Ant Wright Tweet about “pleasant surprise” joining the Michigan basketball team pending physical
https://twitter.com/itsantwright/status/1208428539613188101?s=21
“A pleasant surprise could be joining the Michigan hoops team pending a physical going well... ?
I now see why Juwan wasn’t focusing too much on a certain position in the 2020 class.. Top 5 player in the state for his class.. stay tuned”
Not sure the validity of this rumor but one would have to think he’s talking about Charles Matthews or maybe Ronnie Bell
December 21st, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
I’m guessing it’s not Bell, he’s becoming nfl worthy.
December 21st, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
Maybe it's Juwan. He has his degree and a year of eligibility still.
December 21st, 2019 at 12:02 PM ^
I agree. He could very well end up getting drafted next year. I wouldn’t be all that excited for B-ball to add a project to their team for part of a season.
December 21st, 2019 at 12:06 PM ^
Plus, why would he need to do a physical?
December 21st, 2019 at 12:16 PM ^
Exactly, he’s also bowl prepping, he doesn’t have the time for basketball
December 21st, 2019 at 12:44 PM ^
You absolutely would have to pass a physical to play a completely different sport. Not only is the conditioning different, but you can play with injuries in one sport that would impact you more in the other.
December 21st, 2019 at 2:40 PM ^
You do. Trust me.
It's not the same physical as one would go through preseason but at the vast majority of schools around the country you still take one if you're playing multiple sports. I know this with 100% certainty.
There are multiple reasons...different cardiovascular strain is one. Minor injuries is another (you can okay one sport with certain injuries that impact you more in another). To conduct baseline testing is another reason. It's just smart from an athletic training standpoint.
It would be dumb as hell to think that just because someone plays football that same person can transition to another sport with completely different strains and rigors without an issue.
I'm sure that person is fine and better off 95% of the time. But there is still no harm in testing and getting up-to-date info.
That said...I still think this whole thing is weird and I don't trust Ant Wrights cryptic Twitter post one bit.
December 21st, 2019 at 4:40 PM ^
I'm with Blue. I ran track at Michigan and the physical was a joke. The wait to get into the doctor was absolutely longer than the visit. I don't think if I had played a second sport, they somehow would have done a super serious second physical. We had football players join the team late in the (indoor) season. I don't think they went through some crazy second, mega-deep physical. They just showed up and ran (or three). IIRC, Desmond showed up and finished 4th in the 55m. I think Butler Bynote won that year.
December 21st, 2019 at 7:54 PM ^
What you are describing is NOT physical examination. You are referring to stress testing, which is something vastly different and something I assure you they do NOT put all athletes through, and surely do not force multi sport athletes to go through. I’m just puzzled that you said you are 100% certain when the ensuing post leads me to believe you actually have close to no clue what you are talking about, from a medical standpoint
December 21st, 2019 at 1:01 PM ^
Bell is around the level of a Grant Perry. Good to have on your team but NFL... Come on man. That's the same homerism as people on here saying DPJ, Collins, and Black all going 1st round this draft before the season started.
December 21st, 2019 at 1:22 PM ^
The nfl always has room for guys who always seem to find a way to get open, he won’t be a home run threat, prolly won’t even ever be a 2nd option. But the kid can move the sticks.
December 21st, 2019 at 2:33 PM ^
Yep, Julian Edelman and Tyreek Hill, and Tyler Lockett say hello.
Whether it's short space elusiveness, dynamic slot speed, or the ability to find soft spots in the zone, the days of only being able to win with a solid run game and outside 6'6, 4.5 - 40 wide receivers are over in the NFL.
With many NFL teams adopting new schemes (many from college and due to experimenting more with dual threat read option QB's), there is also more room for receivers with different skill sets. The big boy, downfield threats will always be in high demand, but depending on scheme and QB there's a lot more variety now in the types of receivers we see in the NFL.
