A few weeks ago, Illini Wonk
posted a story about the recruiting battle between Illinois and Kansas
over Crane High School Senior Sherron Collins. Written by Luke Winn of
Sports Illustrated, the article gave us some new and
interesting insight into the recruiting pitch that Bill Self is giving
to Sherron Collins. According to Collins' high school coach:
Self thinks "Sherron is
the missing piece to Kansas making the Final Four." And Collins said
Self told him the Jayhawks "want a point guard like me to run the show."
Now, a story from IllHoops.com
gives us another look at Self's recruitment methods, specifically in
competition with his former employer, the University of Illinois.
Chikosi Walker of Illinois Hoops writes:
Self’s pitch has included
telling Collins that Illinois is a great program, but Kansas is that
much better. In fact, that’s the reason he left Illinois to take the
Kansas job. Self feels Collins should do the same. Self has told the
star PG that last year’s record-setting Illinois team was recruited by
himself. What impresses Collins most about the Jayhawks is the tradition
and the freshman class currently on campus, which includes four prep
All-Americans. Self has also told Collins that he is the missing piece
to a national title at Kansas.
Much has been made about
previous recruiting "losses" that Illinois coach Bruce Weber has
suffered at the hands of Self, but this is really the first time where
it is one-on-one. The end result will tell a lot.
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