Mitch McGary: Happening? Probably
right via Indy Star
In the last 24 hours the belief that Mitch McGary will end up at Michigan has spread from local guru Sam Webb to large hunks of the basketball recruiting world. McGary just announced he wouldn't be visiting Kentucky or anywhere else and plans to come to a decision in a month.
While his blog post on ESPN mentions a desire to run and (fairly) leaves Michigan out when discussing the teams that do run, that hasn't stopped the train of positive mojo Webb kicked off on a WTKA recruiting roundup a couple days ago. Dave Telep:
If I set the odds, I'd install Michigan as favorite w/McGary at this juncture. College recruiters concerned about UM the most.
Scout's Brian Snow:
Word on the street is that Michigan has emerged as a leader for 2012 big man Mitch McGary, who was supposed to make an official visit to Kentucky for Big Blue Madness. Scout.com national analyst Evan Daniels reported on Sunday night that he was hearing Michigan was a "major favorite." There is also some speculation now that McGary, a native of Indiana, won’t make any more visits.
The twitter feed of one Bacari Alexander:
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boy, I hope that's about recruiting and not baseball.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:24 AM ^
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^
Even worse you have my hopes up. The Bacari Tweet is the most promising. What else could he be so happy about?
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:30 AM ^
October 3rd, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
Damn hivemind
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:32 AM ^
What isn't he that happy about? HALOL
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
I went to almost every michigan mbb game between 2006-2010 when I was a student, and am ecstatic at this news. This would put us close to contending for a title if he could have a big freshman year impact
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^
Goddammit...how am I supposed to get any work done this morning?
I saw this on Scout and told myself "eh don't get too riled up about it." BOOM front-paged by Brian.
By law, I must now axiously await for the good or bad news to emerge in the next two weeks...My F5 key will probably need replaced by the time this thing is over and basketball is my #3 favorite M sport...
I can only imagine what the Brionte Dunn watch will be like that will of course happen in January.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
I don't think there will be a big Dunn anouncement he will just quietly show up on campus at ethier OSU or UM as an early enrolle.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:33 AM ^
I agree, there won't be a big hullabaloo (sp?) announcement, but I think we'll have several weeks of unfounded rumors leading up to signing day whether he ends up at OSU or UM.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:45 AM ^
October 3rd, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
He's not enrolling early. He plans to enroll in the fall. I'll search for a non-$ link to where I've read that.
October 3rd, 2011 at 1:39 PM ^
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:35 AM ^
This would be one of the biggest pickups the basketball program has ever had. Come to Michigan, Mitch!
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
You say he'd be "one of" the biggest pickups ever.
Undoubtedly not "the" biggest ever. Chris Webber -- IF he had officially attended UM, which officially, he never did, or, we cannot confirm or deny if he did, at least until 2013 or something -- was consensus #1, IIRC.
Looking back in hindsight too, I think Glen "Sarah Was Quite Friendly" Rice was probably the biggest. I don't recall his recruiting stats but he was a very, very coveted sharpshooter and Frieder was trying very hard to get him. And obviously he was THE cog in the '87 championship.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^
I know, because that was the best week ever in Ann Arbor:
Grateful Dead at Crisler
Hash Bash
Nat. Championship in hoops
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^
That really is a good week.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:45 AM ^
This.
October 3rd, 2011 at 1:37 PM ^
As excited as I am about McGary, I don't think this is true. That's not McGary's fault; it's college basketball's fault. Super elite recruits tend to stay for only a year or two, so they're worth considerably less to the schools that get them than they were 10-15 years ago. You could make a case that really talented kids barely lacking early entry NBA skills are worth about as much as the true big-timers these days.
In other words, the value of college basketball recruits has flattened in recent years.*
*BUT DAMN, I WANT McGARY AT MICHIGAN SO BAD
October 3rd, 2011 at 7:15 PM ^
Actually, 10-15 years ago (1996-2001), the best HS seniors didn't even go to college.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^
But should we be BUCKLING UP!?
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:48 AM ^
Dylan has officially turned on the "Buckle Up" sign...Now whether he meant it like Tom used to, I don't know
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
NVM. Somehow I didn't see the other reply already up
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
I couldn't be more excited about the prospect of McGary coming here, even making it this far into his recruitment is a great sign for Beilen and the program. But this is playing out eerily like the recruitment of Casey Prather a few years back : http://mgoblog.com/content/casey-prather-coming-wing-near-you
I won't be convinced until he signs on the line that is dotted.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 AM ^
Is for closers!
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^
Your right, I forgot about that, it is pretty similar. With that said, Mcgary is more elite recruit, so getting him would be that much more exciting! (and not getting him that much more depressing)
October 3rd, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^
I do think the basketball program has more momentum now than it did at that point, though. The new practice facility and Crisler renovations are big.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
that new player development center must be the shizzle
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:48 AM ^
Fingers crossed, but preparing myself for disappointment.
I still think if he commits, it would be the biggest commit since Chris Webber.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
Hold me, TomVH...
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:53 AM ^
This is Mitch McGary with a towel on his head.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
McGary is a modern Aaron Rodgers:
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^
Nah, he's a modern day Dumb Donald.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:53 AM ^
but I will swill some whiskey if this deal goes down.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 AM ^
As far as highest-ranked commitments, McGary would be the highest since Jerrod Ward, I think.
Lavell Blanchard was a top-10 guy...so you might consider him the last superbigtimeomg recruit to commit.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:01 AM ^
I can't help but think we are jumping the gun. Even Brian is pretty reserved until it looks official. I don't think anything on the net has gave us enough to think this thing is over and we landed McGary. "Yes!!!!!" I mean that could be anything. Maybe his favorite plain cheese pizza just got delivered... Who knows. I dunno maybe just the loom of Duke has me doubting.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^
Fuck Duke.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^
It's not delivery, it's DiGiorno!
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^
Please oh please come to A2 Mitch. You would be an instant celebrity!!!!
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:07 AM ^
I've read before that McGary is a likely a "one and done" player. Has anyone else seen this?
I would think that Michigan is a much better option than Duke if you're only going for one year. Ann Arbor > Durham. If he's going to be there for three or four years, then Duke is more likely to win a national championship during his career. However, if you only get one year to experience college life (campus, football games....), Michigan is the much better option.
October 3rd, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^
I think Gordie Bell had this exactly right above.
Fuck Duke.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:07 AM ^
The first time I read his blog I read it through a Michigan point of view. I got a little worried because it didn't really seem like he was favoring us. I then reread it and realized that it doesn't sound like he's favoring any other team either from the way he wrote it (including duke) so that is a big positive. I know he probably will never declare a leader until he commits and I really hope its us. With that said, I also really hope someone doesn't break the official news before he does, he deserves the spotlight for his big decision. Go Blue!
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:58 AM ^
The blog entry, to me, has the most positive statements made about Duke. That is certainly worrisome.
OTOH, it seems to be down to Michigan and Duke, and that's awesome! While McGary's own words somewhat favor Duke, it's certainly interesting that every commentator talking about this has McGary leaning Michigan. So perhaps the "I want to get out and run" thing is not as big a deal as it appears in the blog.
Go Blue!!!!
Rob
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
Sam said that if Michigan's recruitment of McGary were a blackjack hand that he'd "double down" on his bet. He reiterated that it was just his opinion, and *not* a gut feeling or based explicitly on information given to him by McGary or those close to him. Just an opinion.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^
Whats the difference from an opinion and a gut feeling?
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
It's code that the kid is a silent commit (at least at that point in time). It's a way for Sam to provide the information without technically revealing information that the recruit doesn't want publically known as of yet.
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