Shareef O'Neal transferring from UCLA: Possible Impact on Josh Christopher Recruitment and Michigan a possible destination?
As some of you have probably heard, Shareef O'Neal, son of Shaquille O'Neal, is transferring from UCLA. Shareef was the #41 player in the 2018, but sat out all of last season due to getting heart surgery. He's only played in 13 games this season, has had some rocky numbers, but still definitely has upside.
Now we get to the Michigan connection. Josh Christopher has recently been trending towards Michigan, with UCLA and ASU as the main competition. UCLA has been a major competitor for Christopher due to their proximity to Christopher and due to Christopher and Shareef O'Neal being good friends. With the departure of Shareef O'Neal from UCLA, UCLA is even less likely to get Christopher and Michigan's chances likely improve. Further, with the announcement of Shareef's transfer, current Michigan commit and Juwan Howard's son, Jace Howard commented on a Tipton Edits Instagram post with "〽️〽️〽️〽️" to obviously signify that Shareef should come to Michigan which makes sense as Juwan and Shaq played in the NBA at the same time for close to 20 years.
With Shareef transferring from UCLA, is it possible that Jace, Shareef, and Josh Christopher all end up at Michigan? I don't think it would be difficult for Shareef to get a hardship waiver for immediate eligibility given his serious injury and coaching change at UCLA.
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:51 PM ^
We are going to have to cut the entire damn current roster to make room for all these speculated transfers and possible signees!
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:54 PM ^
After watching last night's game I am completely on board.
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:55 PM ^
Honestly the scholarship situation isn't as dire as people are saying. Davis I think is planning on grad transferring to GVSU, Nunez I think will get the memo, then either Castleton transfers or Livers goes to the NBA
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:06 PM ^
Grad transfers to a Div II school? That says a lot.
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:15 PM ^
Davis is going pro in something other than sports. PT program at CMU or GV
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:39 PM ^
I give him lots of props if he can manage the PT program and play a major sport. Missing one day of grad school is like missing an entire week of unergrad.
On a side note, he just needs to go to UM-F. Michigan degree for the Flint price.
January 23rd, 2020 at 10:38 PM ^
...but if he thought it was hard carrying the water in Ann Arbor...
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:12 PM ^
These all make sense, except for Livers (not that forcing 3 current guys out is ideal). But is he really ready for the NBA? Especially after missing much of the year and not knowing when he will be back. Great spot of shooter, no doubt. But we certainly haven't seen the step up in his game that we were hearing about in the in off-season. Still not as aggressive as we'd like him to be at creating his own shots. Not sure he has the athleticism that the NBA covets. Just an honest question.
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:32 PM ^
Livers is a pretty classic 3 and D guy right now. Can guard the 3/4 and was shooting 50% from 3 at a pretty high rate before injury. The NBA loves 3 and D guys
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:47 PM ^
With as close as he was with Poole & the current trajectory of basketball I can say with almost certainty that he goes pro after this season. Nothing left but a Natty and that probably won't happen this year or next.
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:22 PM ^
Do you personally know Livers ? His girlfriend goes to uofm still. And with this injury his draft stock is basically non existent at this point.
January 23rd, 2020 at 4:55 PM ^
Forcing guys out?
Michigan has consistently lost transfers they wanted to keep. That's going to happen again. Probably next season, definitely at times down the road.
Most transfers are good for both sides. Players want to play and Michigan's roster is adding a lot of talent. But if Nunez wants to stay and get his degree, he'll stay. The only players Beilein forced out were 5th year seniors. I don't expect anything different from Howard.
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:04 PM ^
After watching Livers for an hour pre game warmups last night.. he was running FULL SPRINTS 5-6 times from baseline to half court ,without breaking a sweat,then doing a 20 minute layup line,including dunks and acrobatic shots (twisting and turning) then watching him guard Wagner and DeJuilios in the one on one drills ,why isnt he playing ,if he can practice like this ?
Left me wondering why he isnt playing at least 10 minutes a night,he looks fine in the warmups.. I know you want him healthy,but he was doing like full scrimmage game stuff in warmups ...
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:16 PM ^
Yeah other than Livers if he stays, DDJ, and Wagner, I can't see anyone else who will still be on the roster next year looking at the caliber of incoming Freshman and thinking they'll see much of the floor. Nothing against those players but are Brooks, Nunez, Davis, or Castelton seeing any action next year over the new guys? Right now it seems unlikely. Bajema is young so he'll get some time to develop. It's unfortunate for these guys to get caught in transition as they were recruited by a coach who was excellent at developing guys and playing them as pieces in an intricate system, and they've been replaced by a coach who may be really good at developing guys too but is recruiting a different strata of athlete. Probably wouldn't have happened to them in the same way if Coach B stayed, but c'est la vie.
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^
If Castleton and Davis leave were left with one center on the roster and hes a true freshman. I dont think that is an ideal situation. Its been said time and time again: dont give up on underclassmen big guys. Castleton is going to continue to mature physically and with his game as well. Id really rather him be on the roster next season.
