Michael Phillips to Marquette

[burger]

I can see us taking a re-classify (atleast one every year) that would normally go the prep school route and red-shirt with us to gain experience at the college level for a year.   Once integrated you have a gem after the red-shirt and ready to play immediately....(Hamilton)

Screw the portal......This has the potential to be a novel "huge" method.....

[tower912]

Taking a redshirt season to improve your skills is actually old school.   See:  Ryan, Bo.

[LloydsLegs]

Taking a redshirt season to improve your skills is actually old school.   See:  Ryan, Bo.

Including the re-classify?

[We R Final Four]

I can see us taking a re-classify (atleast one every year) that would normally go the prep school route and red-shirt with us to gain experience at the college level for a year.   Once integrated you have a gem after the red-shirt and ready to play immediately....(Hamilton)

Screw the portal......This has the potential to be a novel "huge" method.....

Yes….this seems to be angle that Shaka and the staff have and will continue to utilize. A year in our system as opposed to a prep school. Hamilton defending Oso everyday in practice will pay dividends in the future.

[MuMark]

Hope sharing this doesn’t upset anyone without access……..

Article is basically a testimony to Shaka’s philosophy on relationships and growth

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2024/08/12/marquette-basketball-2025-recruit-michael-phillips-ii-is-a-shooter-who-plays-like-kevin-durant/74735898007/

[tower912]

Including the re-classify?

The 'reclassify' is secondary.   Hamilton didn't reclassify, he chose a redshirt season at MU over a season of prep school.  The question is how Phillips ended up a year of eligibility behind his age.  Was it a strategy to help his body mature?  Was it grades or maturity in his early elementary years?  Apparently, his current classwork made it easy to do so, which is awesome and a credit to him.
   I am glad he is coming.  And I hope that he is wildly successful at MU.   I actually like the idea of using the extra couple scholarships on players who would rather be at MU than at prep school.

[WeAreMarquette96]

247 update has Michael Phillips as a 3 star and #208 in the 2025 class

[SaveOD238]

247 update has Michael Phillips as a 3 star and #208 in the 2025 class

Wasn't he top 35 in the 2026 class? How does that possibly translate to 208 in the 2025 class?

[LloydsLegs]

The 'reclassify' is secondary.   Hamilton didn't reclassify, he chose a redshirt season at MU over a season of prep school.  The question is how Phillips ended up a year of eligibility behind his age.  Was it a strategy to help his body mature?  Was it grades or maturity in his early elementary years?  Apparently, his current classwork made it easy to do so, which is awesome and a credit to him.
   I am glad he is coming.  And I hope that he is wildly successful at MU.  I actually like the idea of using the extra couple scholarships on players who would rather be at MU than at prep school.

Agree- love this, and it is an excellent use of an "extra" scholarship or 2 when 15 are available (meaning, avoiding/reducing a logjam)

[StillAWarrior]

Wasn't he top 35 in the 2026 class? How does that possibly translate to 208 in the 2025 class?

Even the site that had him at 35 ran that with the headline, "Why On3 is higher than the industry with 4-star SG Michael Phillips." Although the difference between 35 and 208 is pretty glaring.

[cheebs09]

I'm going to guess he just hasn't been evaluated. I remember Markus being almost a 5 star but then ranked much lower when reclassifying.

[Galway Eagle]

I'm going to guess he just hasn't been evaluated. I remember Markus being almost a 5 star but then ranked much lower when reclassifying.

Not this drastic of a change though. Markus fell from 32 for 2017 to 44 for 2016 based on the article I found.

[WeAreMarquette96]

Even the site that had him at 35 ran that with the headline, "Why On3 is higher than the industry with 4-star SG Michael Phillips." Although the difference between 35 and 208 is pretty glaring.

That website (On3) has him at #94 in adjusted 2025 ranking, which is much higher than the other websites still. Rankings are a crapshoot but I trust the evaluations from 247 far more than On3. Phillips may rise in 247’s rankings though. FWIW 247 is much higher on Ian Miletic than the other websites which is telling (in a positive way)

[MuMark]

If you read Steele’s article it’s clear that coaches were already aware of his potential ……..lots of high major offers and even getting looks from blue bloods……Duke, Carolina…….


The recruiting sites can’t be everywhere……and he was playing with the 16s……easy to slip through the cracks.

Think of recruiting sites in this way.. …he wasn’t rated at all by most of them…….then he commits to MU…..and he goes immediately to a 3 star ……..it’s almost like they said “ oops……looks like we missed this one……lets make him a 3 star and evaluate him from there “

If he has a big senior season I’m sure he will rise further…….but if not…….i don’t think Shaka cares where others evaluate him.

Ps The On 3 National basketball analyst is Jamie Shaw………some might remember him as the guy who was very high on Jonas Aidoo and interviewed him after he announced for MU…….Shaw is based in North Carolina……so he is likely more familiar with Phillips as he was with  Aidoo……who was also from NC.

[BCHoopster]

If your a so called Top 20 kid, you might be a one and done type player.  After that from 21-125 most players are pretty close.  Need to stay in school for a few more years to improve there skills.