Chris Balas: Austin Hatch will be on the MBB roster next year [EDIT: But Sam thinks Michigan would make room for Brown]
I know we had a post yesterday saying Coach Beilein expects no attrition* from the team, but that post did not say that Hatch would remain on athletic scholarship. Chris Balas (the link is free) now reports Coach Beilein said yesterday that Hatch would be on the team next year. This means, FWIW, that Michigan will only have room for Jaylen Brown if LeVert leaves for the NBA.
Editorial: My admiration for Coach Beilein never stops growing, and obviously I love Hatch. But man would it be nice to have Jaylen Brown!
https://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1754603
*This does not account for LeVert or Bielfeldt.
EDIT: See Maison Bleue's post below for Sam Webb's thoughts on the situation. Sam disagrees with Balas's take.
If Jaylen Brown wants to commit, I guarantee they find a way even if LeVert comes back.
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I'm sure you've talked to Belien and know for sure what he will decide if Brown wants to commit.
I'm amazed that anyone really thinks that Beilein will pass up the opportunity to bring in a transformative player in favor of keeping Hatch on the team.
There's no doubt that Hatch's story is incredible and inspiring, but Beilein has already gone above and beyond what could be expected by honoring his scholarship for this year.
Jaylen could make U of M an instant Final Four favorite...and could be the player to get the team to the "next level" of success and reputation...which could have a positive effect on recruiting and performance for many years to come. You don't pass up this opportunity.
There are other ways to live up to the spirit of the promise or obligation to Hatch. Medical scholarship. Team manager. Maybe one year as a walk-on and then resuming the scholarship after this year.
Put yourself in Hatch's shoes. You'd certainly realize the impact a player like Jaylen could have on the team and would be more than willing to give up your spot on the roster to help out the team...while still being able to be involved as a manager, trainer, walk-on, etc.
What is frustrating is people equating what would be a legitimate use of a medical with the seemingly underhaded practive of using the medical to cut underperforming player.
What Hatch was able to overcome and accomplish is nothing short of amazing and should serve as an inspiration to us all. That being said, we have a scholarship limit and using almost 10% of our scholarships on a player who is physically unable to perform at a Division 1 level hamstrings the team and will continue to hamstring the team for three more years. If we have the scholarship, I'm all for letting him remain a member of the team, but if it comes down to a snagging a top five player in the country or having Austin dress for games, I don't think there is a decision.
of a medical hardship is in whether or not the kid thinks and wants to play D1 basketball. Just because you think he won't, and because you want a Top 5 high school kid, you want Hatch to give up his dream.
Pushing Hatch to medical and give up his dreams is the same thing that Saban or Meyer do. If you tell a kid his scholarship to play is gone because you don't think he's good enough to ever perform but he disagrees--you are doing what those coaches do.
You are putting the idea of easily winning above ethics and sportsmanship, and you are using this kids past and his in-progress recovery to dictate him needing to realize he's screwing over your favorite team by not quitting. Coach gave him a scholarship, and unless Coach and him have an understanding that was agreed upon prior to this year or at the approach of the student--then yeah, you are pushing ethical boundaries.
I'm a huge Michigan fan, more than a quarter of a century. Would love to have seen Duke lose the game, see the Big Ten win. Why? Because Duke is evil and Wisconsin is less evil but in our conference. Those who try to make all of college sports just about the competition aspect of it or the rivalry aspect of it lose the essential meaning of sportsmanship and collegiality.
Would I love to see Jaylen Brown in Maize and Blue? Yeah. Would I want Beilien to force a kid to leave just to get a blue chip? No. Life and education and doing it ethically are more important than short cuts. I don't care how hokey that sounds. Urban Meyer and OSU are scummy National Champions. Scummy. I'd rather not think that about winning. That doesn't seem to be what Coach K does--even though he could push out plenty of dead weight. As much as I hate Duke, Coach K is Clorox bleach to Urban Meyer's scum.
Paying ten McDonald's All-Americans won't win you a championship on its own, so why compromise your ethics for the chance at one kid? And that is not saying anything bad about Brown or his potential to be a great teammate or player.
