Jon Horford To Transfer Comment Count

Brian

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underneath the Banyan tree, wherever he goes

Uh

University of Michigan men's basketball head coach John Beileinannounced today (Thursday, April 10) that senior forward Jon Horford (Grand Ledge, Mich./Grand Ledge HS) will not return to the Wolverine program in 2014-15, planning to transfer for his final season of eligibility.

That is not good. With Jordan Morgan graduating, Michigan's only other post is Mitch McGary. Even if he comes back next year, Horford figured to get a significant amount of playing time when McGary was tired or in foul trouble.

While Horford struggled badly down the stretch, you could say the same for Jordan Morgan last year and that worked out okay. Fifth-year senior bigs tend to be better than you'd expect. Horford's departure opens up time for Mark Donnal and likely means a redshirt for Ricky Doyle is no longer an option. That latter is unfortunate; again, see Jordan Morgan.

The one possible silver lining here is that the reason Horford is moving on is that he feels he'll get more playing time elsewhere, a decision that implies McGary's return and maybe even Robinson's since that would increase competition for minutes everywhere. It's hard to believe he would skip town with 30 minutes a night staring him in the face. But Horford was always a bit of a different guy.

Comments

JLi5

April 10th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^

I do think he would have gotten more than token playing time.  McGary's sample size for controlling his fouling is small (NCAA tourney), and young big men (Donnal, the incoming freshmen) tend to foul a lot and have trouble staying on the court.  I think the downgrade from Horford to the incoming freshmen will actually prove to be a significant deal (unless GRIII returns plays 4 again, another assumption).  Horford was a good rebounder (when not out of position having to help a la Kentucky) and while not a true rim protector did a decent job of challenging.  Bielfeldt is around but tends to get punished on the boards due to his lack of height (not lack of effort).

ChuckieWoodson

April 10th, 2014 at 3:42 PM ^

big fish little pond High school player to small fish big pond college player.  FIgures he can go somewhere else and capture some glory... well, good luck man.  IMO, this is an ego thing.  Obviously not NBA caliber - never will be - so I really don't know what else it could be than wanting to be big man on campus. 

93Grad

April 10th, 2014 at 8:51 PM ^

Not when he publically declared he was coming back only a few weeks ago. And not when his sister and trainer are publicly complaining about playing time.

I'm starting to think we are better off without him.

ChuckieWoodson

April 10th, 2014 at 9:52 PM ^

if I could've re-written it I wouldn't have been as harsh, however my overall sentiment remains the same.  He can do whatever he wants - it's obviously his choice but my opinion here is that this move is a bit selfish.  I don't believe he has a chance at the NBA, so I don't feel this is "career" move for him, so to speak - but more driven out of frustration for not getting playing time.  I'm not saying I don't understand that, but I think in most cases barring crazy circumstances, one should honor their commitments.  He's putting the needs and wants of himself ahead of the team's and letting his teammates down.  To me that's self-centered. Is he entitled to it? Of course.  I just feel that at this stage of the game, he should stick it out for his last year.  Again, it's my feelings/opinions on the matter.  Unless he comes out and says the exact reason of why he's leaving perhaps we'll never know and it'll be speculation.  But to answer your original question, while I would've reworded and tried to convey my thoughts a bit better, I really don't feel that if I was Jon Horford I would've been upset by reading my posting - especially if what I'm theorizing is, at least in some part, correct.

steve sharik

April 10th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^

Hasn't he been here four years?  Hasn't he graduated?  I think that he's honored his commitment to the University of Michigan and it's basketball team.  You have no idea where he's tranferring, so to conclude that he's doing this to be "the man" somewhere is based on unsubstantiated speculation.  What if he uses this opportunity to go get an Ivy League post-graduate education?

ChuckieWoodson

April 10th, 2014 at 10:29 PM ^

but seems unlikely.  "I don't know where I'm going yet, but I'm going somewhere else to get an opportunity to play the game the way I know I can play. There is a better fit for me out there. I just have to find the right fit."  Doesn't sound like Harvard Law to me.  My point is that you usually see guys transfer out that hardly saw any playing time, not a guy who's in every single game averging 15 minutes a game.  We see this every year with football - guys get 0 playing time as freshman/soph. so they're out to try their hand someplace else; we wish them the best and move on.  This one to me is different because he still would've been a strong part of the team but it appears he wants more.  I'm not trying to prove anything here - this is my opinion based on what's been presented thus far.Horford appeared in all 37 games last season, averaging 3.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game. Horford appeared in all 37 games last season, averaging 3.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game.  Horford appeared in all 37 games last season, averaging 3.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game. Horford appeared in all 37 games last season, averaging 3.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game.   

