Qmatic

April 13th, 2020 at 11:55 PM ^

Based on his video it seemed that maybe he has a kid or a niece/nephew. If that’s the case I can see why he wants to be around family

1VaBlue1

April 14th, 2020 at 8:00 AM ^

When you're still going to be 500 miles from home, you're NOT "around family".  You think his brother wants to babysit when he goes out at night?  LOL!!

I just don't get the 'closer to home' angle.  ASU is several hundred miles from LA.  I live several hundred miles from my family in Michigan - it might as well be several thousand miles.  It's still an all-day affair to get from one place to another.

IDKaGoodName

April 14th, 2020 at 8:39 AM ^

This “around family” approach is spot on and I wish more people would consider it. I’m from GR and went to UM Ann Arbor, and I would hardly have considered THAT to be “around family”. One or two times in my time there my dad drove out after work or for half a day to see us. It’s not THAT feasible that being in the same state is even “close” to family. Phoenix and LA are not close. Close enough that his parents can drive to some of his games if they plan to stay the weekend or something, sure. But its still a 5 hour drive one way. When a Michigan kid commits to Northwestern, we don’t say anything about them staying close to family, and that’s typically going to be a shorter drive from almost anywhere in Michigan than this drive from ASU to LA. 

throw it deep

April 13th, 2020 at 11:58 PM ^

Now might not be a bad time to state that I think Christopher's closest comparison is Romeo Langford. Even against HS competition, Christopher has not been a dagger shooter. He makes up for it with excellent athleticism and ability to drive the paint, but it's unclear how much of that will translate to a higher competition level.

 

There's a very good chance Christopher spends one year at ASU, does next to nothing, and declares for the draft anyway.

Hail to the Vi…

April 14th, 2020 at 12:07 AM ^

Well shit. Good luck to Josh for real. I think Sam, Steve and the other recruiting insiders absolutely know what they are talking about. This has a feel of audible at the line, which for whatever reason seems to happen to Michigan often

MFunk

April 14th, 2020 at 12:13 AM ^

Why do you wish Josh good luck? He just told our program he was coming and then left us high and dry, knowing how it affects our roster? Kind of crappy really and not worthy of a bullshite 'Good Luck'. 

He should have been real with the coaches, but he obviously wasn't. Kind of glad he is not at UM now the way he played it out. 

 

 

MFunk

April 14th, 2020 at 12:23 AM ^

Seriously, I see that all the time on this board. 

These kids playing games and fucking up coaches plans.... with purpose!. 

That's the problem I have. Not that they choose a different school but they shit all over the process. 

 
Narcissistic culture we live in. 

And then people on here wish 'Good luck' and 'I respect his decision'. 

That's total crap. It used to be The Team, The Team, The Team. But now, Me, Me, Look at Me! I am the most important person right now! 
 

IDKaGoodName

April 14th, 2020 at 8:55 AM ^

Yeah, I just wish to see people like that humbled. This mentality is the reason I don’t watch many pro sports anymore. There’s a lot less team emphasis and a lot more emphasis on ridiculous contracts to sign great players that don’t meet the hype half the time but still get paid.

hopkinsdrums

April 14th, 2020 at 12:23 AM ^

He's a high school kid with amazing talent and a bright future. He's an American. He's a human being. Furthermore he promised nothing, nor should he have. He has free will and is free to choose where to play ball. Your speculation has very little foundation, and even if it did is incredibly selfish. Yeah, it sucks. Yeah, being a Michigan fan to any extent the past 2-3 decades has generally sucked balls. Blaming it on a young man who is free to do what he wants isn't the correct way to go, in my opinion. Embrace the suck like the rest of us and look forward to the greatness of Hunter Dickinson.

MFunk

April 14th, 2020 at 12:41 AM ^

As a human, I don't wish this kid any bad will at all. 
He can choose as he wants. 

But given the last week of UMBBall news, and all the recruiting news, he was coming to UM. 
Why would DDJ leave if JC was not coming? Makes no sense. 
DDJ would have been a starter on a really good team. 

So, don't you believe that JC said he was coming? Just curious. 
Hard to believe otherwise. 

Anyway, I'm done. Just think these kids need to be honest with their intentions to the coaches. That's real character. 

And I wish them good luck in life but not so much in bball at ASU. 
Color me shitty. 

hopkinsdrums

April 14th, 2020 at 1:23 AM ^

No matter the circumstantial evidence, we just don't know what was said to whom, by whom, between whom, among whom, etc . We also don't know what happened in the past 24-48-72 hours of the life of this kid, who--again--has every right to choose whatever he wants, especially in the midst of an unforeseen national crisis which further complicates matters.

To me, it really doesn't matter what circumstantial evidence suggests. I wasn't sitting next to Mr. Josh Christopher the past two days, so I'm choosing not to be directly upset at him. Obviously it sucks, obviously the decision is contrary to all the information we've heard and, therefore, is even more disappointing. Obviously, if he misled people then he is acting a douche. But if Michigan had not missed on a billion blue chips the past couple decades, I'd bet the general attitude would be similar to mine. And the decision is still in the hands of a young man with his life in front of him.

