Welcome to the TCR discussion thread for June 21! Yesterday’s Illinois-related news has been compiled below, along with some other links from the wide world of sports. If another topic catches your eye on Wednesday, feel free to post about it in the comments!
Illinois Football Recruiting
- Chicago native and 2018 three-star lineman Gavin McCabe gave a verbal commitment to Indiana on Tuesday afternoon. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound prospect is rated as the nation’s No. 893 prospect by 247Sports. McCabe received a relatively late scholarship offer from Illinois, however the Hoosiers had developed a very strong relationship by the time Lovie Smith entered the race. Losing in-state targets to other Big Ten teams is always bad news, especially when it’s at a position that needs more talent.
- Illinois offered a scholarship to 2018 three-star wide receiver Maureese Wren (TX). The 6-foot-4 wideout is rated as the No. 728 overall player in the class by 247Sports.
Illinois Football
- Help The Champaign Room raise money for Illinois Football’s 2017 Lift for Life. This year, we’re sponsoring Team Turner in our annual fundraising battle against Illini Board. Click here for more information.
- Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman informed media members on Tuesday that the planned renovations at Memorial Stadium have been postponed indefinitely. Instead of the previously proposed $135 million effort, a new $60-80 million stand-alone performance center will be constructed near the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility.
- Josh Whitman also expressed a desire to get Missouri back on the football schedule. Instead of a neutral site game, though, it would likely become some sort of home-and-home series given the current state of the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
Illinois Basketball Recruiting
- 2018 four-star wing Talen Horton-Tucker (IL) will be in Champaign for an unofficial visit today. The Simeon star has five other visits set this month, so the likelihood of a commitment seems to be very low.
- By all accounts, 2018 four-star guard Ayo Dosunmu (IL) had a great Illinois visit on Monday.
- 2018 center target George Conditt (IL) got another scholarship offer, this time from Tulane. Washington became the second high-major program (along with Illinois) to do the same on Monday.
- 2019 big man Kofi Cockburn (NY) got an offer from UCLA yesterday morning. The 6-foot-11 prospect is rated as the No. 33 overall player in the class by 247Sports. It’s obviously early to discuss the next wave of players, but Cockburn is a name that I’ve seen mentioned quite a bit on Twitter since Brad Underwood took over.
2017 NBA Draft & Trade News
- Tuesday was a busy one in the Association. First, the Los Angeles Lakers traded Timofey Mozgov and D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez and the No. 27 overall pick in Thursday’s draft. That move cleared salary space for the Lakers, who are attempting to trade for Indiana Pacers star Paul George. Also, this likely means that UCLA guard Lonzo Ball will be picked by Los Angeles with the No. 2 pick.
- The New York Knicks are apparently fielding offers for Kristaps Porzingis. Why? I don’t know. Probably because Phil Jackson is a terrible, terrible executive.
- Dwyane Wade informed the Chicago Bulls that he will pick up his 2017-18 contract option for $23.8 million. Sad!
- Speaking of the Bulls, Jimmy Butler is still in Chicago. Trade talks seem to really be picking up, with mentions of the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and others involved.
- The Atlanta Hawks traded Dwight Howard and the No. 31 pick to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Miles Plumlee, Marco Belinelli, and the No. 41 pick.
Miscellaneous News & Notes
- The State Farm Center announced they’ll be hosting the Foo Fighters for a concert on Wednesday, November 8. Tickets will go on sale July 13 at 10:00am CT.
- The Las Vegas Golden Knights (that’s a new hockey team) unveiled their first-ever uniforms. I’m not a big fan, honestly. Red was added as an alternate color, and it doesn’t go to well with the Black/White/Gold look.
- The untitled Star Wars: Han Solo movie is officially in big trouble. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy released a statement to announce that directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are no longer heading the project due to “creative differences.” Filming was well underway, too, with multiple reports stating there were about three weeks left (not including re-shoots). The movie was set to be released in May 2018, but it will almost certainly be delayed now. Tough news for fans.