Alex Illikainen - PF - 2015 prospect -> Wisconsin

[uneblinstu]

Robin Washut

‏

@

RobinWashut

#Nebrasketball recruit MT “@RyanJamesMN: Alex Illikainen with 39 pts and 27 rebounds against Columbia signed 7-footer Conor Voss. Big time

Not exactlly sure how to embed tweets, but this should get the message across, at least.

[fred1212]

Robin Washut

‏

@

RobinWashut

#Nebrasketball recruit MT “@RyanJamesMN: Alex Illikainen with 39 pts and 27 rebounds against Columbia signed 7-footer Conor Voss. Big time

Not exactlly sure how to embed tweets, but this should get the message across, at least.

did Illikainen score 39 on Voss?

I'm confused

of so

get him

[Norm Peterson]

He's a 2015 prospect with some pretty decent offers already, including Oregon, ISU, Minnesota and us. That offer list might blow up if he keeps doing stuff like that.

[Cookie Belcher]

Like that we got in so early on him.

[Huskerpapa]

He reaches 1000...

http://www.grandrapidsmn.com/sports/high_school/article_c2b05f1e-4bf8-11e2-a3e7-001a4bcf887a.html

[Huskerpapa]

http://www.grandrapi...19bb2963f4.html

http://www.grandrapidsmn.com/sports/high_school/article_8579845e-4d6a-11e2-9c24-0019bb2963f4.html

[trickey]

He apparently has some interest for/from the jayhawks.

Glad to see us consistently going for this level of players.

 

Robin Washut
‏@RobinWashut



 

#Nebrasketball recruit. RT “@RyanJamesMN: 2015 PF Alex Illikainen will be taking unofficial visit to Kansas this weekend."

[FredsSlacks]

I think there is a good chance this kid stays home and goes to Minnesota. We would need to start having some success on the floor to have any kind of chance of getting him.

[TheKamdyMan]

I think there is a good chance this kid stays home and goes to Minnesota. We would need to start having some success on the floor to have any kind of chance of getting him.

 

NU still has at least 16 months before he can even sign so theres plenty of time to show the tide has turned.

[Norm Peterson]

I think there is a good chance this kid stays home and goes to Minnesota. We would need to start having some success on the floor to have any kind of chance of getting him.

 

NU still has at least 16 months before he can even sign so theres plenty of time to show the tide has turned.

Great point, Kamdy.  And, in the vein, it's important we show significant progress next season because next season is the last season before the signing period where he'll be able to sign an LOI and the last opportunity we'll have to impress.  So, gotta getta big for next year.  And not just any big butta big that can come in and play right away.  #prayingforagraduatetransfer.

[mrjam]

It wouldn't hurt if we could show one of them with hard work they could be a star here. Look son you could get your jersey retired and lead us to our first ncaa win.

[Huskerpapa]

He currently is out with a broken left hand.

 

http://www.grandrapidsmn.com/sports/high_school/article_2a579b2c-7af8-11e2-b52b-001a4bcf887a.html

[Silverbacked1]

Well then we don't want him, he is damaged goods.

[Nebrasketballer]

https://twitter.com/RobinWashut/status/322846360074342401">April

 

 

The day after Ben Johnson left Nebraska for Minnesota...Ouch

[Norm Peterson]

UNC, huh?  And tomorrow he'll probably meet with one of Minnesota's new assistants. 

[Nebrasketballer]

UNC, huh?  And tomorrow he'll probably meet with one of Minnesota's new assistants. 

Yeah.  My thoughts exactly

[Huskerpapa]

This is why it stinks that Ben left us for another Big Ten school...

[Swan88]

So, pretend for a moment we are Alex Illikainen--or, better yet, one of his parents. 

This recrruiter has been showing up for the past year sporting a red shirt with an "N" or "Huskers" or "Nebraska" logo, singing the praises of Nebrasketball and Tim Miles and a Pinnacle Arena, and a new training center, and how Nebrasketball is on the rise, and how Alex could be a huge part of all that. 

But . . . now he shows up in a different shade of red with an "M" or "Gophers"  or "Minnesota" logo, singing the praises of Minnesotaball and a new guy named Pitino and a basketball court raised a couple feet higher than the rest of the arena floor and how players and spectators don't really get hurt when players careen off that floor.  And how this new gig and new University are better for Alex than the old one.

Anyway, as a recruit or his parent, we've got to be wondering just a little bit about this guy and what he says, don't you think?.

[TheKamdyMan]

You're putting way too much into it. Unless Johnson made promises they won't care what team is on his chest it's all about the relationship that's been built.

[Creighton Fan]

Honestly, this kid is going to be hard to get no matter what.  I know my Jays have been recruiting him for over a year as well.  Unfortunately for both of us, I suspect he's going to be getting offers from the Kansas, Dukes and UNCs of the world before his high school career is over.

[GATA]

It does bode well that our staff has identified these potential studs and has gotten in on the early. It shows they have an eye for talent. Now if we could land some of these studs...

[Norm Peterson]

Here's a very recent highlight vid (March 30, 2013) of Illikainen at a showcase tourney of some sort. 

 

 

He has nice touch around the bucket but it looks like he has positively no ups at all.  He's 6'9".  A couple of those inside lobs should have resulted in thunder dunks.  But he gathers himself and jumps and lays it up rather than pounding it home. 

 

Who was the kid a few weeks ago we were talking about wondering if he'd decommit from one of those off-brand Florida schools after their coach got fired?  Now, that kid had impressive video for a 6'9" dude.  Or that Alec Brennan kid from the 2014 class.  He has good film.  This highlight video, at least, was just sort of meh. 

 

But, coaches, get the hell on that Alec Brennan kid.  He's considering offers from ISU and Kansas State on top of Maryland, Rutgers, Purdue, Northwestern, Temple, Seton Hall and some others.  One of those should be Nebraska!

[FredsSlacks]

if this kid grows another inch or 2, he is a top 10 5 star recruit. I think the elite teams are going to wait and see how he grows before offering.

 

his skills around the basket are far greater than the skills of most 16 year olds.

 

At 6'9 210, he is a bit skinny for a power forward and not quite tall enough for a center. That's the only thing keeping him from being a 5 star.

[Creighton Fan]

It does bode well that our staff has identified these potential studs and has gotten in on the early. It shows they have an eye for talent. Now if we could land some of these studs...

I'm not sure it took a lot of acumen to spot this kid.  He had offers from a whole bunch of schools before ever starting HS.  He was hardly an under the radar kid.

[Norm Peterson]

It does bode well that our staff has identified these potential studs and has gotten in on the early. It shows they have an eye for talent. Now if we could land some of these studs...

I'm not sure it took a lot of acumen to spot this kid.  He had offers from a whole bunch of schools before ever starting HS.  He was hardly an under the radar kid.

Easy for you to say, what with Creighton landing 5-star recruits left and right.  But this is new territory for us, actually getting listed with some quality players.

 

(Uneblinstu, there is sarcasm in this post.  Just FYI.  )