There's a lot more at stake here than winning two or three extra games. Austin is a walking miracle, and I don't even believe in God. He deserves the right to finish his story without a bunch of pressure on him to give up.
Even if they medical Hatch, he can still be around the team.
There are Jaylen Browns every year? Really? So the top player in the country has Michigan in his top 3 every year?
Whew... we are in good shape then.
You can still keep Austin around the program, he just can dress for games. And he still gets his free education. And you're discounting what Hatch thinks. Do you really think he would stand in the way of all that can be accomplished with adding a guy like Brown to the team? Would he make all his friends and teammates sacrifice that for his sake so he can see a few mintues a season?
Maybe we're hesitant to mention it because of the tragedy, but the estate of a family with a plane can probably afford instate tuition.
When was the last time Michigan received a commitment from the like's of a Jaylen Brown? CWebb? To say that players like this flock to Michigan is a bit of an overstatement. The difference between Hatch and Brown is not two or three games, unless you are talking about two or three additional tournament games.
Bottom line is that Beilien is here to win with integrity. Granting a medical scholarship to Hatch after one year in the program does nothing to comprimise that integrity. One can even argue that having him on the team for that one year was over and above what 99% of coaches would have done and gave him the opportunity to be eligible for the medical and to continue receive a free education.
I honestly believe the vast majority of college coaches would have at least honored that first year and done the same thing Beilein has done. That doesn't mean Beilein hasn't been absolutely amazing in this situation.
There are Jaylen Browns every year. It's very rare that they're actually interested in Michigan.
I'm sure Beilein will do it the right way if it comes to that. I just don't think Austin himself will stand in the way. Would you? If you knew you never had a future playing basketball due to tragic circumstances, but your coach stood by you through the tough times, got you on the court, and it come to a time when if taking a medical would ensure your friends and teammates would have a shot at being truely elite and winning banners, would you say no to all of them? He can still be involved with the team, just wouldn't be able to play. It is a sacrifice on his part, but he seems like a good dude. I don't think he would be selfish enough to stand in the way of adding a guy like Brown and making a legit run at the final four.
It certainly does not say anything about them refusing to medical Hatch in that article. JB was likely asked a question about Hatch. What is he supposed to say? Even if he says he doesn't know if Hatch will be on scholarship next year, that opens up a lot more questions he can't or doesn't want to answer at that time and creates a story.
He just gave the most innocuous response and moved on. People are reading way too much into it.
They may already know that Brown's not coming.
I think that the medical is the best option (obvioulsy assuming Brown wants to come) - but there will certainly be some fallout and we'll all have to step down a peg'r two...
We've enjoyed all of the positive press related to Austin's story, but its likely there would be some negative press if he was (seemingly) pushed aside for a perceived one-and-done recruit.
What was Hatch's pre-plane crash ceiling? Is it physically possible for him to get back to that form again that got him recruited initially?
I think Balas is reading way too much in to this. What is Beilein supposed to say about Hatch when asked this question at a banquet honoring Hatch?
Also, from Sam Webb this morning:
You're reading too much into this. Michigan is not out, nor are they done recruiting Jaylen Brown. With regard to Austin Hatch, you have to understand the sensitivity of the situation. They were at an event honoring Austin. That's not exactly the time or place talking about him not being on scholarship next year... especially when its tied to a prospect that he doesn't know he is going to get. The long and short of it is as follows... -- The transfer options were all fallbacks to misses on the recruiting trail or attrition. They landed Wagner and no one decided to transfer. -- Mike Edwards was a fallback -- There is a spot for Jaylen Brown if he wants to come. I GUARANTEE you that.
Again, your sig fits perfectly with your post.
I'm finding more and more that it fits with almost every post.
I think there is a world of difference between this situation and the practices of Saban and others. I hope you can see that difference.
Bet you are into participation trophies and not keeping score too.
Hatch got everything he could have asked for. A free education at a top school and a chance to put on the uniform and score in a college game is all anyone could reasonably expect in his situation. If I am him and Brown wants to come I gracefully and gratefully step aside. I could never be so selfish as to stand in the way of the teams progress. I wouldnt want to be the cause of my teammates getting less than thier fair chance at a tourney run.
Now if Brown doesnt come or Caris leaves then hell yes keep him on scholarship and give him some minutes early in the year.
