I thought it was clear in the reporting on his commitment that it was really about Ben, his vision, honesty, etc. This all from a family who had been through the process before. Lots to second guess the staff on, but so far building good relationships with recruits and families is not one of them. Hard to believe he would jump ship before getting here. It’s worse than he and most of us thought or hoped it would be, but Christie and all of us knew it would be bad this year.
Christie
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Gopher_In_NYC
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IMO if you listen to his interview in Halsey Hall’s thread, he and Wingspan aren’t typical -18 year old men - old souls, who look for more essence/substance vs. personality / bright lights.
Ben’s ingenuity is one of his best assets - I learned that when I moved out to NYC.
My buddy who was from NYC relocated to MN and told me that quality would play well with clients out here- he was also a sales guy.
Studies have proven that your EQ ( emotional intelligence) is more of an important trait in determining success than IQ. My understanding is Ben is eminently likable, the kind of dude no one dislikes.
UpAndUnder43
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I didnt think he would jump ship before getting here. I have listened to 0 interviews or anything with Christie. Was just saying its easier to make a decision when its for 1 season and there are fewer repercussions for making a choice to aren't happy with. Every single commit can leave and play elsewhere without sitting out (I think) so that really changes it. I dont think Christie will--it was just a fact I stated.
UpAndUnder43
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EQ>>>IQ in most situations. Working in sales you learn a lot about that. There are people I work with that are incredibly successful and not what many would consider "smart". But you're not showing people your knowledge--you're getting them to buy into you and your vision (in this case). Ben can't sell anything but himself and possibly playing time. So far he has sold the hell out of it. Kudos to him for doing so.
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35 minutes/game available for a true freshman playing in the B10. Not a bad gig if you can get it
Everybody is after the younger Fears.
EasyThere Pilgrim
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What many of you don't realize is...and I've tried to explain this many times...what the team did in the past has no effect on what the team will do in the future. When Christie is an upperclassman, he will be playing with the new guys like Evans.
UpAndUnder43
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You’ve also said they should follow the Clem blueprint…because it worked in the past doesn’t mean it will in the future.
So which side are you on?
Also—if Evans is what you say he is—he won’t be here when Christie is an upperclassmen.
PS hopefully we get some more injuries tomorrow!!
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That's how time works. Wow.
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The latest from the StarTribune
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The frustration Cameron Christie felt after a tough loss for Rolling Meadows (Ill.) last Saturday turned to excitement when he spotted Gophers coach Ben Johnson waiting to greet him outside the locker room.
Christie's future college coach stayed behind after the U's loss at Northwestern, driving from nearby Evanston to watch one of his top recruits and a prime candidate for Illinois' Mr. Basketball.
Christie, a 6-foot-6 four-star senior, wishes he could join the U's backcourt right now. Johnson's 2023 recruiting class with Christie and five-star California center Dennis Evans III cannot arrive soon enough for the Gophers (7-14, 1-10 Big Ten), who take a six-game losing streak into Saturday's game against Maryland at Williams Arena.
"I definitely hope to help bring the ball up over there and relieve pressure," Christie said about handling some point guard duties. "I also can play the wing spot and just be versatile. I'm going to do whatever it takes to help win."
Christie, who averages 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists this year, is the highest-ranked guard recruit for the Gophers since former four-star prospects Amir Coffey and Isaiah Washington signed at the U in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
The Arlington Heights, Ill., native can bring a winning mentality into the Gophers program. Rolling Meadows is 22-4 and among the top 10 teams in Illinois Class 4A as of Friday.
“I'm looking forward to getting there. I just have to keep working. Keep my confidence up and keep building on the little things.”
Cam Christie
Watching Christie last weekend, Johnson was reminded of all the things that make him a special: quick movement without the ball to get open, a smooth jumper off the catch and off the dribble. Despite being slender, Christie finishes strong above the rim and at the basket.
