🏀 KuBuckets Archive

According to many sports authorities, Jaylen Brown is a heavy lean to Michigan.

The problem was... Michigan didn't have a scholarship to give for 2015. Until now...

U-M's Hatch takes medical redshirt, concludes career
↗

If you follow recruiting "experts", Michigan has spiked upwards in recent polls. Is this an indication that Brown is Michigan bound?

Jaylen Brown's Crystal Ball Predictions ↗

Perhaps. Perhaps not. The move by Beilein to free a scholarship can be viewed as making room for the Brown signing, or it can be seen as a sudden desperation move similar to St. John's recent all-out tactics to sign Diallo (that failed).

It is coming down to the wire.

I recall just a short time ago... Jaylen came out with a shocking statement that he would only consider going to an Adidas school:

Jaylen Brown, Top Player In 2015 Class, Says He’s Going To An adidas School ↗

Is he going to stick to his guns and go Adidas?

If so... look back at the Crystal Ball predictions and scratch Kentucky from the list. You won't find even a worn-out Adidas shoe near Lexington. It then looks like a showdown between Michigan and Kansas, two Adidas schools. Two Adidas schools... or maybe not?

Report: Could U-M leave Adidas for Nike or Under Armour? ↗

I guess the question to ask on April 30, 2015: Is Kansas closing the perceived gap for Jaylen Brown's services... or even PASSING by Michigan in the final moments?

Here seems to be the momentum working for Kansas as the shot clock winds down:

1. Michigan may be flipping to Nike or UA.

2. Kelly Oubre declares for the draft, leaving 3ManU without an all-star swing man.

3. Kansas lands Cheick Diallo and suddenly appears as a real threat for a National Championship next year.

4. Bill Self has targeted his recruiting down to a full-court press on Brown to make Kansas the #1 contender for a National Championship next year.

I'm starting to feel like Beilein just made a Mullin move. Desperation as the clock winds down to zero!

Man, Michigan is ditching the kid who's been orphaned by two separate plane crashes? That's really low. I hope they get swept by Rutgers and lose every game next year. I've had some respect for Beilein but not now.

@wissoxfan83 he's probably got it covered!

@Crimsonorblue22

Agreed, I'm sure Hatch will end up being on a scholarship and a team manager... graduate assistant one day... If him giving up his scholarship lands Brown I'm sure oh Johny boy will make it up to him.

@Kip_McSmithers maybe coach doesn't want him to FLY w/team! Sorry, bad!!!

@Crimsonorblue22 Yep, the red shirt allows him to keep the scholarship and not count which opens one for Brown or the other kid he's after. I liked the comment on the article someone said by getting Brown they would probably make the dance and maybe contend for the B10 title. Plus maybe beat state. Pathetic. Jaylen, come to KU and you will beat KSU, will win 12th straight psuedo-B12 championship, and not only make the dance but most likely FF.

@wissoxfan83

How do you figure that? Did you actually read the story? Making him part of the team was good will gesture from Michigan in the first place since he is game (and health) is not at Div I level, actually it is not at any any college division level. By taking a medical red shirt exception, Michigan will continue to pay for his schooling for the next 3 years and they are also making him a student assistant. In my opinion, Michigan is doing absolutely the right thing to ensure he graduates with all his expenses paid.

@JayHawkFanToo

YES I READ THE STORY. I have an opinion. They're taking away the opportunity to play so Brown can maybe come there. That's the way I read it. In fact, it appears the way Dragnslayr introduced it that it seemed to him to be a little improper too, although I might be wrong.

Typically these types of things are ochestrated between the student and the school in a way that ensures the student graduates with their scholarship and, potentially, some other academic incentives (i.e. admission to grad school, an on campus position, etc). I would not be surprised if Hatch ends up with a grad position on the UM staff in the next year or two.

@wissoxfan83

What opportunity to play? Austin Hatch played a total of 5 minutes the entire season (at the end of 5 blow out games) and made 1 of 3 FT for a total contribution of 1 point, and zero on all the other stats. Do you not know that he was taken as a token of appreciation for being a fan and the two tragic airplane accidents he had (lost his family) and not because of his basketful skills which the accidents pretty much took away?

Because of his health, his schedule was limited and "practice" got in the way of his grades. Michigan went far and beyond what many other programs would have done; most would not have taken him in the first place. Now he has an opportunity to continue with school and still be part of the basketball program as an student assistant. Can you please tell me what else should Michigan have done in your opinion?

@JayHawkFanToo Easy now. Maybe Michigan should have just left him on scholarship so he might get an opportunity for scrub time, given his horrific injuries and personal issues he has fought through? Maybe. Maybe not. Debatable for sure.

