All Things Alex Illikainen Recruitment Thread: UPDATED 11/12/18: Illikainen leaves UW

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Jon said:
This guy thinks we will have a top 10 class if we land Alex...

With Minnesota still being the crystal ball favorite for four-star power forward Alex Illikainen, the Gophers could very well be looking at a
Top 10 class next season if he commits.

http://www.btpowerhouse.com/2014/8/...pree-mcbrayer-commits-to-minnesota/in/5380543
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I hope Illikainen and JJ are reading these articles. If not, the coaches should show them.

I don't think we'd have a top 10 class just by adding Illikainen, but probably would by adding both of them.
 

WanderingGopher said:
I hope Illikainen and JJ are reading these articles. If not, the coaches should show them.

I don't think we'd have a top 10 class just by adding Illikainen, but probably would by adding both of them.
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It doesn't have to be those two either.

Alex and Walton... Clarke and Walton, Clarke and Alex, etc.
 

98VQueens said:
Sammy!

View attachment 2833

http://www.mndaily.com/users/sgordonmndailycom
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EnHkQRO.gif

eeeeeehhhh~~!!@@!#!@#!@#~~!@
 








HOOP DREAMS said:
Not implying it was deep, not sure why you added it to the reply to my post.
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oh... didn't notice that.... That was a weird double post.... I tried to quote you after I responded to the daily accusation in the same post, must have opened a new post instead. My bad.
 


98VQueens said:
I kept wondering why the hell does this poster keep saying "ya feel me" then I rememered the daily writer. It was a 'I get the joke' comment, not a 'you are Sam Gordon' accusatoin.
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tongue in cheek all around then.

Ya feel me?
 

STrib: A glance at Minnesota's top recruiting targets in the 2015 class

Alex Illikainen:
Minnesota has stayed on the Grand Rapids native like a fitted glove since Pitino and Co. took over the program a year and a half ago. The 6-foot-9 Illikainen transferred to Brewster Academy in New Hampshire for his senior season, but the Gophers appear to be no less in the game at this point. The stretch four visited California this winter, and has scheduled visits to Iowa (this weekend) and Oregon on deck. Otherwise, there are a host of other programs that have extended scholarship offers: Creighton, Indiana, Providence, Wisconsin, Texas Tech, BC, Iowa State, Maryland, Nebraska and Vanderbilt among them.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/273184771.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Go Gophers!!
 



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>4-star PF Alex Illikainen talks <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badgers?src=hash">#Badgers</a> offer and names a top four <a href="http://t.co/fcfzh15Wk2">http://t.co/fcfzh15Wk2</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jerrymeyer247">@jerrymeyer247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Gobie247">@Gobie247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AKonSports">@AKonSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Prehmmr247">@Prehmmr247</a></p>— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) <a href="https://twitter.com/Evan_Flood/statuses/506789942593196032">September 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin
 

Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin
If for no other reason than the symbolism factor, abosolutely not on these! Can't let the neighbors come in and steal the guys we want.
 

Holy Man said:
Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin
If for no other reason than the symbolism factor, abosolutely not on these! Can't let the neighbors come in and steal the guys we want.
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Especially this late in the game. Based on his top 4 though, it seems like he'd like to stay close to home. And considering we've been on him for a lot longer than Wisconsin and Iowa, I like our chances.
 

Anyone know if AI went on his official to Iowa this weekend? 247 had it listed on his timeline but I haven't seen anything else about it.

Really hope he doesn't decide to be Bo's fall back option.
 

golfing18now said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>4-star PF Alex Illikainen talks <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badgers?src=hash">#Badgers</a> offer and names a top four <a href="http://t.co/fcfzh15Wk2">http://t.co/fcfzh15Wk2</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jerrymeyer247">@jerrymeyer247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Gobie247">@Gobie247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AKonSports">@AKonSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Prehmmr247">@Prehmmr247</a></p>— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) <a href="https://twitter.com/Evan_Flood/statuses/506789942593196032">September 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin
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It was strange that he wasted one of his officials on Cal early in the process and they didn't even make his final cut (yes, I know they had a coaching change). Even at the time that visit didn't make sense because it just didn't fit.
 

