Yeah, horrible pun intended in the title, but it certainly fits following Tyus Battle’s de-commitment from the Michigan basketball program. The five-star is tripping to Syracuse this weekend (yes, that Syracuse) and it’s doubtful he’ll end up in Ann Arbor.
In fact, it would be surprising if Michigan continued to recruit him. Not many de-commitments come back into the fold once they leave, and a kid isn’t exactly “beating down the doors to get to Michigan” when he’s leaving the building.
We’ve said for years that landing five-stars is a tough task for programs that aren’t bluebloods or who don’t play “the game” (or both). It’s almost not worth your time. First you have to establish whether a kid is recruitable - if he is, there’s still going to be a ton of pressure on him and his family right up until Signing Day.
Former Fab Fiver Chris Webber’s dad reported receiving a call from a “friend of Mississippi State” on Signing Day offering $150,000 for Webber to go to the MSU down south (and no, Webber did not accept Ed Martin’s money to come to Michigan. He took “loans”after his pledge and was never promised anything). Mitch McGary has a crying Mike Krzyzewski in his living room, and the Duke coach had McGary’s parents convinced - McGary, though, was strong enough to do what he wanted to do.
That was what was refreshing about the Battles - and to be clear, we aren’t insinuating anything dirty going on behind the scenes. Gary Battle said all along his son wasn’t for sale, and that it was going to be Tyus’ decision.
It was also clear in the aftermath, however, that Mr. and Mrs. Battle weren’t really sold on it. Gary Battle admitted liking Duke and Syracuse, and said that his wife wanted Duke. Kids want to please their parents.
The perception here was that Michigan wasn’t “big time” enough, despite the recent success on the court and everything the school has to offer. Nobody has done it better in terms of player development and education than Beilein. His kids graduate, they get better and they play in the NBA.
So why Syracuse? Good question. This is the same program that will lose three scholarships per year for four years, while coach Jim Boeheim will be suspended for nine ACC games next season. The NCAA accepted the Orange's 2015 postseason ban, which the school self-imposed last month.
"Over the course of a decade, Syracuse University did not control and monitor its athletics programs, and its head men's basketball coach failed to monitor his program," according to an NCAA news release announcing the penalties. “The head basketball coach did not promote an atmosphere of compliance within his program and did not monitor the activities of those who reported to him as they related to academics and booster involvement.”
There is a connection with Battle’s Team Final AAU program. That could well prove strong enough to land him there in spite of everything else, because it sounds like Duke won’t re-enter the running. We were talking to another recruit’s dad today about Syracuse and he said, “wow. Talk about apples and oranges with Michigan. TERRIBLE player development” (his opinion, not ours).
And for Michigan? Talk about a punch in the gut. They essentially stopped recruiting five-star Josh Langford of Madison County, Ala., because they didn’t really have room after Battle’s pledge. That pretty much burned that bridge, and they’d be playing from behind (big time) if they had a chance at all. Langford is at MSU this weekend, and you can be sure Tom Izzo is saying, “Michigan didn’t want you, but we sure do!”
And how does that affect Detroit U-D Jesuit point guard Cassius Winston (6-0, No. 23)? He has really been feeling Michigan and his dad told us it “was never about Tyus Battle,” but you never know.
U-M will continue to recruit four-star guard Bruce Brown heavily (they’re in the top three) along with Winston, and Clifton Park, N.Y. standout Kevin Huerter (6-6, No. 101) visits at the end of this month. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him offered and end up in the class.
Regardless, welcome back to your basketball recruiting reality check. It’s never over ‘til it’s over, and you’re never sure what you’re going to see next. Expect Beilein and Co. to move on, however, have a great year and build on the success they’ve enjoyed over the last several years with outstanding player development and - if need be - underrated or undervalued recruits.
In fact, it would be surprising if Michigan continued to recruit him. Not many de-commitments come back into the fold once they leave, and a kid isn’t exactly “beating down the doors to get to Michigan” when he’s leaving the building.
We’ve said for years that landing five-stars is a tough task for programs that aren’t bluebloods or who don’t play “the game” (or both). It’s almost not worth your time. First you have to establish whether a kid is recruitable - if he is, there’s still going to be a ton of pressure on him and his family right up until Signing Day.
Former Fab Fiver Chris Webber’s dad reported receiving a call from a “friend of Mississippi State” on Signing Day offering $150,000 for Webber to go to the MSU down south (and no, Webber did not accept Ed Martin’s money to come to Michigan. He took “loans”after his pledge and was never promised anything). Mitch McGary has a crying Mike Krzyzewski in his living room, and the Duke coach had McGary’s parents convinced - McGary, though, was strong enough to do what he wanted to do.
That was what was refreshing about the Battles - and to be clear, we aren’t insinuating anything dirty going on behind the scenes. Gary Battle said all along his son wasn’t for sale, and that it was going to be Tyus’ decision.
It was also clear in the aftermath, however, that Mr. and Mrs. Battle weren’t really sold on it. Gary Battle admitted liking Duke and Syracuse, and said that his wife wanted Duke. Kids want to please their parents.
The perception here was that Michigan wasn’t “big time” enough, despite the recent success on the court and everything the school has to offer. Nobody has done it better in terms of player development and education than Beilein. His kids graduate, they get better and they play in the NBA.
So why Syracuse? Good question. This is the same program that will lose three scholarships per year for four years, while coach Jim Boeheim will be suspended for nine ACC games next season. The NCAA accepted the Orange's 2015 postseason ban, which the school self-imposed last month.
"Over the course of a decade, Syracuse University did not control and monitor its athletics programs, and its head men's basketball coach failed to monitor his program," according to an NCAA news release announcing the penalties. “The head basketball coach did not promote an atmosphere of compliance within his program and did not monitor the activities of those who reported to him as they related to academics and booster involvement.”
There is a connection with Battle’s Team Final AAU program. That could well prove strong enough to land him there in spite of everything else, because it sounds like Duke won’t re-enter the running. We were talking to another recruit’s dad today about Syracuse and he said, “wow. Talk about apples and oranges with Michigan. TERRIBLE player development” (his opinion, not ours).
And for Michigan? Talk about a punch in the gut. They essentially stopped recruiting five-star Josh Langford of Madison County, Ala., because they didn’t really have room after Battle’s pledge. That pretty much burned that bridge, and they’d be playing from behind (big time) if they had a chance at all. Langford is at MSU this weekend, and you can be sure Tom Izzo is saying, “Michigan didn’t want you, but we sure do!”
And how does that affect Detroit U-D Jesuit point guard Cassius Winston (6-0, No. 23)? He has really been feeling Michigan and his dad told us it “was never about Tyus Battle,” but you never know.
U-M will continue to recruit four-star guard Bruce Brown heavily (they’re in the top three) along with Winston, and Clifton Park, N.Y. standout Kevin Huerter (6-6, No. 101) visits at the end of this month. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him offered and end up in the class.
Regardless, welcome back to your basketball recruiting reality check. It’s never over ‘til it’s over, and you’re never sure what you’re going to see next. Expect Beilein and Co. to move on, however, have a great year and build on the success they’ve enjoyed over the last several years with outstanding player development and - if need be - underrated or undervalued recruits.
