Max Christie chooses Michigan State, giving the Spartans their second 5-star commitment in the past week
Michigan State, led by legendary head coach Tom Izzo, Tuesday landed its second 5-star recruit in the past week, when class of 2021 shooting guard Max Christie announced that he would become a Spartan.
Another 5-star is heading to East Lansing! ✨@Max12Christie, the No. 13 overall recruit in 2021, commits to @MSU_Basketball over Villanova, Virginia, Ohio State and Purdue pic.twitter.com/TUCDgv7LC8
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) July 7, 2020
Christie is the top-ranked shooting guard in his class, the top-ranked player in the state of Illinois, and the 13th ranked player nationally, according to 247Sports.
Tom Izzo after landing two 5-star recruits in the last 8 days ? pic.twitter.com/rb7lMLajKW
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) July 7, 2020
Speaking live with Andy Katz on FOX College Hoops Twitter, Christie said that he chose Michigan State based on how comfortable he felt with Izzo and the staff when he visited the campus.
“It just felt like a place that I was needed and that I wanted to go to. When I took my official visit, it was just that gut feeling that this was the place I was supposed to be … I feel like Coach Izzo and his staff can push me to be the person I wanna be, on and off the court.”
Where will 5-star recruit @Max12Christie take his talents to next season?
He joins @theandykatz to make his announcement! https://t.co/45bXL7k025
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) July 7, 2020
Katz also asked Christie if he would consider the G-League route if approached, which has recently been popularized by Jalen Green, Isaiah Todd and Daishen Nix, each top 15 recruits from the 2020 class, according to 247 Sports.
“I haven’t gotten any offer from the G League and even if I did, I wouldn’t take it. I want to go to college.”
On June 30, Izzo and the Spartans landed a commitment from the most-prized amateur athlete in the college basketball world, rising junior Emoni Bates, the No. 1 player in the class of 2022 out of Ypsilanti, Michigan, widely-regarded as the best player in all of high school basketball, regardless of class.
?✨ There’s a superstar heading to East Lansing!
No. 1 recruit @BatesEmoni commits to @MSU_Basketball ?? pic.twitter.com/aJBvy2wxAD
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) June 29, 2020
Some doubt that Bates will ever step foot on a college campus, but if he does, there is a chance that he and Christie could lace them up side-by-side for the Spartans.
The 6’6″ Christie is best known for his shooting stroke, evidenced by this performance with the USA Junior National Team last summer.
????????#OnThisDay in 2019, @Max12Christie TORCHED the nets for 24 pts. & a ?? #USABMU16 record 8 3-pointers versus ?? pic.twitter.com/28e7LqwRvV
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) June 5, 2020
Christie was named to the Chicago Sun-Times All-Area Basketball Team after his junior year, and here is what the newspaper had to say about the junior sharpshooter:
Ranked in the top 15 in the country in the Class of 2021. Averaged 26 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and four blocks while shooting 65% from the field and 42% from three-point range. Led Mustangs to their first 20-win season in nearly 30 years.
The 2019 Chicago Sun-Times All-Area basketball team.
There are about 400 schools in the coverage area, so more than 4,000 players.
These are the 20 best.https://t.co/KqlnU9qWVo
— Michael O’Brien (@michaelsobrien) March 7, 2019
Christie will spend one final season at Rolling Meadows High School – where he plays alongside younger brother Cameron, who also holds an offer from Michigan State – before taking his talents to Michigan State.
5-star guard Max Christie has committed to play for Coach Izzo and Michigan State! The 6’6 shooter from Rolling Meadows, IL (near Chicago) is the top-rated shooting guard in Class of 2021! @max12christie pic.twitter.com/WcPKMq0JQb
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 7, 2020