Hoops Hello From The Future: 2024 Christian Anderson
The Wolverines kick-started their 2024 efforts today when Christian Anderson gave his verbal pledge to Michigan.
Anderson is from Atlanta and suits up for Lovett HS. The shotmaking guard displayed tremendous range over the summer on the AAU circuit for the Atlanta Express (Under Armour Circuit). While he's undersized at 5'7-5'8, Christian is only 15 and there is plenty of time for a growth spurt.
While he's not currently ranked, sophomores that aren't viewed as NBA-material simply don't get that treatment so you shouldn't be concerned here. Apologies to the stargazers.
I have yet to see Christian live and a detailed evaluation at this point would be a disservice given the age and future development/growth.
2021 Summer Highlights:
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October 6th, 2021 at 4:41 PM ^
Hans?
October 6th, 2021 at 8:55 PM ^
Maybe he'll become a steal machine and earn the nickname "Hands."
October 6th, 2021 at 4:43 PM ^
Welcome YOUNG man! A great choice for your future!
October 6th, 2021 at 4:48 PM ^
Welcome aboard. Wow can this kid shoot the rock!
October 6th, 2021 at 4:48 PM ^
Nothing to add other than the fact that I went to school down the street from Lovett. They have a very nice campus. Really good school. I did a math team competition there once. Yes, I was (er, am) a nerd.
This kid looks like a fine young man.
October 6th, 2021 at 4:52 PM ^
I'm not saying he's going to be Steph Curry, but the form on his jumpshot is smooth as hell and very reminiscent of Steph's quick trigger.
Also, a lot can change before signing day, but if this kid loves Michigan and Juwan and thinks he's making the right decision, then I have no problem with him committing
October 6th, 2021 at 4:57 PM ^
I watched about 5 minutes of highlights, it's HARD to watch AAU!
October 6th, 2021 at 5:32 PM ^
I agree...AAU ball is unwatchable.
Pull up his you tube shooting drill-it's not hard to watch. Well, it can get a little boring if you're waiting for him to miss. He rapid-fire rains in 22 to 25 foot threes-seldom missing...all net...75 to 80%. He also steps out and drains 30 footers at the same rate. It would be interesting to see a contest between him and Seth-he is really that good. Very similar shooting style as Seth-not a high release yet but a very quick, smooth, beautiful stroke...uncanny.
There are glowing reports regarding the other aspects of his game as well. His dad is 6'5" and played professionally in Europe. Juwan did not offer him as a flyer.
October 6th, 2021 at 4:58 PM ^
Hi Dad is 6'6 and a BB player. He has plenty of time and genes to grow.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:26 PM ^
Thanks. I was just coming to post this question about his parents’ height.
October 6th, 2021 at 9:18 PM ^
The question of the day may be “how tall is his mom?”
As someone else pointed out, a good rule of thumb is to average mom’s and dad’s height and add 2”-3” for a boy (and subtract for a girl). There are exceptions but that’s where my 3 kids ended up.
If mom is a US average of 5’4” that would make him an expected 6’1”. But basketball dads intentionally marry tall for that reason so anything between 6’’1” and 6’6” is likely.
watching his tape, he clearly wants to be the next Curry or better.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:03 PM ^
Well that escalated quickly
October 6th, 2021 at 5:45 PM ^
Instead of talking about ceilings on a player, the recruiting sites will be measuring and reporting growth rate statistics for the next 3 years.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:26 PM ^
I’m wondering what the connection is for him and Michigan? A kid that is 15 and living in Georgia. I’m happy about it, just curious.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:37 PM ^
Among other things, his father knows basketball. If you know basketball and you watch a Juwan Howard coached Michigan team play...it is pure joy. There are well-coached college teams out there...Juwan's coaching is elite.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:50 PM ^
I found an article. He likes Juwan and the staff. Really likes the family atmosphere. Likes the campus and academics Michigan provides. Says it’s a great fit for him.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:41 PM ^
Great news! Congratulations to Christian--future NBA player and NCAA National Champion!
GO BLUE!!!
October 6th, 2021 at 5:51 PM ^
Not to be a debbie downer, but feel like these early commits in Football and Basketball rarely stick. When he's 6'4 and shoots like that, I'm sure he'll be taking his visits to Duke and UNC.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:55 PM ^
A kid out of Georgia in football I would tend to agree but not in basketball. We are recruiting better than Carolina right now and neck and neck with Duke the last few cycles overall as well.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:56 PM ^
Yeah, I'm excited for him and Michigan.....but I just don't get the attraction to either party to announce this "commitment" given that he can't even drive yet. What's the rush from either party? In his case, maybe he grows to 6'6" and has pro options. In Michigan's case maybe he doesn't grow in height or skill.
I'm happy....just not even registering this as a real signing because it is so far into the future that neither party probably considers this binding.
October 6th, 2021 at 6:43 PM ^
We are, for the moment, getting just as much press as the biggest names in college basketball. Juwan is a star. Players want to play for him and parents want him to coach their sons.
October 6th, 2021 at 6:09 PM ^
Apologies to the star gazers has me weak bruh.
October 6th, 2021 at 6:15 PM ^
I see we’re going the Arsene Wenger route of recruiting lol
October 6th, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
wow... that's the earliest recruit I've seen for Michigan in a while.
If you know, you know I suppose and Michigan must like him a lot to take the verbal at this point as opposed to waiting a bit.
Great start to 2024!
October 6th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
Dude is already a better shooter than 80% of the kids in college basketball. Obviously that could change as he gets older, or he could fail to grow and be stuck at 5'5". But betting on him being at least 6'0" and retaining his shooting stroke is a good bet. Even if he was "just a shooter" with the way he shoots he would be an asset.
