The heartfelt awesome letter says the following:
"Dear Mars One:
I want to be on Mars. I am superduper smart. I am amazing at reading and i love to write. I love science. I like history. I am seven and a half years old. I am amazing at math. Mars is my favorite planet because it is red and my favorite colour is read too. I have travelled to Kansas City, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Florida and Virignia so I know how to travel. I have traveled in a car, boat, helicopter and airplane. Why can't kids go into space? Can you make an exception?
Sincerely, Shannon"
How awesome is this letter? This is the kind of wonder and excitement I remember having as a kid and still have actually. This is what needs to be injected into life. That innocent excitement and wonder that made our dreams such a joy. I am happy to see this. It gives me hope that Mars One will be successful.
When it comes to Illini basketball, the season has officially gotten as disastrous as the ’98-’99 season; the most recent time that Illinois finished last in the Big Ten. So we’ll limit our discussion of the gloomy present and focus more on the future of Illini basketball. It’s a program similar to the Chicago Cubs, the players not on the team yet are more interesting and intriguing than the current roster.
With me to break it all down is Taylor Rooks, from Fox Sports Next.
Paul M. Banks: I just want to see John Groce start playing the freshmen more, let’s see what we have there. Because this clearly is not working, Illinois shot 34.8% from the field in January, 345th out of 345 teams. They’re in last place in the Big Ten. If this isn’t a lost season, then I don’t know what is. It’s like ’98-’99 all over again: no true point guard, serious issues on offense, 9 newcomers on the roster, painful to watch style of basketball. Groce has had the exact same starting lineup for all 25 games this season.
Why not try shaking things up?
Taylor Rooks: I agree with this. However, Coach Groce loves to remind us that he has the utmost faith in his veterans. And let’s be real, Kendrick Nunn is playing starter’s minutes. He may not be in the starting line-up, but the freshman are getting playing time. After the Wisconsin loss, Groce said they are ‘trying everything,’ but the pieces aren’t falling into place. If you don’t want to play Nnanna, the next up is Austin Colbert. Maverick Morgan isn’t going to be as efficient as Ekey. The best freshmen right now are Kendrick Nunn and Malcolm Hill.
I hate to say this, but sometimes you just get beat. Sometimes Illinois just isn’t the better team, and maybe that’s a lot of the time. They are ranked last in the Big Ten, so that means after even Penn State and Nebraska. Not only does it feel like 98-99 all over again. It feels like Illini football all over again. This is the first 8 game losing streak since 1973-1974. Barbra Streisand’s ‘The Way We Were,” was number one on the billboard charts. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be in a time of Streisand.
Banks: No we don’t. That South Park episode with “Mecha-Streisand” from one of the early seasons, still give me nightmares. What have you seen in this Illini basketball freshmen class?
Rooks: I don’t think the potential of Illini basketball lies in the freshman. I think it lies in the transfers. Aaron Cosby and Ahmad Starks are going to be HUGE for the Illini next year. Aaron Cosby is a great shooter. When they go in, they really go in. Ahmad Starks did good work at Oregon State, and knows how to really facilitate the ball effectively. My favorite freshman is probably Kendrick Nunn, and he plays with amazing toughness every game. He’s gotten into two scuffles this season, and he didn’t back down either time. I don’t encourage Kendrick Nunn fighting Penn State’s DJ Newbill AT ALL, but I do encourage the attitude.
Banks: True, you actually have a point guard next year, unlike this year, and with the transfers, you have a upgrades at at least two of the starting five starting positions next year. How about Michael Finke and Leron Black? Talking about the Illini is like talking about the Cubs, it’s just wait and look forward to the future to see prospects develop because the present is just…yeah…ouch……
Rooks: To be completely honest, my knowledge on Finke and Black are quite limited. During this time, I was focused on a different recruit. *sigh. Though I will say Michael Finke’s mom is at every game, and is one of the sweetest people I have ever met.
Banks: yeah, that story didn’t work out too well for Illini basketball, but kudos to you for consistently being ahead of the curve in reporting it. I think this is the first time we’ve ever been able to say that Northwestern has a higher rated recruiting class than Illinois. At least as long as I’ve been alive.What about 2015, Groce has a big jump on Chris Collins in that year, tell us more about D.J. Williams and Aaron Jordan
Rooks: D.J. Williams will probably split time between the 3 and 4. He’s from Simeon, and that in itself is an accolade. laying with a talented program, against many other talented programs is probably the best preparation for college. He’s been playing Varsity since he was a freshman, so he can bring leadership – something the Illini desperately need. He is aggressive, quick, and is a great ball handler.
He also signed early, so that’s a good sign. He is an Illinois kid that WANTS to be at Illinois….and that’s something we haven’t seen lately.
Aaron Jordan is probably the best shooter. He’s good, and that’s something they need. Not just a good shooter, but a consistent shooter. That’s him. I have interviewed him multiple times, and he is one of the most well spoken athletes I’ve ever spoken to. He fits flawlessly into Coach Groce’s system; he spreads the ball, sets ball screens, and can shoot the three. His weakness is really driving to the basket and really getting to the rim, but last time we spoke he was focusing on improving that.
Banks: What’s going on with Charles Matthews? Who else is high on Groce’s list right now?
Rooks: Charles Matthews is still being recruited-heavily recruited. I went up to St. Rita in January to watch him play, and it was quite the star-studded event. Coach Izzo of Michigan State, Coach Parham of Illinois, Coach Howard of Kansas, and many others. I don’t know about Illinois’ chances, but I don’t think they are very high at the moment. He has offers from a lot of big-time schools.
Groce and his staff are also looking at Carlton Bragg (Ohio), Jayson Tatum (Missouri), Elijah Thomas (Texas), Nojel Eastern (Illinois)
Finally Taylor, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background…….
- I am a student at the University of Illinois, though I sometimes forget I’m still in school. I am the reporting intern for FOX Sports Next Illinois, so I cover Illinois football, basketball, and recruiting. As of lately, recruiting has been my niche, primarily in basketball.
I also do some sideline reporting for BTN, and have appeared on CBS Sports Network, as well as many other sites online. I have also interned with the STL Cardinals, the PGA TOUR, and Comcast SportsNet Chicago. The coolest thing about me is probably that my uncle is Lou Brock. However, I’m probably the lamest person you will ever meet, I love Harry Potter and Space Jam. And I’m the one wearing heels on the court.
Banks: Lou Brock! Nice! Pretty Cool.
Follow Taylor Rooks on Twitter @ImTaylorRooks
Paul M. Banks owns The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An MBA and Fulbright scholar, he’s also a frequent analyst on news talk radio; with regular segments on ESPN, NBC, CBS and Fox. A former NBC Chicago and Washington Times writer, he’s also been featured on the History Channel. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)
The post Talking Illini basketball recruiting with Taylor Rooks appeared first on The Sports Bank.Net.
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