Michigan State basketball’s Max Christie staying in NBA draft

It is gonna be one-and-done for Max Christie.

The Michigan State basketball guard, who accomplished his freshman season in East Lansing earlier than getting into the NBA draft this spring, is hiring an agent, forfeiting the remainder of his faculty eligibility.

MSU coach Tom Izzo mentioned “after taking a while the previous few months to deal with preparation and analysis,” Christie and his household determined to place all of their power behind getting drafted this summer time. 

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“I do know this has been a lifelong dream for Max and I’m excited for him as he takes the subsequent step and continues the method and journey to changing into an NBA participant,” Izzo mentioned in an announcement launched Monday night. “We respect all of the onerous work and dedication he gave to Michigan State Basketball this season and want him nothing however one of the best.”

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was first to report the information. 

Christie, a 6-foot-6 guard, emerged from his first faculty season as maybe MSU’s finest perimeter defender. He began in all however one of MSU’s 36 video games final season, averaging 9.3 factors and three.5 rebounds. However he appeared to tire within the latter phases of the season and shot simply 38.2% total and 31.7% from the 3-point line. 

The freshman was one in every of 76 invitees for this week’s NBA draft mix in Chicago. The deadline for underclassmen to drag out of the draft pool is June 1. The draft is June 23. 

Christie, 19, will not be projected to be a first-round choose on most of the fashionable mock draft boards. 

Two different MSU gamers who might have returned for another season are additionally within the NBA draft pool. Seniors Gabe Brown and Marcus Bingham Jr., who might have taken benefit of the additional COVID-19 12 months, each determined to show professional. Brown was invited to the G League camp this week in Chicago. 

The final freshman throughout Izzo’s tenure to be drafted was Jaren Jackson Jr., the 2018 Large Ten Freshman of the 12 months who went fourth total to the Memphis Grizzlies and has emerged as a pillar of that staff’s basis. Different freshmen to get picked below Izzo embrace Devonte Davis (2016), Erazem Lorbek (2005) and Zack Randolph (2001).

Contact Kirkland Crawford: kcrawford@freepress.com. Comply with him on Twitter @HiKirkHere.