Michigan State Basketball: Impact of five-star G Max Christie commitment
By Ryan Kay
The commitment of Max Christie to Michigan State Basketball has the Spartans building a very impressive recruiting class for 2021.
Max Christie is the No. 12 nationally ranked recruit for the 2021 class. He is a huge addition for Tom Izzo and his staff and Michigan State Basketball received their second five-star recruit within a two-week span with him committing to the green and white. Emoni Bates’s commitment was a surprise based on the fact that no one knew beforehand, that he was going to commit to Michigan State June 29.
If Bate’s reclassify’s to the 2021 class, him, Christie, and Pierre Brooks would be the most talented class in Michigan State basketball history. That 2021 class could grow to four with the possible addition of Jaden Akins. Christie’s potential impact, however, can not be understated.
Prior to Christie’s commitment to Michigan State, three national experts were predicting that he would be committing to the Spartans.
It was believed early on in Christie’s recruitment that he was more than likely going to commit to Duke. However, during the past month, momentum began to shift in Michigan State’s favor. In late May, Christie re-tweeted a video about the Spartans hoping to get him and his younger brother to commit to Michigan State.
Christie is from Rolling Meadows, Ill. which is approximately 252 miles from East Lansing. He is the No. 1 rated shooting guard in the country. His game has been compared to former Spartan and Denver Nuggets player Gary Harris.
He is 6’6 which gives him good length and size. He is known best for his shooting ability but he is athletic and can get to the pant and finish. He can also create his own shot and hit the mid-range jumper. He doesn’t have the physical frame of a Miles Bridges coming out of high school but Izzo and his program are known nationally to get their players physically ready for the NBA which Christie is projected to be a future first-round NBA draft pick.
Christie, similar to Bates, is a student-athlete that any college basketball coach in America would love to coach and have him be a part of their program. Christie may not have the national hype of being the best high school player since Lebron James, but he has the potential to be one of the next Spartan greats and help lead Izzo to his second national championship.
Michigan State’s future is extremely bright with the addition of Christie to their 2021 recruiting class. Izzo and his coaching staff have done an excellent job of developing relationships and trust with the future Michigan State basketball student-athletes and their families. As mentioned before, if Bates reclassifies to the 2021 class and Michigan State can get their fourth commitment in Akins for the 2021 recruiting class, Christie and his recruiting class will surpass the excitement and anticipation of the 2016 Spartan recruiting class.
Regardless of who is a part of the 2021 Michigan State recruiting class, Christie will have a major positive impact on the future of Michigan State basketball.