Underwood should have chosen the Irvins over Simeon. Simeon has provided junk since Nick Anderson. Kevin Turner was ok but not elite and really just a throw in for Notree years ago.

The best players in the state tend to play for the Fire anyway. Robert Smith has used leverage when believed that he had it so why shouldn't the Irvins?

I don't blame Smith for Rose and Parker because the family handled the recruiting in both situations.

I do blame him for forcing ILLINOIS to take kids that were not Big Ten players however. He used the Simeon brand to force Ilinois's hand on guys like Tate and D.J. Williams. Stan Simpson too. Promised better players down the road and it never materialized.

I actually see Talen Horton as one of those kinds of players. He is only about 6'3 tops and not athletic. He'd have transferred out at some point anyway.

The Irvins didn't do business with Grove because they were mad that he chose Paris over Chin for the assistant coach job. It's one of the reasons that they missed on bright lights and to a lesser degree Charlie Moore. They didn't want to deal with Illinois or Paris in particular. Probably one of the reasons, albeit a slight one, as to why they missed on Brunson.

Chin is their guy. This means that Illinois will be in play for every player that comes through the Fire program. Doesn't mean they will get them but they will have more of a chance.

Problem with that is that the Fire haven't been all that good the last 3 years. They have been getting blasted on the circuit since guys like Okafor and Alexander have departed.
Their talent has coincided with a general drop in talent in the Chicago area. If Chicago isn't good then they aren't either.
Ayo isn't an NBA prospect though he will be a help to the program.