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Posted on Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 9:10 a.m.

Mitch McGary enjoyed Michigan hoops visit, still undecided on future

By Nick Baumgardner

Coveted Brewster Academy power forward Mitch McGary said in his personal ESPN blog Tuesday that he enjoyed his official visit to Michigan, but has no plans on making a formal decision "any time soon," and at this point - has "no idea" what school he'll choose.

McGary - a consensus national top-five player for the class of 2012 - took official visits to Michigan, Duke and North Carolina this month. He also had an in-home visit with Florida on Monday - but remains undecided.

"I really enjoyed all three visits," McGary wrote. "All I can think now is that this is gonna make it so much harder to pick when the time comes because I have no idea what I’m gonna do at this point."

As far as his Michigan visit - which took place during the Wolverines' weather-shortened 34-10 football win over Western Michigan on Sept. 3 - McGary wrote that he enjoyed spending time with basketball coach John Beilein and his staff, as well as host-player Zack Novak (who, like McGary, is from Chesterton, Ind.) ).

But the biggest Ann Arbor impression left on the 6-10, 250-pounder came from the fans.

"I had a ball there," he wrote. "The fans just showed me so much love at the football game. Everyone talks about Michigan being a football school, but when I sat in the student section everyone just started chanting “Mitch Mc-Ga-ry” and started clapping. They definitely know their basketball at Michigan, that’s for sure.

"I really wasn’t expecting all of that. People talk about the Cameron Crazies at Duke, but that’s how it was at Michigan too. Those fans showed me the most love of the three visits."

McGary also writes about his official visits to Duke and North Carolina - trips that included meet-ups with former Blue Devil Kyrie Irving and former Tar Heel Tyler Hansbrough.

He also added that he still wants to visit Kentucky, Maryland and Florida - but he's not sure if he'll "get to those schools just yet."

"I definitely don’t see myself committing any time soon," McGary wrote. "I just want to make sure that I’m making the right decision so the plan is to take my time."

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

Comments

81wolverine

Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 1:14 p.m.

I think Michigan is very much still in the game (from all I've read) even after MM's trip to Tobacco Road. He doesn't face an easy decision, that's for sure. Basically, he'll end up in the NBA no matter which school he goes to. But Michigan has a great campus, tremendous academics, one of the classiest coaches you'll find anywhere, and as of this fall, superb facilities. And it sounds like his AAU coach and parents have been extremely impressed with the coaches and program at Michigan. So that has to count for something. We'll just have to be patient and see how things play out.

rocco

Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 3:35 a.m.

It might have been a nice touch to have one of the former Michigan bigs to help recruit him, e.g., FAB Five (Juwan Howard), Tim McCormick to offset Tyler Hansbrough. Zack Novak wouldn't do it for me. Roy Williams personally recruited McGary. He's modeled his game after Hansbrough. Edge to NC. The students did their love thing which was good. But what extra did the coaches do?

81wolverine

Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 1:10 p.m.

Good idea, but I'm about 100% sure that using big-name former players to recruit a H.S. player is against NCAA rules. Otherwise, we'd be using guys like Charles Woodson, Desmond Howard, et al to help sign all kinds of football players.

barnz378

Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 1:43 a.m.

You will get a special feeling if you come here Mitch. Even if you don't come we will support you. But UM is a special school with basketball, football and hockey Mitch where there are leaders and the best. GO BLUE!

10dz

Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.

The fans at the football game showed him the most love of any of his visits. Thats because this IS a football school Mitch! There aren't any football fans at Duke or North Carolina. I guess the only school we really have to worry about is Florida and the swamp. lol I hope the kid is smart enough to go to a school where he will be the man, and not just another great player coming through a program. His best bet if that is what he looks for will be Michigan. They will play like a team, but he will be showcased.

Buster W.

Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 2:38 p.m.

Too bad Mitch didn't visit last weekend.