On a similar note, with passing attacks becoming so prolific, we are even seeing a change in the type of RB teams covet (those that can run between the chains and are dynamic as slot receiver).
Ronnie Bell is a dynamic receiver with great instincts. Needs more reps to improve his hands, so he may stay another 2 years, but he should have a future in the NFL.
December 21st, 2019 at 7:38 PM ^
You can't just pick 3 good to amazing slot NFL WRs at random and be like yup that's Bell too. Hill is elite in the NFL with 4.2 speed... Not even close to the same type of player as Bell but they both play slot so you list him? Lockett is phone booth quick, again not Bell's game. Edleman is the only one I'd consider comparable playing style wise, but Bell has much to prove to ever come close to being a Julian Edleman. If Bell played his entire career with Tom Brady he would have a chance at making it in the NFL.
Bell, like Grant Perry and Drew Dileo were guys who found ways to get open that our QBs could depend on to find space. But none of these 3 guys had good speed, were jump ball WRs, had top end quickness, or high ceilings. There is nothing wrong with that and I'm happy they all wear maize and blue. But to talk about Bell like he could go pro next year is wishful thinking. Just like when Spright was going to have a tough decision to go pro early, or Higdon almost going pro after his Junior year.
Bell will have to absolutely blow up the next 2 years to have a chance. Jeremy Gallon was clutch, more sure handed, and I think broke at least 1 Michigan receiving record but barely got drafted, I think he was 7th round. And Gallon is the type of player you described above.
December 22nd, 2019 at 9:20 AM ^
Agree. Tyler Lockett was a monster in college. 1,500 yards his senior year *and* led the nation in punt returns. Bell is a nice player but comparing the two is like comparing Shea and Trevor Lawrence.
December 21st, 2019 at 1:28 PM ^
Bell had double the yards that Perry had in his best season, and beat his best YPC average by about 2 yards. He's a much more productive and more athletic player than Perry. Get real
December 21st, 2019 at 4:01 PM ^
1) I fully agree
2) Nice props for your brother!
December 21st, 2019 at 7:57 PM ^
Our offense was often pass first multi WR spread this season and we had Shea Patterson. Perry's primary offense was run first 2 WR FB+TE(s) sets. Perry also had Wilton Speight, O'korn, and Peters at QB. And Perry got in trouble with the law which put him in the dog house while at Michigan. Overall I think Bell is a little more athletic but I also think Perry wouldn't drop a game tying touchdown. Bell would not of put up much numbers in the same situation Perry was in.
December 21st, 2019 at 9:07 PM ^
Your take is pretty laughable. Sorry, but there's a huge difference between Perry and Bell in athleticism. Maybe Bell wouldn't have put up huge numbers in the offense a few years ago, either, but Bell has a larger catch radius and is much, MUCH better after the catch.
December 22nd, 2019 at 9:29 PM ^
How is it laughable when you didn't even disagree with me? You agreed Bell's numbers would not have been as good a few years ago and also agreed that Bell is more athletic than Perry. I also agree Bell is better after the catch, but Perry had better hands which is more valuable than run after the catch.
The only difference of opinion is the variance of football athleticism between the two.
Laughable would be listing Donovan Jeter as the teams most important player.
December 21st, 2019 at 5:52 PM ^
I love some Ronnie Bell, but as a bball player he wouldn't have been recruited by a P5 heavyweight - or he would've been. Besides, I don't think JH would let JH have a #1 receiving target and risk injury...
December 21st, 2019 at 12:05 PM ^
Stauskas?
It's not like he is doing anything right now.
s/
December 21st, 2019 at 12:05 PM ^
It's probably Chris Webber.
December 21st, 2019 at 12:06 PM ^
Matthews never got any sort of pro deal or even signed with an agent? I think he went past the point of withdrawing from the draft anyway. I don’t think that’s an option.
