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

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I don't have a subscription, but the headline at the link insinuates that it is a positive article. The headline is something like Illikainen Likes Gophers Pace.
 


Really wasn't any new info in there. Just basically says we had a great year, he likes our style of play, and he likes our coaches. Pretty much the same old stuff as far as his recruitment goes.
 





<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a> 2015 target <a href="https://twitter.com/AIllikainen_25">@AIllikainen_25</a> scored 20 points to lead Howard Pulley's 17s to the title of its tournament today vs. All Iowa Attack.</p>— Marcus R. Fuller (@GophersNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/GophersNow/statuses/463109183408058368">May 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Go Gophers!!
 

I want this kid more than anyone right now, get that first commitment from alex would be great.
 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-j3QCGh0RcU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Very, very impressed with his game!!
 



Richard said:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-j3QCGh0RcU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Very, very impressed with his game!!
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Can he stay in front of Nigel Hayes? If yes, get him here tomorrow.
 



How does one pronounce his last name? Ill-ah-KANE-in?
 





He has the length to give Nigel a couple of feet to not get beat off the dribble yet still challenge the shot if he settles for it. Not that he will stop Nigel but at least slow him down. Nigel will be an all conference guy if not next year, the year after.
 

STrib: Alex Illikainen could be primed for another big recruitment leap

Illikainen said he talks to the Minnesota staff on a daily basis, sometimes about the team, sometimes about the program's wishlist when it comes to facilities, sometimes about how he could fit into the current system -- a stretch-four, Joey King- like role -- sometimes just "as friends, everyday conversations."

Minnesota, of course, has the advantage of proximity. Illikainen has been paying attention to the program he grew up watching.

"He had a great year, finishing off strong," Illikainen said of Pitino. "He's doing great things. I love the way he plays and just the relationships between me and him and [assistant] coach [Ben] Johnson are great."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/258305811.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Go Gophers!!
 

He sounds like a kid that could commit this summer.

Illikainen said he talks to the Minnesota staff on a daily basis, sometimes about the team, sometimes about the program's wishlist when it comes to facilities, sometimes about how he could fit into the current system -- a stretch-four, Joey King- like role -- sometimes just "as friends, everyday conversations."
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Love the idea of Alex becoming a gopher but for now...Im just going to assume he's going to play for smiley in Nebraska. Hate to get my hopes up...
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Alex Illikainen is a very gifted passer for a big man. His stock is soaring.</p>— The EYBL Circuit (@D1Circuit) <a href="https://twitter.com/D1Circuit/statuses/467666482814803968">May 17, 2014</a></blockquote>
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per Shama:

Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino has been on the job for about 14 months and has yet to gain a recruiting commitment from a big name Minnesota high school recruit, but that’s likely to change with his 2015 class. Look for top 100 recruits Jarvis Johnson from DeLaSalle and Alex Illikainen from Grand Rapids to listen hard to Pitino, with either or both likely to become Gophers. Pitino probably realizes the chances of chasing Big Ten titles without one or two star contributors from Minnesota high schools are minimal.

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!
 

Just saw on WCCO news that Alex is thinking about going to Prep school for his final year
 

Gopherfan12 said:
Just saw on WCCO news that Alex is thinking about going to Prep school for his final year
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Elsewhere, UNLV is about to get some crystal balls.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

PiPress: Gophers basketball: Top Minnesota recruits wonder, 'What if ...'

Illikainen and Coffey performed well enough on their respective AAU teams last summer to gain national recognition. Coffey was already a top 30 prospect in Class of 2016; Illikainen and Johnson are top 100 players in the 2015 class.

They all agree Pitino's up-tempo style fits them better than that of former coach Tubby Smith.

"I think it would benefit me more playing in a system like Coach Pitino's," Illikainen said. "I definitely like the change, but I still had great relationship with Tubby."

http://www.twincities.com/gophers/c...rce=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Go Gophers!!
 

Gopherfan12 said:
Just saw on WCCO news that Alex is thinking about going to Prep school for his final year
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That would be best for him. I doubt he can do anything state championship or even section champions wise at Grand Rapids
 

PTalberg said:
That would be best for him. I doubt he can do anything state championship or even section champions wise at Grand Rapids
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I agree, but I did see on Twitter today that he denied all reports of transfering
 

Gopherfan12 said:
Just saw on WCCO news that Alex is thinking about going to Prep school for his final year
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Would probably help him but he just seems like a guy that would want to stay and play for his hometown team and with the guys he grew up playing with. I think he will end up playing for Grand Rapids next year and that is probably the most beneficial thing for the Gophers chances with him as well.
 

Goldy Gopher said:
Would probably help him but he just seems like a guy that would want to stay and play for his hometown team and with the guys he grew up playing with. I think he will end up playing for Grand Rapids next year and that is probably the most beneficial thing for the Gophers chances with him as well.
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Yeah WCCO took the news the wrong way. He said before that he was thinking about it, but decided to stay in Grand Rapids now
 

Marcus blog: Gophers recruiting: Alex Illikainen considered prep school but will finish high school in MN

“Earlier in the year, I just explored it,” said Illikainen, who played in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League with Howard Pulley last week in Eagan. “But I’m not going.”

Illikainen, who is arguably the state’s top player in the 2015 class, says he was encouraged to see top players in the 2014 class like Apple Valley’s Tyus Jones and DeLaSalle’s Reid Travis — also McDonald’s All-Americans — stay in Minnesota to finish their high school career.

“It shows that you can have success staying in Minnesota,” said Illikainen, who has scholarship offers from Indiana, Iowa State, Creighton and Nebraska among others.

– Illikainen, who is ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 83 prospect in his class by Rivals.com, says he continues to have a “great relationship” with Gophers coach Richard Pitino and his staff, including assistant Ben Johnson.

“We’re texting and talking all of the time,” he said. “They have great things to say. I really liked watching them.”

http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers...rep-school-but-will-finish-high-school-in-mn/

Go Gophers!!
 

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