October 6th, 2021 at 6:52 PM ^
What is this crouch profile picture on the last couple recruits is this the tic toks
October 6th, 2021 at 6:53 PM ^
*tick taks
October 6th, 2021 at 6:57 PM ^
The trajectory on his shot is beautiful. Just falls in so nice. It almost looks like he has never hit the rim on a shot before. Looks like Juwan likes 4 year players in the back court. Its nice to have a coach you have 100% confidence in.
October 6th, 2021 at 8:44 PM ^
Hard to know much from the video and with so much development ahead of him, definitely looking forward to Matt EM's evaluation when he gets to see him live. However, in the interim I can comfortably say that he is already taller and a better shooter than Avery Queen.
October 6th, 2021 at 9:06 PM ^
I was skeptical at first based on his height and age but oh my lord that jumpshot is straight up beautiful
October 6th, 2021 at 9:32 PM ^
Kind of surprised at folks fawning over his shooting form. Every single jump shot I've seen in any of his shooting workouts or game film is gathered from below the waist. For a kid who will be lucky to end up 6'1" or 6'2", that's not going to work against decent competition.
October 6th, 2021 at 10:26 PM ^
That's pretty funny-in a most pathetic way. He is 15 years old. Raining in threes out to 30 feet. A beautiful, quick release...catch and shoot and off the dribble. And to think he averaged 30 points a game this summer while not being able to find a way to employ that sweet stroke! Oh dear...some people just cannot be helped.
Developmentally he's not very mature. By the time he is 20 that stroke will have him within range when he crosses into the front court. I think we have every reason to trust Juwan on this one.
October 6th, 2021 at 10:43 PM ^
Um, okay? The kid's a college recruit, I'm not sure why commenting on his shot form is pathetic, and we evidently have different definitions of "quick release." It's no doubt incredibly effective when he's playing against other 15 year olds. But if his shotmaking is his elite skill, it's slightly concerning to me that his form will need some significant revamping if he expects to get that shot off as a 6'1" guard against high major competition.
I could be totally wrong, I don't claim to be a scout or expert or anything of the sort. I'll be curious to read Matt EM's opinion once he is able to see him in person.
October 7th, 2021 at 7:45 AM ^
You don't have to take my word but what you are saying here is that you know more than Juwan Howard. But yes, I suppose I am biased in this. I was a 5'2" 120 pound high school sophomore when I was named as an honorable mention all-state player. There is a place for and, in fact, some significant advantages with being short in this game. My guess is that he will grow to around 6 foot. Otherwise, you have no (informed) point.
Read the piece LebattsBleu has posted here.
October 7th, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
Come on, dude. If the prerequisite for having an opinion or commenting on recruits, players, strategies, plays, etc. is that you have to know more than the coaches, then what's the point of this blog? So we can just sit around and say, "yep, coach must be 100% right all the time."?
I can absolutely believe that Juwan Howard knows a million percent more about basketball than I ever will, and also have my own opinions about basketball things.
October 7th, 2021 at 9:03 AM ^
He doesn't have the requisite strength to start his form at a higher point. Less strength requires more of a wind up. As he gains strength he should move his starting position upwards and his shot will get even quicker. If he has this type of shooting form at age 15, I am confident he will continue to improve his from as he gains strength. "Significant revamping" is a bit extreme - his motion is decent, he just starts low and releases just a hair too far forward rather than higher up (vertical motion) but those are both indicators of poor strength. His lower body looks ok (his feet are a little bit misaligned but not too bad) and his horizontal motion (not moving left or right during the motion, tucking the elbow in) seems solid.
October 7th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
That's a reasonable assessment. I wasn't claiming the kid looked like Lonzo Ball or something, but like I said, I thought it was odd that people were fawning over a shooting motion that looks very much like a work in progress to me. I hope you're right and improvement occurs naturally as he gains strength, and doesn't require completely resetting ingrained habits.
October 6th, 2021 at 11:51 PM ^
good write up from an Atlanta website
Scouts in the area have taken notice of the electrifying guard. Runna Report founder, coach Adrian Collins carefully observed the top middle school talent in the country for the last decade. He thinks Christian stacks up with the best.
“I have never ever seen a guy produce every level he goes up like Christian Anderson," Collins said. "His consistency and efficiency has never faltered. Whenever he gets his opportunity, he is making a play. He has a pro mindset as a freshman."
October 7th, 2021 at 7:27 AM ^
Mike Smith, Dug McDaniel and now Christian Anderson.
Juwan Howard understands this great game.
Juwan Howard knows how to construct a roster and employ the components.
Juwan Howard has a plan.
I like Juwan Howard.
October 7th, 2021 at 8:22 AM ^
When I was 15, I was sure I wanted to go to Michigan. Absolutely sure. And while the decision did come down to the wire, I ended up going to Michigan Tech because I felt more at home there. When I was 15, I didn't even know Tech existed.
I just bring this up to say that, knowing 15-year-old me, I would take any 15-year-old's college choice with a grain of salt.
October 7th, 2021 at 5:14 PM ^
I knew I was going to Michigan when I was 5 and it ended up being the only school i applied to. Maybe he's more like me.
October 7th, 2021 at 10:22 AM ^
https://second.wiki/wiki/christian_anderson
Dad's info. Good friend of mine played ball with him at VUU in Richmond.
October 7th, 2021 at 11:01 AM ^
There is no correlation to commit date and success. The best fans can do at this point is concentrate on Michigan, let Howard do his thing, and ignore this kid. Let his family do the work.
Kids rarely commit this early to shit programs. Just saying. This says more about Michigan, true or not.
Thanks for the wiki on his Dad. That helps. Juwan uber alles.
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