Joke is on others for missing on Michigan 2024 hoops pledge Christian Anderson Jr.
Forgive Christian Anderson Sr. if he’s been a bit frustrated the last few years with the lack of respect for his son, Christian Anderson Jr. It was understandable early, maybe, when Michigan head coach Juwan Howard took a commitment from Anderson before his sophomore season, needing only to see him a few times to know he saw something special.
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That, though, was when Anderson Jr. hadn’t even gone through his growth spurt. He was still torching bigger players with his unbelievable jump shot and improving handle, scoring in the lane in a variety of ways.
Anderson Sr. recently marveled at the faith Howard showed when he saw his son at an AAU event back then and continued to follow him, offering months later.
“There had been no prior communication whatsoever,” he said. “I thought a coach that had the guts and the foresight to offer a 5-6, 110 pounder when everyone is like ridiculing the situation because he looks like he’s 12 …
“You look at him again and he averaged 30 points a game and was one of the leaders in the entire nation in scoring [at Atlanta Lovett]. That’s after Juwan actually extended the offer and we committed to him.”
There were even decommitment rumblings last month.
“Who would we be now, two years later to say, ‘nah [we’re not coming]’” Anderson Sr. said. “I’ve been trying to wear the Michigan badge ever since, posting ‘Michigan commit’ all over.
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“Now people have got to find something new [to overlook him]. ‘Where is he going to play at? Now he’s playing at Oak Hill. People just keep running out of situations.”
As of May 31, it should be over for good. Anderson Jr. had been playing on the New Balance circuit, a bit off the beaten path. Now playing for The Skill Factory in Nike EYBL, he went off at EBYL session IV in Dallas and earned second-team all-session honors in averaging 24.8 points, 6 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game. He made 50 percent of his field goals, an astounding 47 percent of his triples (with range, of course), and 16 of 18 free throws (93 percent).
Anyone who might have been laughing before isn’t laughing now — except maybe Howard and Michigan, who got the last laugh.
“We’re Michigan commits,” Anderson Sr. said. “We’re going to Oak Hill, and then we plan on going to Michigan.”
It will be a year, but Anderson Jr. is proving to be well worth it.