December 21st, 2019 at 12:06 PM ^
My new prediction is actually Myron Gardner. He's in the transfer portal from Georgetown and is a 6'6" wing and one of the guys involved in the Georgetown scandal. Not sure I want this kid
December 21st, 2019 at 3:53 PM ^
1. He fits the description given by Ant.
2. I’m not up on the GTown scandal. Could you elaborate?
December 21st, 2019 at 5:04 PM ^
Accused of sexual assault/harassment and burglary.... do not want.
December 21st, 2019 at 10:52 PM ^
I highly doubt Howard is bringing on any guys involved in the burglary threats or harassment, man. DUH
December 21st, 2019 at 12:12 PM ^
It’s gotta be Mcgary. Pot is legal now so the NCAA is going to make things right and let him back in. He’s been bowling so I’m sure his conditioning won’t be an issue at all.
December 21st, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
It is Brandon Wade. I am guessing as a walk on.
December 21st, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
He is not good enough to forego recruiting. Neither is Ronnie Bell. I would hope it's somebody else
December 21st, 2019 at 2:37 PM ^
He's almost certainly talking about Wade in this follow up tweet. MattD's Endless Motor had him ranked in the top 150. Darn good for a walkon.
ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (ItsAntWright)
Don’t believe he plays this year, but he’ll practice with this team and be ready for the 2020-21 season.. one of the best players in Michigan for his class.. shoots too well, too good on defense, way too smart to not get in the rotation next year Needs a players coach like Juwan
December 21st, 2019 at 2:52 PM ^
Shoots too well? Brandon Wade shot 19.5% and less than 70% from the line.
December 21st, 2019 at 3:06 PM ^
Plus, he wasn't a top 5 player in the state in his class.
December 21st, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^
Consider the source, it's Ant Wright.
Who were the top 5, Brandon Johns, Gabe Brown, DeJulius, Loyer and Bingham? We can be 100% sure he isn't talking about one of them. He probably means he was top 5 in Class A schools. Wade was 1st team all state.
December 21st, 2019 at 12:20 PM ^
Its LaVar Ball
December 21st, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^
Its Lim Jahey trailer park supervisor
December 21st, 2019 at 1:59 PM ^
Is he good at either basketball or trailer park supervising?
December 21st, 2019 at 2:16 PM ^
Does that mean Randy is coming too?
December 21st, 2019 at 2:50 PM ^
Pay him in cheeseburgers and Bong rips.
December 21st, 2019 at 3:32 PM ^
Well, birds of shit feather flock together.
December 21st, 2019 at 12:27 PM ^
Ronnie Bell to join the team after the bowl game.
Edit: I should've added "...is my guess." I hate when people speak as if something is fact when they have no fucking clue. Which I don't. So take my comment with a grain of salt.
December 21st, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
This post is tantalizing!!
December 21st, 2019 at 12:53 PM ^
Does this mean it’s a PG? A true PG is the only position that wasn’t offered in the 2020 class. Sure guys like Jackson and Burnett can play it but they’re more combo guards than PGs.
Edit: I’m 95% sure it’s PG Brandon Wade. Wright has been tweeting about him for years and is clearly a big fan. He thought he should have been a Michigan Mr Basketball finalist, hence the “top 5 player in the state.” Also, he’s transferring from Duquesne.
December 21st, 2019 at 1:01 PM ^
I’m calling it now: Steven Mateen Izzo is transferring to the good guys
December 21st, 2019 at 5:02 PM ^
Izzo literally made his son's middle name an homage to a rapist?
That's pretty on brand
December 21st, 2019 at 6:36 PM ^
Izzo: "He may be a rapist, but he is my rapist."
December 21st, 2019 at 9:06 PM ^
"If I had a son..."
December 21st, 2019 at 9:28 PM ^
He wasnt a rapist yet at the time. He was simply the guy who broke a beer cooler and stole a 40oz. Oh, and the guy who kicked down the door of his campus girlfriend. Oh, and the guy who took money from Ed Martin, got in a rollover, and was never punished.
Totally name worthy.