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Duke basketball offers scholarship to Rolling Meadows' Max Christie

Rolling Meadows High School's Max Christie this week is in northern Wisconsin. He's taking a break from the recruiting spotlight. But like a Door County fish boil, things are heating up for the junior-to-be.

He has a dozen-plus Division I offers, most recently from Duke.

“They started coming out at Christmas at (the) York (tournament) last year,” Rolling Meadows coach Kevin Katovich said. “With all the things he did this summer they saw him more and more. Then Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) called him Monday to offer.”

Among the other interested schools are Villanova, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Iowa, Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Loyola, DePaul, Virginia, Oregon, Stanford, Baylor and Florida.

“It feels great to hear from national champions and other great programs,” Christie said. “It has been amazing. But I'm not closing the doors on any other colleges just because these other programs may be reaching out. I'm always keeping my options open and giving everyone opportunities to recruit me.”

The 6-foot-6-inch Christie has been on recruiters' radar since he started his first game as a freshman. He averaged nearly 26 points and 10 rebounds last year, including a 51-point performance.

ESPN and 24/7 rank him the No. 2 shooting guard of the class of 2021. Many experts consider him not only to be the top junior in the state, but the best overall player in the state without regard to graduation class.

Christie's summer of excitement doesn't just include recruitment.

He was selected to USA Basketball's junior team. In June, Christie went to Brazil to play in the U-16 World Championships. The team finished 6-0 and routed Canada 94-77 for the gold. Christie averaged 9.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

“It was great being able to go out and play basketball with those three letters across your chest,” Christie said. “It always means a lot to me, let alone being able to compete with the top players in the country, arguably the world. It is always a good experience in building relationships and expanding your game.”

Christie's summer included completing his high school finals two weeks early so he could go to Florida to work out for USA Basketball. Then it was to Brazil, Atlanta, home to play with his high school team for a couple of weeks, then with the AAU Illinois Wolves, then back to Colorado Springs for more with USA Basketball.

“He and his family have traveled quite a bit,” Katovich said. “They have not been home much this summer. I am sure he and his brother Cameron (who will be a freshman at Meadows) are they only guys looking to get back to school.”

After a busy summer, Christie said he is ready to get back to his regular schedule.

“I'm looking forward to getting back to business with schoolwork and seeing friends again,” he said.

  Max Christie, right, entering his junior year at Rolling Meadows High School, is being recruited by several Division I schools. He heard Monday from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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