Mr. Yost

April 10th, 2014 at 7:06 PM ^

You're an idiot.

And I mean that so sincrely.

It has NOTHING to do with ego. You think Blake McLimans was ego too? C'mon. The guy may want a different vibe or scene. Maybe he didn't want to be the J-Mo of the team. Maybe he was tired of all the silly/goofy shit from McGary and Dakich, maybe it was one of literally a million different things...

ChuckieWoodson

April 10th, 2014 at 8:02 PM ^

I sincerely appreciate it!  You call me an idiot, but your suggestions aren't based on any hard evidence either.  Goofy stuff from McGary... (Jon: If Mitch yells just one more time, I'm gone!!... waits... Yep, that's it! I'm OUT!) .  Cmon man.  Becoming a future starter of a good team and instead he wants a different VIBE?  I dunno man, not really buying that.  So before you start calling me an idiot, I'd suggest having something a bit better than that since you're just shooting from the hip just like I am.  It's my opinion on this situation. But thanks for being a dick.

Mr. Yost

April 11th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^

I won't dispute you one bit. I was being a dick...I'm not usually a dick, but in this instance. ABSOLUTELY.

Because you made a COMPLETELY baseless comment and judged someone off of absolutely NOTHING. Especially the ONE player on the ENTIRE TEAM that EVERYONE knows isn't out there throwing an ego around.

That's like me saying "Jon Horford is transferring because he doesn't want to be around a bunch of thugs."

I mean, have you SEEN Michigan? Where are the thugs? That would be equally as false.

ChuckieWoodson

April 11th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^

in subsequent postings - I would've phrased it differently but the overall message is the same.  The guy is seeking more for himself and it's hurting the team.  End of story.  Ego was a poor choice of words and a bit harsh - but he's still putting his own needs above the teams and leaving them hanging for his own personal gain.  That's his choice -  and based on the comments from his sister, it sounds like he's getting people chirping in his ear and this is influencing his decision.  Saying that he didn't have a chance to prove himself at UM (again this is his sister's words, not his) is complete BS.  You want to make an impact?  If you can't make an impact playing in every single game this year and averaging 15 minutes, I don't know what to tell you.

93Grad

April 10th, 2014 at 9:03 PM ^

I think you may be right. I think the whole Horford is zen meme is way off. If what his sister and trainer are saying is true then he is Just another me-first hoops player with an unrealistic view of his abilities

M-Dog

April 10th, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^

Me too.  He had his own unique perspective on things.

From last year's Final Four when Syracuse was trash-talking Michigan:

Syracuse senior guard Brandon Triche to the media:  "We think we've got mismatches at every position".  
 
Jon Horford's rebuttal:  "Brandon Triche is a nice young man. Nice young man. And I would love to have tea with him to discuss matchup issues. Honey always in the tea. Green tea, honey. Every night, and I would love it if he joined me."

 

HarBooYa

April 10th, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^

We have silent commits from Myles Turner and Stephen Zimmerman.













No...this probably just sucks and will make grIII think twice about coming back and playing out of position again.



Ugh.

MGozer

April 10th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^

was all about how the bonds of teammates are more important than any championship or individual recognition.  Not really a message that's consistent with a guy who's looking to transfer in a few weeks.

It does sound, to me, like this was encouraged from the outside.

That, or he's maneuvering to become the Frank Underwood of college athletics.

sadeto

April 10th, 2014 at 5:12 PM ^

I'm surprised that Antoine Mason of Niagara is not on that list. He was one of the leading scorers in the nation, mainly by getting to the line a lot. He redshirted his freshman year due to a foot injury and will graduate with one year of eligibility. 

His father is Anthony Mason who played for the Knicks. Not as big as his father but a very physical player.

CLord

April 10th, 2014 at 4:22 PM ^

A few colleagues around me looked up at me wondering why I just forgot to use my inner voice to yell "WHAT THE F*CK?" at my computer screen.