I'm as hurt as you, but I disagree about how the approach to his decision is being handled. It's that attitude that dissuades many a recruit on Twitter. 

Frank Chuck

April 14th, 2020 at 12:08 AM ^

Welp.

Despite all the positive indicators in Michigan's favor (i.e. Sam Webb's positive extended interview, 100% Crystal Balls including national reporters, umhoops board post from supposed insider, etc.) we still lost out on Josh Christopher.

So much for the Thanos gif. Dammit.

kscurrie2

April 14th, 2020 at 12:08 AM ^

I respect the kids decision, besides it’s his to make.  However, I find it hard to believe that DDJ transfers and Jace becomes a walk-on which leaves an open scholarship unless Howard was told Christopher was coming here.  

remdog

April 14th, 2020 at 6:04 AM ^

Agreed.  I wish him well in life but really, this was a total dick move.  Everything indicates he gave Michigan the impression he would come here and they even made several roster moves to open up a spot for him.  He strung Michigan along until the last minute and then screwed them over.  Why?  For attention?  It's a sign of immaturity and a lack of class and/or character.  There's a right and wrong way to do things when you consider other people in your decision making.  

Trip McNeely

April 14th, 2020 at 12:10 AM ^

Bummer!

But I get it. 

Kid won't even be on campus a full calendar year. Why not go to a party school with beautiful woman and awesome weather and play with your brother. Can't say I wouldn't do the same thing at 18. 

SBayBlue

April 14th, 2020 at 2:45 AM ^

My kid is heading to ASU in the fall, COVID depending. It's definitely a better college town that Tucson, and you have a big city nearby. ASU is not the party school it used to be in 80s when I visited. It's become a much more serious school. It's still not Ann Arbor, but the campus has a lot going for it. And it's a $100 RT, 1 hour flight away (or 5 hour drive) for family, so that has to play in the picture.

I'm bummed he's not coming to us, but ASU is a consolation prize as it's now my second favorite team (and where my money is heading too). It will be fun to watch him...for one year.

Khaleke The Freak

April 14th, 2020 at 8:31 AM ^

Super cheap school for out of state.  Accepted me on my ACT score and brief application alone.  This was back in 01’ but things could have changed since then.  Still wonder what it would have been like to be there...

SBayBlue

April 14th, 2020 at 10:59 AM ^

Not a super selective school. OOS tuition is $30K, vs $52K for us. They take about 84% of applicants. But they have very good programs in business, journalism and engineering. They have more National Merit Scholars (151) than we do (80), plus a ton of Fulbright scholars. Their honors college is arguably the best in the country. (Honors College, not Honors Program)

ASU is certainly not Michigan by a stretch, but they aren't just a party school anymore either.

MFunk

April 14th, 2020 at 1:14 AM ^

Trip & TY, I lived in Tempe, it's not that great of a college town compared to AA, but I def see your point. Close to home, sunny and dry in bball season anyway, chicks in shorts, probably don't have to go to class much, bro playing ball with you. for 9 months, then on to the NBA. Just should have been up front with Juwan about it. Clearly not the case. Kinda fucked us over. 

Ty Butterfield

April 14th, 2020 at 12:13 AM ^

This is why I don’t follow recruiting. 100% of crystal balls to Michigan. What a waste of time and a total joke. 

Goblueman

April 14th, 2020 at 12:16 AM ^

My Theory--JC tells Juwan he's coming to Mich last week thus Jace agrees to walk on.Why else would Jace agree to walk on?JC gets cold feet due to Family & Covid.

hopkinsdrums

April 14th, 2020 at 12:18 AM ^

Najee Harris, Tyus Battle, Jaylen Brown, Josh Christopher, Isaiah Wilson, fuck it. The list goes on. No more WTKA recruiting roundups. No more Crutin' posts. By no fault of the aforementioned media, blue chip recruiting with the signature Maize and Blue luck is just too inconsistent to predict. Hey Google, set an alert for "Hello" and "mgoblog."

Jordan2323

April 14th, 2020 at 12:38 AM ^

What really sucks about this is that him and Todd (hopefully he still comes) have strung the recruiting all the way out to April and Juwan invested a lot of time in salvaging the 19 class and recruiting this one. Now he is way behind on the 21 class, where most of the top talent have favorites already. Christopher and Todd were gonna be the kids that show other 5 stars Michigan is a great place to land. 

njvictor

April 14th, 2020 at 10:00 AM ^

If anything, this will be a good less for Howard. Talent is import, but culture fit and stability are just as important. Maybe next time the 3 5-stars we're in on won't be flirting with overseas 247, wanting to shock the world with his decision while leading on our program, and have an overbearing dad who runs his recruitment