January 23rd, 2020 at 4:06 PM ^
yeah not hoping for it as it wouldn't be ideal, just wondering if they'd both stick it out and hope for minutes.
January 23rd, 2020 at 4:53 PM ^
I agree on Castleton. He's the classic profile of a high ceiling, late bloomer big.
January 23rd, 2020 at 5:09 PM ^
Livers goes to the NBA?!?!? Based on what? He sure holds that bench down well.
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:07 PM ^
Maybe Juwan gives Jace the firm handshake to make room?
/s
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:17 PM ^
Think Jace's parents can afford tuition as a "walk on??"
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:13 PM ^
You say that like it's a bad thing.
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:55 PM ^
And that's a problem?
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:51 PM ^
Why not?! Then let's get Bronny and DWade's sons. It will be one hell of an interesting cheering section at Crisler.
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:51 PM ^
Under that scenario who is gone? Livers, Nunez and Davis? UM is already one scholarship over for next year. There will likely have to be some forced attrition.
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:56 PM ^
Nunez, Davis, Castleton imo. Castleton seems to have been passed by Davis on the depth chart and he hasn't played in like 3-4 games
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:59 PM ^
We still do not know Jace’s scholarship situation? Plus, right now there appears to be an 8-man rotation currently if you include Isaiah. 3 of those guys are graduating, so only 5 kids(Brooks, Livers, Johns, DDJ, Wagner) should be comfortable about their spot heading into next season. Get the best talent in here, worry about the rest later.
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:53 PM ^
Interesting... And don't forget that Jett Howard is a Top 50 player in the 2021 class. I think Jace is pretty good friends with Jett, and he may also know Juwan from something...
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:59 PM ^
I heard Juwan was sleeping with his mom or something. Isn’t that the joke?
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:00 PM ^
2022*
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:02 PM ^
Someone actually posted last night that Michigan better play better or Jace may decommit
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:55 PM ^
Imagine the drama if Jace flipped on signing day to another school
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:57 PM ^
Are we just assuming that Todd doesn’t end up coming here?
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:01 PM ^
If Todd doesn't come, then only Davis and Nunez have to transfer, if Todd does come then I think someone like Castleton probably gets the handshake
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:09 PM ^
We really can't "give anybody the handshake" though. They would not be grad transfers. It would seem like they would want to transfer for playing time but there is nothing Michigan could do to ensure those spots are available.
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:50 PM ^
This is incorrect. If Todd comes here, Davis is the only one we can’t welcome back. He’d have to grad-transfer
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
Good post OP, interesting situation to say the least.
AFA playing with Christopher, it seems like the best way for them to have a chance to play together would be immediate eligibility for Shareef because of Josh very likely being a one and done if he comes to AA and tears it up.
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:08 PM ^
I really want to see Shaq in Michigan gear at a few games.
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:18 PM ^
Shaq at UM games would be pretty cool.
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:44 PM ^
"makes sense because Shaq and Juwan played in the NBA at the same time"
WTF? That's a reach, almost as long as shaq's wingspan
we'll NEVER have enough scholarships if we take the son of every NBA player that was in the league when Juwan was.....LMAO
January 23rd, 2020 at 4:27 PM ^
You don't think that 2 big men who were in the league for 20 years playing against each other don't know and mutually respect each other? I doubt Jace would've commented that if he didn't know Shareef personally
January 23rd, 2020 at 8:08 PM ^
They also have the Heat / Pat Riley connection.
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:00 PM ^
You guys are hilarious.
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:41 PM ^
Thanks!
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:10 PM ^
Josh Christopher is going to end up at ASU. Don't get your hopes up.
2020/2021 Starting Lineup:
DDJ - PG
Eli - SG
Franz - SF
Livers - PF
Caselton -C
Todd will get starters minutes. Zeb isn't even playing for his HS team, he will drop out of the top 100 and take some time once he gets to Michigan.
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:19 PM ^
Whether Dickinson starts or not he'll likely play more minutes than Castleton.
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:21 PM ^
Maybe by Feb/Mar? Coming as a freshman big man in the big ten is VERY tough to compete. Look at the big men this year: Garza, Oturu, Tillman, Teske...none of these guys were ready to go as freshman.
He will no doubt play though. From what I'm hearing, the plan will be to play Todd as a small ball 5 as well to get him as many mins as possible. If Todd goes overseas, we're looking at 2 straight tournament misses, he's MUCH needed.
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:58 PM ^
Lol at your evaluation of Oturu. If by “not ready to go as a freshman” you meant “started 31 games, averaged double figures scoring and led Minnesota in blocks and field goal percentage and was second in rebounding,” then yes, I agree, he totally wasn’t ready to play as a freshman
I should ask add your evaluation of Garza is equally as laughable. Garza started 26 games his freshman year and was voted newcomer of the year.
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:31 PM ^
Dickinson will be playing more than Castleton. Zeb is better than you think.
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:48 PM ^
What is your basis for arguing that Zeb is falling out of the top 100? Yes, the starter point guard minutes are going to the #2 player in the country, but not sure that means the backup is no longer top 100.