"It's always exciting when you see a kid who has so much room to grow and develop, but he has that high ceiling of talent," Johnson said. "Like all young kids, he's got to get used to the physicality of the game. He's got to get stronger, but if you don't have that talent base and that athleticism it can be tough."
Brother reaches NBA
If Big Ten fans recognize his name, that's because Christie's older brother, Max, was an all-league freshman team performer at Michigan State. He has started a few games as a rookie for the Los Angeles Lakers this season after being drafted 35th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Max is still just 19, but he is two years older than his younger brother. And he has already traveled the path that the younger Christie hopes to follow to become an impact Big Ten freshman.
"Confidence is the No. 1 thing," Christie said about his big brother's advice. "You have to believe in your preparation. Obviously, high school to college is a big jump. You have to believe you're good enough to compete with those players."
The Christie brothers' belief in themselves and their love for the game came from their parents, Katrina and Max Sr., who played college basketball at Northwestern and Wisconsin Superior respectively.
"We would be in the gym all the time," Christie said. "My mom and dad would always find us gyms. They would get us workouts and trainers. We were doing something basketball-related every day when we were young."
Rolling Meadows had two talented siblings as their starting backcourt for two years. Christie called that experience "a ton of fun" since he and Max had never played together on the same team until his freshman year in 2019-20. The following year they both contributed to the team winning a conference championship.
"What a great thing for the family for them to play together," Rolling Meadows coach Kevin Katovich said. "It was kind of one of those cool moments when you felt like it was the passing of the guard onto Cameron. From that moment on, it's been his show with great teammates around him."
The summer before Max Christie's senior year, he committed to play for Michigan State. Hall of Fame Spartans coach Tom Izzo also offered soon-to-be sophomore Cam Christie a scholarship, seeing similarities in their game.
At the time, the younger Christie was 6-3 and barely 160 pounds. He's grown three inches and added 25 pounds since then. He knows adding weight and developing his toughness and strength will be a major factor in making a smooth transition into college basketball.
"It's one of the most physical conferences in the country," Christie said of the Big Ten. "You have to have your body be able to withstand the contact and physicality. That's definitely the most important factor as a freshman."
Last Saturday, Christie scored 21 points, but Rolling Meadows suffered a humbling 19-point loss to Moline, led by Iowa recruits Owen Freeman and Brock Harding. They will meet again in the Minnesota-Iowa border battle rivalry next year.
Much like Johnson tried to move on from the Northwestern loss that day, Christie shook off his difficult game as they chatted last Saturday. They both could see a brighter future, one that includes Christie being a vital piece to a possible major turnaround with the Gophers next season.
"He's laid out a good foundation for me and a good plan," Christie said. "I'm looking forward to getting there. I just have to keep working. Keep my confidence up and keep building on the little things, so I can be ready to get out there and help the team."
Gopher_In_NYC
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He’s not scared if the losses were piling up this season, he’s relishing the challenge of helping to fix it!The latest from the StarTribune
Follow the StarTribune for the news, photos and videos from the Twin Cities and beyond.
The frustration Cameron Christie felt after a tough loss for Rolling Meadows (Ill.) last Saturday turned to excitement when he spotted Gophers coach Ben Johnson waiting to greet him outside the locker room.
Christie's future college coach stayed behind after the U's loss at Northwestern, driving from nearby Evanston to watch one of his top recruits and a prime candidate for Illinois' Mr. Basketball.
Christie, a 6-foot-6 four-star senior, wishes he could join the U's backcourt right now. Johnson's 2023 recruiting class with Christie and five-star California center Dennis Evans III cannot arrive soon enough for the Gophers (7-14, 1-10 Big Ten), who take a six-game losing streak into Saturday's game against Maryland at Williams Arena.
"I definitely hope to help bring the ball up over there and relieve pressure," Christie said about handling some point guard duties. "I also can play the wing spot and just be versatile. I'm going to do whatever it takes to help win."
