Michigan State Basketball: Max Christie to Spartans picking up serious steam

What started as rumors has since picked up some serious steam. Max Christie to Michigan State basketball has some legs.

A couple of weeks ago, there was smoke to the Max Christie to Michigan State hype and now the idea has picked up some serious steam.

On Thursday afternoon, a Duke reporter on 247Sports joined the movement and put in a Crystal Ball for the five-star shooting guard to Michigan State.

Why is this news? Well, he’s the first Duke insider to submit a Crystal Ball since last fall and the fact that it’s for Michigan State says a lot about this commitment. There’s a feeling in Durham that Christie might not be thrilled with the idea of playing in a crowded Duke backcourt which is why the Michigan State trend makes sense.

The 247Sports Crystal Ball still favors Duke 87 percent to Michigan State’s 13 percent, but this is a big development and more insiders could be swapping their picks soon.

How Christie fits with Michigan State basketball

Josh Langford and likely Aaron Henry will be departing after the 2020-21 season — assuming the latter returns this year — which opens up some backcourt space. Christie isn’t going to play the one so Rocket Watts, AJ Hoggard and Foster Loyer will split time there, giving him more time on the wing.

Christie is one of the best wings in the class and he’ll fit right into Michigan State’s new scheme which has been a high-octane inside-out game. The Spartans have shot more threes in recent years than in the first 15-plus of the Tom Izzo era. Christie has the ability to score from long-range but he’s also versatile enough to put the ball on the floor and create for himself.

Michigan State needs guys like that which is why Cassius Winston was so good and Miles Bridges also excelled. They could create for themselves — Langford, Henry and Watts are other good examples.

Izzo would love to have a scoring threat like Christie on the wing and he’d do major damage in the green and white.

Christie is ranked the No. 11 overall prospect and top shooting guard in the 2021 class.