Chad Ford on Trey Burke: Go back to School

Submitted by ish on
from a chat today:
 
tb (chicago)

Trey Burke's draft stock?

Chad Ford

Second round. He should go back to school

samsoccer7

March 28th, 2012 at 3:14 PM ^

Encouraging for us. If Ford had heard even 1 or 2 gms say first round, he would have prefaced his statement saying as much. Given that he didn't, he must be projecting AND hearing second round.

MGlobules

March 28th, 2012 at 3:36 PM ^

stumbling a bit down the stretch in the regular season. But I'm not sure it speaks terribly well for Ford's analytic skills if he values Craft over Burke long-term. That said, although Trey led M in blocked shots, he has to become a better defender (nother reason to come back). I kinda wonder whether some of his emphasis on getting big quick, as he did in the off-season last year, didn't temporarily diminish his lateral movement.  

SMJenkins3

March 28th, 2012 at 4:17 PM ^

In Chad Ford's defense I think he is mostly reporting what he is hearing from execs regarding possible draft prospects.  I don't think he is personally saying Craft is a better prospect than Burke.  I think he goes on to say he heard from at least one basketball exec that Craft could go late lottery to first round if he turned pro. 

these wolverines

March 28th, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^

no way what does craft bring? ..a pg that can bring up the ball and play good d i can find those in the D league. Trey is can do both and is faster and he can you buckets and has a higher ceiling.  He should stay though this class is deeper than most drafts.

mGrowOld

March 28th, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^

I'm still betting on departure.  Unfortunately for us (and Trey candidly) agents will whisper sweet nothings in his ear from now until the deadline for his decision about how wonderful a player he is and how is surely going first round given the immense talent he clearly holds.

And if he does leave the board will be filled with "Good luck Trey" posts telling everybody to be positive and anybody who dares insinuate he just made a tremendous and life-altering mistake will be negged between now and draft day.  Then the posts will spring up saying "we're actually better off without him cause player X is going to come in and do even BETTER."  Then on draft day when he does NOT go in the first round (and in Trey's case I doubt even he second) everyone will act all shocked and surprised and wish him the best as a free agent.  Some will even continue to defend his going out as the "right move" for him even though he went undrafted and cost himself millions and a free education.

I've seen this movie twice in the last three years.  I know how it ends if i have to watch it a third time.

sandman24

March 28th, 2012 at 3:46 PM ^

After Darius Morris' and Manny Harris' exits into second-round 'stardom,' I understand your skepticism.  But you have to analyze each situation on its own, and I respect Trey's desire to do what's best for him. All cool heads have said that Trey should go back to school, so we just have to hope that Trey is listening to those people.  

I think Darius Morris had a much stronger case to leave Ann Arbor early because he was drawing more first-round buzz.  Unless Trey really hates Beilein's system or just wants to go to the NBA, then I think he'll end up coming back.

bronxblue

March 28th, 2012 at 4:11 PM ^

I don't disagree about this story being the same with Morris, but Harris was a completely different bird.  By all accounts, he wasn't super-happy with the way the team was set up in Beilein's system, and had already been in his doghouse over the two seasons.  He was ready to move on, and I think the team needed a break and a redirection that was going to be tough with a high-use player like Harris around (despite him being really good). 

Personally, I don't think Burke is anywhere near the same player right now as either of those guys, and no amount of sweet nothings from agents will change the fact that, at best, Burke would be a 2nd rounder.  He's a smallish point guard with a decent shot.  He'll get better, but at his age he's not the type of all-around player/athlete that typically can make the leap.  I've seen Kalin Lucas as a comp by many, and that sounds right. 

mGrowOld

March 28th, 2012 at 4:24 PM ^

There is no one who rather be wrong here than me but man o man read the tweet from Trey right below this post.  I'm pretty sure "people" are not all bothering Trey begging him to LEAVE school.

If I was 75% sure he was gone before that tweet I'm now at about 90% and rising.  By the way for any of you who havent seen this movie like I have the ending SUCKS.

panthera leo fututio

March 28th, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^

It's easy for me to imagine Trey simply expressing frustration at the number of people whom he's never met who feel entitled to tell him that he'd be a moron for choosing Life Course A over Life Course B. Even if he were already leaning strongly toward returning, I'd imagine he's feeling more than a little irritation at the intrusiveness and self-absorption of some of the twittering fanbase.

bronxblue

March 28th, 2012 at 3:42 PM ^

I love Burke, but I thought Morris made a mistake when he left, and he was much more "ready" as a pro compared to Trey.  Stick around at least 1 more year, improve your shooting and court vision/handle, and then see what the NBA says next year. 

bronxblue

March 28th, 2012 at 4:21 PM ^

Seems like a couple of idiots online are bugging him.  I never understood the level of invasiveness people will go to with these kids.  I love Michigan sports and all, but I'd never follow some kid on twitter or become his friend on facebook unless, you know, I was a friend of him or he gave me a real reason (e.g. a really funny set of tweets), and even then I wouldn't really talk to him. 

Elmer

March 28th, 2012 at 5:08 PM ^

I really like Trey and think he's a good kid, but he's showing his immaturity.  If he thinks he can make this decision in a vacuum, then he's sadly mistaken.  If you play major D1 hoops or in the NBA, you're going to get feedback both positve and negative, including some from  anonymous 14 year old kids up in their room.   

If he wants a lower profile, drop his Twitter account for starters.

 

 

bronxblue

March 28th, 2012 at 10:27 PM ^

I get that Burke shouldn't expect complete privacy, but I also think that fans don't need to bug him on twitter about his decision.  That just seems excessive to me.  If he polled public support and comment, then so be it. But I didn't see anything on twitter to that effect, and he seems to mostly retweet people and occassionally talk about the team. 

The older I get, the more I realize how weird it is to get caught up in what 18-year-olds say on social media.

these wolverines

March 28th, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^

Talking on a blog to fellow fans is one thing, but saying stuff to him or tweeting him or fbooking him is another level. Its a huge decision though one most people will never get my big decison of the day was what to eat for lunch so i feel for the kid.

mattpergo

March 28th, 2012 at 11:35 PM ^

Is gone. The agents are getting to him and he is seeing $$$$. Can't say I blame him really but another year of development and he should be a first rounder.