MadtownGopher said:
Especially this late in the game. Based on his top 4 though, it seems like he'd like to stay close to home. And considering we've been on him for a lot longer than Wisconsin and Iowa, I like our chances.
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I think it's fair to say Minnesota has recruited Alex harder than has UW, but UW has been involved with Illikainen for three years. Alex commented in an article this morning that UW has been recruiting him for a long time, such that the late offer is not a big deal. Sounds like his official visit to Madison could coincide with Jarvis' the weekend of September 20.

I still believe Minnesota is the favorite, but Alex's comments in the article give me some hope for UW.
 

I would be nervous about Jarvis and Illikainen's interest in Wisconsin. The main reason is that Pulley has a good relationship with the Wisconsin staff and their players have a history of success in their program. I may be wrong but I thought I remembered Tubby being unwilling to befriend the top local AAU coaches and directors. Hopefully Pitino isn't taking that same stance.
 

WindyCityGopher said:
It was strange that he wasted one of his officials on Cal early in the process and they didn't even make his final cut (yes, I know they had a coaching change). Even at the time that visit didn't make sense because it just didn't fit.
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It actually is not all that strange, since he was originally being recruited by the previous Coach at Cal when he made the official and was more serious about attending. Cal has a new coach now, so its like a whole new school is coming to the party in a sense. Thus he is not that interested anymore.
 

How can a tall, athletic kid possibly say he likes the way Wisconsin plays?
 


Winasota Gopher said:
In late March?

Wisconsin has a storied history of Tall White boys getting ample playing time and limelight.
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Then he could have commented how how successful they have been? not that he likes the playing style. Big difference imo
 

Miles Tarver said:
Then he could have commented how how successful they have been? not that he likes the playing style. Big difference imo
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Sorry, I don't have access to the link, didn't see he liked the style.

Still, I don't think Wisconsin's style would be unattractive to an athletic tall white kid... The vision of success has been shown many times over. If you like shooting, its a good spot for ya
 

I wish I could somehow inject my hatred of Wisconsin and Iowa into our top recruits' water supply.
 

I think Nwankwo will commit this wknd based on what he's said about how much he likes us. Could be wrong, but l almost prefer him over AI because of his size. I think we need someone to rebound and put a body on someone. Alex doesn't physically look like he's going to box anyone out in the BIG.. Also, we'll have plenty of shooters in Lofton, Mason, Dorsey, McBrayer. Almost wonder how much interest the Gophers have. Does Alex even have a visit set up yet?
 

Gopherboner said:
I think Nwankwo will commit this wknd based on what he's said about how much he likes us. Could be wrong, but l almost prefer him over AI because of his size. I think we need someone to rebound and put a body on someone. Alex doesn't physically look like he's going to box anyone out in the BIG.. Also, we'll have plenty of shooters in Lofton, Mason, Dorsey, McBrayer. Almost wonder how much interest the Gophers have. Does Alex even have a visit set up yet?
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+1
 

Gopherboner said:
I think Nwankwo will commit this wknd based on what he's said about how much he likes us. Could be wrong, but l almost prefer him over AI because of his size. I think we need someone to rebound and put a body on someone. Alex doesn't physically look like he's going to box anyone out in the BIG.. Also, we'll have plenty of shooters in Lofton, Mason, Dorsey, McBrayer. Almost wonder how much interest the Gophers have. Does Alex even have a visit set up yet?
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Alex is the number one priority right now but I don't believe he has an official visit set up yet but he has visited enough times were he could commit at anytime and take an official after he has already committed if he wants to. I would be disappointed if Nwankwo committed if that prevented us from getting Illikainen however I believe that no matter how many commits we already have if Illikainen decides he wants to play here Pitino would make room for him.
 


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