CHRISTIE CHOOSES MICHIGAN STATE
Rolling Meadows star, ranked 12th nationally, chooses Michigan State
Max Christie is unlike other high-profile Illinois basketball prospects in recent years.
As the 12th-ranked prospect in the country, the Rolling Meadows rising senior is the state’s highest ranked national prospect since the Class of 2014 boasted two top-five players: Young’s Jahlil Okafor and Curie’s Cliff Alexander.
Because of the pandemic, Christie was able to take just one official visit before making his decision. He made do with prior unofficial visits and then phone calls, texts and Zoom presentations in the latter stages of the recruiting process.
But it was all enough for Christie, the multifaceted 6-6 guard, to commit to coach Tom Izzo and Michigan State on Tuesday.
The state’s top-ranked prospect chose the Spartans over a lengthy list of national powers who had offered and courted him since his freshman year, including coach Mike Krzyzewski and Duke, a program top Illinois prospects simply haven’t been able to say no to over the years.
Nearly the entire Big Ten, along with Gonzaga, Virginia and Villanova, were in pursuit, with Purdue and Ohio State both making strong pushes. But Michigan State built an early lead in the eyes of Christie.
“Right from the very start Coach Izzo and the coaching staff made me feel needed in our talks,” Christie said. “Coach Izzo is easily as good as it gets in college coaching — or at any level.”
The fact Michigan State was the only school where Christie visit ed also helped. The visit in early March, just two weeks before the coronavirus shutdown, gave Michigan State a lead it would never relinquish.
“When I took my official visit to Michigan State, I just felt like it was the place for me at that point,” Christie said. “But I obviously didn’t want to jump the gun, and I wanted to give all these schools a chance and an opportunity. I wanted to see and learn about other schools. Those other schools and coaches left great impressions on me.”
However, Christie’s mind and heart kept coming back to the Spartans. He continued to build his relationship with Michigan State during the shutdown while often reflecting back on the official visit, which included tours, practices, team meals and watching a game against Ohio State on Senior Night.
Christie originally had planned to wait to make a decision. He thought he would get a few more opportunities to see two or three more schools on official visits in late summer or early fall.
“Unfortunately, COVID decided that was not the way it was going to go,” Christie said. “We had to adapt, and I decided to commit a little earlier than expected. I knew I was ready to make a decision, and there was no need to drag it out.”
Michigan State has made major recruiting headlines recently. The Spartans landed Class of 2021 four-star guard Pierre Brooks in April. Izzo then beat everyone for Emoni Bates, a 6-8 do-it-all who is considered by many to be the best high school prospect since LeBron James. Bates, the topranked player in the country in the Class of 2022, committed last week.
Christie was a bit of a boy wonder in the northwest suburbs well before he entered high school. He burst on the scene as a freshman, averaging 18 points, eight rebounds and nearly three assists. Since then, he averaged 26 points as a sophomore, and 25 points and 11 rebounds a game as a junior. He scored 51 points in a game, recorded five triple-doubles and is closing in on 2,000 career points.