Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard got his heart broken when his prized recruit, five-star forward, Isaiah Todd, decided to decommit to go pro instead. He plans to sign with an agent and NOT play college basketball in 2020-2021.
His mother, Marlene Venable, broke it down like a straight up G when she simply said, “We’re exploring pro routes.”
The 6-foot-9 power forward from Virginia who attended Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina, is ranked No. 13 in the ESPN 100 Class of 2020. He was the biggest catch that the University of Michigan has landed since the ESPN recruiting database started in 2007.
Ole boy was also the first five-star recruit Juwan Howard had landed. However, you can’t be mad that the kid realized his worth and is doing something about it.
Let’s keep it real or all the way 100, whichever comes 1st! He was only going to be at Michigan for a year anyway. Here’s how it works playa. Because he was going to be a “One and Done” he wasn’t going to be at school to go to school. Here’s how it works for these type of special athletes. They enroll in the fall semester. All they have to do is pass those classes regardless of what they are. Therefore, they can literally take them pass fail. During the second semester all they have to do is enroll in school.
They don’t have to go to class at all. Why? Because by the time the semester is over the NBA Draft is rolling around within a few weeks. Who care’s if they flunk every one of those classes. They’ll be a millionaire making GUARANTEED money by then. So actually going to college is a waste.
Now you can say that they can boost their commercial profile like Zion Williamson did at Duke and sign a monster shoe deal when they come out. However, Zion was ultra-special coming out of high school and was a dunk Youtube phenom. So he was going to get the commercial deals whether he went to Duke or not but it sure did help.
The only entity that benefits from kids like that going to college is the college itself. They make all of the money and the kids get nothing. Their season ticket sells go through the roof, they sell the kid’s likeness all over the local area and sometimes the nation. The kid’s jersey is sold in the bookstores on campus for upwards of $75 or more and the kid doesn’t make a dime.
At least this way the kid can simply shoot hoop like he wanted to do in the first place and make $600K or $700K for six to eight months or so and then go to the NBA. It makes complete sense.
And please don’t give me the “he needs to go to school” argument. He needs to use the gift God blessed him with to make a living. He won the genetic lottery and he’s got to take advantage of what he’s got.
There aren’t too many people in the world that have been blessed to be 6’9″ that can run, jump and shoot the rock like that. He’s special. Special people have special gifts that they should take advantage of. Why make Michigan rich when he can make himself rich?
School for him would be a waste of time and it only benefits the university and the coach. I’m happy to see the kid looking out for himself. Stop me when I start lyin’!