But hey, why not pile on Michigan? They're the enemy right now. Maybe we can orchestrate an academic scandal or something? Or maybe the campus is racist? Or maybe they don't like homo .. er, gays? Whatever.

Heck, they throw that kid off the team to make room for an OAD? Cast him into the street with only his back pack and scholarship? At the very least, as @wissoxfan83 infers, it sounds like that. Works for me.

Everyone wants Brown. A little dirty pool at this stage can't hurt.

I heard Beilein was leaving for the NBA. I heard he hates one and dones. I heard he watches guys shower through a hidden camera. He got McGeary hurt didn't he? Any other rumors?

@HighEliteMajor

I see what you did there...

Fortunately...or maybe unfortunately, I was raised with is this sense of fairness and I cannot say Michigan did something wrong, at least in this case, when they actually did quite the opposite.

Having said that, they are most likely guilty of all the other bad things you mentioned, particularly the McGeary injury...and they blame EJ of all people. I am shocked I tell you, shocked...using my best French accent, of course. :)

@JayHawkFanToo It boils down to a feel good story that just conveniently makes a player scholarship available for Brown. If it wasn't for that fact they probably would've left him on the team. Which could be why Brown hasn't announced. Waiting for NCAA blessing on the deal.

@brooksmd

Athletic Scholarships are way too valuable to be used them on someone that will not contribute...even if it is practice. There are other ways to help student in need and looks like Michigan found a really good solution that helps the student complete his degree while remaining a member of the program.

@JayHawkFanToo

Maybe you could respond to someone without trying to make them feel stupid. That'll keep our board civil.

@wissoxfan83

It was not my intention to make you feel stupid and I apologize if it made you feel that way; however, now I am curious as to what part of my post had that effect? I thought I had just mentioned well known facts.

Downtown Jaylen Brown. He needs to become a Jayhawk because I have his nickname ready to go....

@KUSTEVE When he hits 11 3's in a single game I'll call him "downtown." Until then Terry has a lock on it.

@brooksmd He's a Jayhawk. He gets a pass for it. He'll be Downtown to me if he comes aboard...

@JayHawkFanToo

"Did you actually read the article". That's the comment that irked me. Don't worry, no biggy.

@JayHawkFanToo You are absolutely correct. Michigan's original agreement to honor his scholarship was the right thing to do.....and they did it. Those facts are well known here in Michigan. Maybe not everywhere else. Belein is a good man.

@brooksmd

"When he hits 11 3's in a single game I'll call him "downtown." Until then Terry has a lock on it."

You mean Freddy? Downtown Freddy Brown?

[link text](

I bumped into Freddy in Maui at a bar a month after they lost to the Lakers in 1980. Very friendly guy and I let him know how much I appreciated his julie.

Man could that cat get hot and put a string together!

@drgnslayr Nooooooo, Terry Brown. Owns most if not all KU 3PT records.

I thought Billy Thomas was the most prolific three baller in KU history. Terry was awesome too. Jeff Boschee was pretty good too, but I'd like to see what a year of healthy Brannen Greene could do!

@dylans he really needed to work in off season not recover.

@brooksmd I had forgotten him. My all time fav player was Kellog- i've never forgotten him...lol.

@KUSTEVE that made sense😳

@Crimsonorblue22 I was thinking about Greene's Sr. season. I was hoping he'd take a rs next season when Brown signed. Brown as a place holder for a year, but a placeholder that could put KU over the top. Now I'm hoping for a full recovery quickly. Brannen will be rushed back comparatively speaking.

I'm hoping Brannen heals quickly and Bill lands Mack and the Greek Project 'Scraper. Set the groundwork for '19. This is a peak year, so could be 2019 with the right 3-4 year players mixed with OADs at the right spot or two.

@dylans I agree!

@brooksmd

Gotcha... anytime I hear "downtown" I'm thinking Freddy Brown... one of the most prolific 3-pt shooters from the league. They retired his jersey in Seattle.

@drgnslayr I always think of this:

@drgnslayr You got me there. As far as I'm concerned quality basketball ends at the college level. Don't care for the league, 24 sec clock, being able to pick up the dribble at half court when driving the basket and so on.

@brooksmd said:

being able to pick up the dribble at half court when driving the basket

PHOF!

@brooksmd

Don't care for the league, 24 sec clock, being able to pick up the dribble at half court when driving the basket and so on.

Juwan Staten called...he says he can run the full court bouncing the ball 4-5 times like he did against KU... :)