Horford to transfer for Final Year

Submitted by kzooblue2016 on

It looks like Jon Horford will transfer after he graduates in May. No word on what program he is heading too, but best of luck to him.  Time for big man speculation!!!

Snow Sucks

April 10th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^

This really sucks, as it's tough to lose the knowledge and experience of a senior. The only thing I can think of is that this means Mitch is returning, who will clearly start if that is the case, so perhaps Horford feels he should be starting. Still though, Horford would see a good amount of playing time with Mitch still here. It's nice to have depth, too.

MgoBlueprint

April 10th, 2014 at 3:38 PM ^

Welp. That sucks. A lot of people gave him shit for his play, but he gave us some quality minutes throughout the season. I think he provided an enormous value off the court and in the locker room. I don't think this is basketball related, because he said he was returning for his final year a month ago. Hopefully he got into an ivy or Stanford for grad school.
I'll remember him for his post B1G celebratory apple.

I had apples. It was crazy

ClearEyesFullHart

April 10th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^

Horford's sister tweeted out something like "I hope you'll root for John what ever colors he is wearing next year" like a week ago, so I'm not that surprised. I wish him well, but I don't know if his existential angst was ever going to provide the necessary motivation to eat, lift,(box out) and battle at this level.

cheesheadwolverine

April 10th, 2014 at 3:39 PM ^

Don't think this means McGary is staying.  Horford has always been someone for whom basketball is not number one.  He's graduating, he wants to move on with his life, and if he had independent plans to go to graduate school somewhere else, I imagine he would go play there.

Mgodiscgolfer

April 10th, 2014 at 3:44 PM ^

That I read about Donnal earlier, he must be really good. I am sure the Spartans will be glad to take him ....../S  Naw really I hope the best for this kid and we see more smiles on his face.

Perkis-Size Me

April 10th, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^

Wow, now we desperately need McGary back. If he doesn't come back, then we're in a bit of a predicament next year, and Beilein better start finding some big men for the 2015 class.

Best of luck to Horford, though. Its a bummer losing him.

Steves_Wolverines

April 10th, 2014 at 3:44 PM ^

Projected Starting 5 and depth:

PG: Walton - Albrecht

2: LeVert - Irvin

3: GR3 - Irvin - Chatman

PF: Donnal - Wilson

C: McGary - Bielfeldt - Doyle

And I think you might see a RS out of either Wilson or Doyle if one of them doesn't look up to the challenge of physical Big-10 bball. 

93Grad

April 10th, 2014 at 3:49 PM ^

that McGary is likely coming back and so he may not start.  Otherwise he was sure to start and even with McGary there he would have logged heavy minutes.  Very strange.

MichiganMan20

April 10th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^

Best of luck Jon, gonna miss your moments of Zen while you were on the bench. I think he noticed the emergence of Donnal and the likelihood of Mitch coming back.

buddhafrog

April 10th, 2014 at 3:59 PM ^

Horford might well play at an Ivy League school next year - and play hugh minutes and be a major part of the team.  I could see him playing professional ball overseas for several years for sure.  Here in Korea, he would be very successful, for example.  I could see him wanting to do that, jumping from country to country for awhile until he settled down into his long-term profession.  Maybe a tranfer would provide a better chance at this than playing 2nd string again.

Still... HE WAS OUR CAPTAIN last year.  Very strange indeed.

Good luck Horford (hope to see you here in Korea)

DrewGOBLUE

April 10th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^

Quote from Horford:
"My time at Michigan has been the most beneficial period of my life in terms of athletic development and overall enlightenment," said Horford. "The bonds created over the last four years are everlasting, and the memories made are truly priceless. As on all journeys, new paths must be taken and intuition must be trusted. I leave Michigan with nothing but love in my heart."

First of all, I love how this statement through words like enlightenment and intuition captures the philosophical sentiment of Jon's intricate manner of perceiving the world around him. I hope he goes to an elite university with a solid basketball program (i.e. Harvard, Stanford) and pursues a graduate degree in philosophy so he can make even greater strides towards uncovering the mysteries of life.

But in all seriousness, I wish him the absolute best of luck. Jon has done a lot for the Michigan basketball program and it's clear that he loves the university, his teammates, as well as the coaching staff and is grateful for the experience. He will always be a Michigan man through-and-through.

I hope wherever Jon goes to round out his career, he finds his niche and completely blows up into a professional prospect. Just as long as he doesn't end up choosing a team that somehow, despite the overwhelming odds, ends up on our nonconference schedule (although I wouldn't be even remotely shocked if that were to happen).

The silver lining here as I'm sure everybody obviously realizes is that this is a very, very strong sign that Mitch is probably sticking around for next year. I wouldn't even hesitate to bet money on it.

Regardless, you've got to appreciate everything Jon has done for our basketball program. I'll be rooting hard for him, and look forward to seeing him flourish at whichever school he goes to.

alum96

April 10th, 2014 at 4:08 PM ^

Sigh.  Somewhere Frank Kaminsky is smiling.  Potentially an all freshman rotation at 4-5+ Bielfeldt.  There is no way this is good - we have very little interior defense as it is and most of it was Morgan.  Freshmen big men get demolished inside unless they are jump out of the gym guys like Kentucky and even those guys get exposed a lot.

mgoblue78

April 10th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^

to stay or go.  Speculating that this means that McGary, Robinson and even Nick are all coming back and he wants more playing time is as meaningless as speculating that everyone is leaving including another player or two nobody thought would leave,  and he doesn't want to play on a middle-of-the-pack team that lost everybody after the sucess of the past two years.

 

goblue16

April 10th, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^

Completely unexpected and good luck to him but I pointed this out earlier this year. If all three come back and since Michigan will honor Austin Hatch scholarship, that would give michigan 14 scholarship players. 10 current minus morgan and 4 incoming freshman. NCAA only allows 13 so wouldn't someone have to leave and wouldn't Horford mak the most sense?

ilah17

April 10th, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^

Wow, did not see this coming at all. Best wishes to Jon in his future endeavors!!

This is obviously pure speculation, but maybe he's transferring because of all the criticism he took this year? Playing more next year would not have lessened that burden, of course. Maybe he wants to go to a less prominent program and just let basketball be fun for him again.

ilah17

April 11th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^

Look at some of the crass things that are being posted in this very thread. Being constructively critical and being a vicious **** are two different things. I am certain not all athletes put up with the comments from "fans" that Michigan athletes and other big-time programs put up with. In a different program, maybe he's a star, or maybe there are just more supportive fans out there. Either way, why can't we all just wish him well and move on, rather than piling on?