It wasn't academics it was more an attitude thing. There were some red flags that made coaches think twice about recruiting him. If you'll remember the recruiting game in Michigan was CRAZY in 04 and 05.
Malik Hairston (04), Joe Crawford (04), Al Horford (04), Eric Devendorf (05), Chris Doug and Wilson Chandler (05).
All were at least Top 40 kids and none ended up instate. Izz and TA were pretty fed up with any kid that had any red flags whatsoever during that time. They really gravitated towards kids that didn't have an drama in their recruitments.
MSU was fortunate to land Gray and Neitzel early. Then they got Suton. UM got Jerret Smith early. Both schools lost out on Horford and Sasha Kaun.
They both lost out on Crawford and Hairston.
MSU lost out on James Hardy.
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I told Izz and TA recruiting would get a lot better (ie simpler) with the classes of 07 and beyond. So far it's been that way but the state of Michigan was just pretty crazy in the classes of 04, 05 and 06.