. The Illini missed out on Chicago products such as Anthony Davis, Quincy Miller and Wayne Blackshear.
This is why getting a commitment from Nunn would be so valuable. He is arguably the second best player coming out of Chicago in this class. And even though Groce has had success recruiting in Chicago before, most recently attracting D.J. Cooper to Ohio, the major determining factor in how much success Groce has will be whether he is able to keep the top Illinois players in-state.
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