Christie, who averages 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists this year, is the highest-ranked guard recruit for the Gophers since former four-star prospects Amir Coffey and Isaiah Washington signed at the U in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
The Arlington Heights, Ill., native can bring a winning mentality into the Gophers program. Rolling Meadows is 22-4 and among the top 10 teams in Illinois Class 4A as of Friday.
“I'm looking forward to getting there. I just have to keep working. Keep my confidence up and keep building on the little things.”
Cam Christie
Watching Christie last weekend, Johnson was reminded of all the things that make him a special: quick movement without the ball to get open, a smooth jumper off the catch and off the dribble. Despite being slender, Christie finishes strong above the rim and at the basket.
"It's always exciting when you see a kid who has so much room to grow and develop, but he has that high ceiling of talent," Johnson said. "Like all young kids, he's got to get used to the physicality of the game. He's got to get stronger, but if you don't have that talent base and that athleticism it can be tough."
Brother reaches NBA
If Big Ten fans recognize his name, that's because Christie's older brother, Max, was an all-league freshman team performer at Michigan State. He has started a few games as a rookie for the Los Angeles Lakers this season after being drafted 35th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Max is still just 19, but he is two years older than his younger brother. And he has already traveled the path that the younger Christie hopes to follow to become an impact Big Ten freshman.
"Confidence is the No. 1 thing," Christie said about his big brother's advice. "You have to believe in your preparation. Obviously, high school to college is a big jump. You have to believe you're good enough to compete with those players."
The Christie brothers' belief in themselves and their love for the game came from their parents, Katrina and Max Sr., who played college basketball at Northwestern and Wisconsin Superior respectively.
"We would be in the gym all the time," Christie said. "My mom and dad would always find us gyms. They would get us workouts and trainers. We were doing something basketball-related every day when we were young."
Rolling Meadows had two talented siblings as their starting backcourt for two years. Christie called that experience "a ton of fun" since he and Max had never played together on the same team until his freshman year in 2019-20. The following year they both contributed to the team winning a conference championship.
"What a great thing for the family for them to play together," Rolling Meadows coach Kevin Katovich said. "It was kind of one of those cool moments when you felt like it was the passing of the guard onto Cameron. From that moment on, it's been his show with great teammates around him."
The summer before Max Christie's senior year, he committed to play for Michigan State. Hall of Fame Spartans coach Tom Izzo also offered soon-to-be sophomore Cam Christie a scholarship, seeing similarities in their game.
At the time, the younger Christie was 6-3 and barely 160 pounds. He's grown three inches and added 25 pounds since then. He knows adding weight and developing his toughness and strength will be a major factor in making a smooth transition into college basketball.
"It's one of the most physical conferences in the country," Christie said of the Big Ten. "You have to have your body be able to withstand the contact and physicality. That's definitely the most important factor as a freshman."
Last Saturday, Christie scored 21 points, but Rolling Meadows suffered a humbling 19-point loss to Moline, led by Iowa recruits Owen Freeman and Brock Harding. They will meet again in the Minnesota-Iowa border battle rivalry next year.
Much like Johnson tried to move on from the Northwestern loss that day, Christie shook off his difficult game as they chatted last Saturday. They both could see a brighter future, one that includes Christie being a vital piece to a possible major turnaround with the Gophers next season.
"He's laid out a good foundation for me and a good plan," Christie said. "I'm looking forward to getting there. I just have to keep working. Keep my confidence up and keep building on the little things, so I can be ready to get out there and help the team."
Stud
Leader
Starter by Middle of the season at the latest
Thank God for people who see themselves as saviors, right?
stocker08
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I'm sure that Ben is a draw for these kids. But do you think that no kids have the desire to be part of building something? Not to mention that with a total rebuild....there's a giant vacuum in the lineup. If he can play at a high level right away....he'll get minutes.
EasyThere Pilgrim
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It's the TROLLS on this board who mock Evans (and Christie) about being a savior...because of his wingspan they say. No actual Gophers fans say that.
Christie is smart enough to know that this year's won-loss results have no effect on his future results at Minnesota.