I'm sure Beilein will do right by Hatch, but I'd rather have Brown.
I think there's something to be said for honoring the commitments you've made to the guys on your roster before you start getting all starry-eyed about can't-miss recruits and shove guys out the door. Coaches like Tom Crean don't handle that very well--guys like John Beilein do.
I'll take the latter--and Austin Hatch (andf Caris, if he decides to come back) on the roster.
The way I understand this issue is that if it is determined that Hatch's scholarship needs to be pulled for another recruit, and if it is believed that Austin just doesn't have the tools to develop his skills to a level needed by the team, Hatch will still receive a scholarship. He could also be part of the team.
They are NOT going to leave Austin high and dry.
Might be a similar situation as Ben Cronin.
Except that was a situation where the kid's injuries meant he could never play competitive basketball again.
Making Austin Hatch a team manager to open up the slot for someone who can play basketball a little better than he can is pretty much turning your back on all of that media coverage about Beilein honoring his commitment to Austin, etc. etc. etc.
It looks positively low-brow to say "oh, but we wanted this five-star recruit, so... The kid with the monumental comeback story is filling water bottles now."
Hatch is a great story, but it is very doubtful he will ever be able to play a meaningful minute of D1 college basketball. Medical scholarships are made for kids in Austin's situation. I don't see how anyone could fault JB if that is how it plays out. They have gone above and beyond to let Austin achieve his dream up to this point. Putting him on a medical now does not change that.
"Play basketball a little better?" Come on, it would be a miracle if Hatch ever saw meaningful minutes for Michigan. I'm as big a Hatch fan as anyone, but Jaylen Brown will be more than just "a little better". I don't doubt that, if it were anyone other than a player of Brown's caliber, that Beilein wouldn't even think about putting Austin on medical. But at the end of the day, you have a chance to add a superstar to your team, and Beilein does need to do what's best for Michigan.
So you shove the kid out the door?
Integrity move. If he was never going to play meaningful minutes, medical him from the start. Don't do it when there's a recruit you want more. We rag on other coaches and programs all the time for doing this, but when it's our own guy and Jaylen Brown in the discussion, suddenly we're OK with it.
That doesn't happen if they medical him from the start. Does he have any realistic expectation of doing more? I don't know. Hatch was way behind the walkons this year. We didn't get to see what kind of progress he made over the year, but he has.
Hatch is still getting his free education. And this isn't "shoving him out the door" for sheer underperformance (which is more what people rag on), this is having a kid who is physically unable to play at the college level (and likely will continue to be, obviously for reasons completely out of his and Beilein's control) take a medical hardship to open up another scholarship. Beilein already did something no other coach would do by honoring his scholarship last year. He should be applauded for giving Hatch the opportunity that he has, even if Hatch's college basketball career ends this offseason.
I don't think you can do that.
If the kid gets hurt and can't play before he hits campus, sure you can. You also see it all the time with players who go through a physical and one of those tricky heart conditions comes up, etc. They end up with a medical scholarship, never play, but still get their education.
I thought a kid had to be on the team for a season (or partial season) to qualify for medical hardship.
The more you know...
I actually agree, Bando. Ben Cronin and Austin Hatch aren't exactly apples to apples comparison.
Austin Hatch will never play meaningful D1 minutes.
We're not talking about opening up the slot "for someone who can play basketball a little better" - we're talking about opening the slot for someone who has the potentail to not only play, but be a star in D1.
in the program. He certainly gave the impression that he would accept a role as a manager. It's hard to imagine that he hasn't already discussed this possibility with Beilein.
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I am 100% behind this thought. I don't see Brown coming with Levert on our roster. Period. I just really hope he comes if Levert goes pro.
He has said that he's going to look at who goes pro on the teams he's deciding between. But even if Caris stays, and the whole scholarship situation is handled, wouldn't Brown have the talent to snag a starting spot anyway? With Walton at 1, and Caris at 2, wouldn't Brown just take either the 3-4 and Irvin would take the other spot? I understand that if Caris leaves, Brown would have a much greater opportunity to be the go-to guy, but even if Levert stays I'd have to imagine he would definitely have a starting spot anyway.