Michael Phillips to Marquette

[tower912]

I have been wrong before.   Regardless, glad he chose MU.  Looking forward to it.

[We R Final Four]

This is huge! Welcome!

[PGsHeroes32]

I read it.  I also see he is going to be Markus-esque as a 17 year old freshman wing on a deep team.

Much older than Markus. Just young for his proper year

Markus was straight up in the wrong grade and even in his original class he’d have been on the younger side

Phillips rating and skill set makes me
Hard pressed to believe he’s planning on red shirting when he’d be a typical 18 year old freshman

[MUfan12]

If they use all 5 on HS recruits, plus Clark coming off his redshirt year, that's a lot of freshmen. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a redshirt in that group.

[JakeBarnes]

And Ben Steele.

Reclassifying to 2025 from 2026.  6'6 175 on 247 sports.

6'6.5" without shoes at Nike elite 100 camp

[Its DJOver]

If they use all 5 on HS recruits, plus Clark coming off his redshirt year, that's a lot of freshmen. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a redshirt in that group.

Yea, there's only 200 minutes to go around, it's a good problem to have, but very curious to see how things shake out.

[Jay Bee]

Yea, there's only 200 minutes to go around, it's a good problem to have

Is it?

[willie warrior]

Looking good.

[rocky_warrior]

Yea, there's only 200 minutes to go around, it's a good problem to have, but very curious to see how things shake out.

Right...Shaka's been really good at keeping guys committed.  I was surprised by at least one that came back this year, we'll see if that continues.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Welcome to Marquette!  Like many of Shaka's recruits, he looks to be another long and athletic body with tremendous potential.  Can never have too many of those. 

Next year's class is looking to be phenomenal. 

[Galway Eagle]

Right...Shaka's been really good at keeping guys committed.  I was surprised by at least one that came back this year, we'll see if that continues.

From inside sources or just because of recruiting acclaim vs playing time?

[rocky_warrior]

From inside sources or just because of recruiting acclaim vs playing time?

Just my own gut, but largely do to lack of minutes, and likely lack of future minutes.  Like I said, Shaka has been very successful in retention.

[MarquetteMike1977]

Welcome Michael Phillips Go Marquette!!

[onepost]

In my opinion, I think Cam Ward is viewed is a one or two-and-done kind of talent.
And Phillips would be able to step into that role if/when Ward presumably leaves early.

Again, just my opinion, but don't think Phillips committing has any bearing on the pursuit of Ward.
Another great day for MUBB.

[MU82]

Love the work Shaka and his assistants are doing on the recruiting trail!

[PointWarrior]

Just a really great signing by Shaka.

Scholarships going from 13 to 15 gives coaches a chance to take a shot on some younger guys that have a lot of potential to grow into. Should be fun to watch this staff work with guys like Clark and Phillips.

Scholarships going from 13 to 15 gives coaches a chance to take a shot on some younger guys

- and Shaka does not have to adopt so many players anymore...

[avid1010]

We are so damn lucky to have Shaka. 

[Viper]

Get Stevens and we will have shooters galore.  Love Miletic and Phillips together in one class.  Two 6,7” shooters on the wings.

amen Shooter. This ain’t Terry Reason.

[Elonsmusk]

We are so damn lucky to have Shaka.

I agree with this analysis.  Was reading an article quoting Nigel James Dad who also coaches, and he mentioned Shake sent him some observations/ideas/feedback on the team - and Nigel's Dad thought that was really thoughtful and reflected really well on Shaka.  I agree.  Shaka is a gem.

[MuggsyB]

Very interesting.  Seems like a kid that Shaka csm develop. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Sounds like a recruit about to explode. A Shaka speciality.

[StillAWarrior]

How does a '26 reclassify as a '25? I understand how Hamilton did it when he decided to not do a post-HS prep year, but how does a kid who is entering his junior year of HS do it? Is it as simple as he probably just has enough credits to skip his senior year?

[brewcity77]

How does a '26 reclassify as a '25? I understand how Hamilton did it when he decided to not do a post-HS prep year, but how does a kid who is entering his junior year of HS do it? Is it as simple as he probably just has enough credits to skip his senior year?

I believe that was the case with Markus. He was far enough ahead in school that he jumped from 2017 to 2016.

Phillips might be a bit different because he was originally in 2025, reclassed to 2026, and now is going back to 2025. He probably went from scholastically on track to ahead of his classmates to back on track.

[Billy Hoyle]

How does a '26 reclassify as a '25? I understand how Hamilton did it when he decided to not do a post-HS prep year, but how does a kid who is entering his junior year of HS do it? Is it as simple as he probably just has enough credits to skip his senior year?

kids load up on online courses to meet their NCAA core course and graduation requirements. The Fears kid who was a 2025 and committed to Illinois just decided to reclassify to 2024 and commit to Oklahoma by doing that. But with this kid he was probably more on track having dropped back a year before going back to his original class.

[SaveOD238]

How does a '26 reclassify as a '25? I understand how Hamilton did it when he decided to not do a post-HS prep year, but how does a kid who is entering his junior year of HS do it? Is it as simple as he probably just has enough credits to skip his senior year?

IF wherever they go to school allows it.  The public high school where I work now has about 5-6 kids graduate early each year but they have to take a self-study English 12 Sem 2 during the fall semester to fulfill our requirements.  We had one kid go to NIU for football and start early this way. I've not heard of someone graduating a whole year early though.

Or you just transfer to some private or online school that can make it happen.  My guess is that GRACE Academy might be more able to bend some rules on what credits to accept.