UpAndUnder43
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I think in college there is always the aspect of building something even at the blue bloods. maybe he plans to be here for four years and go from bottom of the conference to a sweet 16 (or whatever the ceiling is) but realistically I think they find a fit with a coach, school, etc that can help them reach their goals. If Johnson went 9-11 in the conference this year—Christie would still be coming. The building aspect is independent of him because they simply happen to suck the year before he arrives.
stocker08
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Pretty sure that he knew that he wasn't walking into an established team when he committed.
UpAndUnder43
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Established? No. But I don’t think anyone thought it would be this bad this year.
Like if they were 10th in the conference the “rebuilding” aspect wouldn’t be nearly as strong. They are going to take last. Likely by a few games.
stocker08
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Nobody expected it to be this bad. But I don't think anybody expected that four guys would be injured for extended periods of time. The roster has been completely decimated. And there are a lot of minutes going to young guys that probably were expected to play sparingly this year.
Combine that with a Big Ten that has A LOT of really experienced teams. Look at our last three games. Northwestern and Rutgers both started three seniors and two juniors. Maryland came out with four seniors and a sophomore. Gophers have been starting two juniors, two true freshman, and a walk-on calibur senior transfer. Guys off the bench include another true freshman, a sophomore who should be on his way to a lower division next year, and an actual walk-on.
With some improvement and hopefully a transfer point guard....next year could be a significant improvement. Not just from the standpoint of what the Gophers put on the court.....but there are a lot of teams that are going to be turning over the experience they've built over the past four/five years. We just ran into a tough combination of a very deep Big Ten....with a young and injured roster.
We have one injured guard. The other 4 are PFs. The major problem this team has is at the guard position. We get slaughtered by every other Big Tens guards on both ends of the court. Ben made a massive mistake in how he put this team together. I have no idea if he can coach or not because his roster construction is awful. He is going to have to show the guts to blow it up again and go out and get 2-3 guards that can compete at this level. I like Henley for the future but he's a SF and might become a real good one when he gets his shot together and tightens the handle.
stocker08
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I've mentioned the guard issue. 100% on Johnson. He brought in Samuels knowing that he'd be playing a decent amount. That was going to be a problem no matter what. But JOJ playing power forward and Thompson seeing minutes at all is the result of injuries.
Gopherfan84
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What type of guys help turn it around then?
UpAndUnder43
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I don’t disagree but you just went off on a tangent that had nothing to do with what was being discussed. We’re talking about Christie and why he came here.
The biggest flaw I see with the “next year” arguments is that we don’t know who will be here next year. Once that’s determined we should have a more clear picture.
Gopher_In_NYC
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That was my point - thanks
Gopher_In_NYC
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Leaders lead.
In my experience, high achievers relish challenges as it tests their mettle and is a sign of their confidence in themselves.
Think Puck telling the guys jump on his back before game 6 of the WS against the Braves at The Dome, - he hits a three run bomb and makes the epic catch against the fence in center - took ALL the pressure off his teammates and put it on himself, as an example which we’re all aware of. I want those guys on my team.
Cameron has that type of confidence - it’s unusual and special and can be intimidating to some, generally those with lower self-esteem in my experience.
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Look, schmuck, I wasn't mocking him (and I never mocked Evans either). I was being serious with a dash of cynicism. I'm glad those two guys who could have gone to many places decided to come here. They should be a huge help.
That was a very straight forward line. I was expressing gratitude that they willing to step into this challenging situation that is unlikely to deliver immediate team success instead of going to a successful PAC 12 program (Evans) or Illinois (Christie).
Gopher_In_NYC
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I don’t foresee a mass exodus, as these are Ben’s recruits and I’m sure they’re excited about Christie and Evansville coming.
He is the 13th rated SG by 24/7 and composite 21.
Offers included -
Sparty
Purdue
IA
OSU
Ill
USC
NW
Virginia
Cameron Christie Recruit Interests
247sports.com
I’m thinking with this type of talent and Playing Time available, we should be abl to get a legit PG.
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