Virtual reality: How the Illini have adapted their recruiting during a pandemic
College basketball programs had to get creative on the recruiting trail. Or, more correctly, off it. Recruiting has gone 100 percent digital. Zoom calls are the new in-home visit.
So Goode was in early on virtual recruiting. He conducted Zoom calls with Michigan State and Marquette in addition to Illinois. By April 17, he was ready to commit. The Illini were the choice, his recruitment sealed with the presentation executed by coach Brad Underwood’s staff.
Illinois showed Goode clips from the its bounceback 2019-20 season. Clips of Goode playing for Indy Heat on the Nike EYBL circuit were integrated into videos of the Illini’s playing style showing just how he would fit on the court.
A PowerPoint presentation highlighted other aspects of the program and university.
“The way they present everything to you on the Zoom is pretty cool,” Goode said. “The coaches would expand on those bullet points and give the deeper explanation of what those meant. They described campus and the team’s play style and the basketball culture and the weightlifting program. Most of the stuff you would get on a visit to campus.”
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