Shabazz Muhammad Diary: The Intro
Words. Shabazz Muhammad
Few players, if any, had as productive a summer as Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) shooting guard Shabazz Muhammad — evidenced by his 32 ppg scoring average on the AAU scene.
Now every school from North Carolina to UCLA to Duke is in hot pursuit of Muhammad, making his one of the most intriguing recruiting stories in the country.
Muhammad, a junior who is ranked No. 8 in the HSH National Top 50, has agreed to give HSH exclusive access by chronicling his thoughts in this regular diary where he’ll keep everyone updated on everything from his personal life to his high school season to his recruiting process:
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What’s up everyone! This is the first entry for my new diary, so check back often for new entries to come!
Well, I finished off my summer at the Elite 24 at Venice Beach and that was a great experience because there was just so much competition there. As a younger guy, I think it was really beneficial because it gave me a chance to play against the older guys one more time. That always helps.
The downtime at the Elite 24 was real cool, too. We basically just hung out in our rooms and we got to play against John Wall and Eric Bledsoe in Madden. I’ve got to give it to John, he wasn’t losing in Madden. He was definitely doing his thing in that.
Another cool part of the Elite 24 experience was that we got to do a late-night run with a lot of NBA guys. They definitely showed us why they’re in the NBA! They’re so quick on both ends of the floor. John had a lot of highlights and Brandon Jennings was doing some crazy things out there too.
The best part was that it let me gauge where my game was at, and I definitely see how I will be at that level soon. The biggest difference is their speed. They’re a little faster than me right now, but I’m a hard worker. Those guys work on their games 24/7, and we still have school and stuff, but I know that I’ll continue to get better and faster.
Elite 24 also gave me a chance to hang with my boys one last time before the summer ended. The guys I keep in touch with the most from the AAU circuit are Kyle Anderson (Paterson Catholic, NJ), DaJuan Coleman (Jamesville-DeWitt, NY) and Alex Murphy (St. Marks, MA). We just talk about regular stuff. Like, I was just asking DaJuan if Syracuse was cold because I heard it was real cold out there. We don’t get that kind of weather over here.
The guys always ask me if it’s fun living in Vegas. People think it’s always live over here in Vegas, but to be honest, it’s actually kinda slow. Most people that live here don’t even go to The Strip. That’s more a tourist thing.
Now that school has started up, I do most of my training after school. Then when I get home I watch football. I’m a big football fan! My team is the Titans. I like Vince Young and Chris Johnson. That guy is soooo fast!
Other than that, obviously I’ve got to think about my recruitment. I’m excited about heading over to North Carolina for Late Night on Oct. 15. This will be my first midnight madness event so I’m really excited about it! I watched Kentucky’s on TV last year and it looked real crazy, so I can’t wait to get down to North Carolina to see how it is. I’ve heard that they dance and stuff like that. Even Coach Roy (Williams) gets out there and dances, so that should be interesting. I think I’m going to tour the campus and watch them practice the day after so that will be cool.
Since the contact period has started I’ve had a lot of coaches come to my school to watch me workout. Duke has been here, Memphis, North Carolina, Arizona, Arizona State, Kentucky, UNLV, UCLA … I’m expecting a lot more schools too, like Texas, USC and Kansas.
I know some people look for the coaches to be there on the first day, but not me. It doesn’t really matter when you show up, as long as you are showing interest. Last year it was a little weird to have those big-time coaches in here to see me, but this year it’s more fun.
I do know that I need to cut my list down because there are so many schools recruiting me, I don’t even remember them all sometimes. I am planning to cut my list down to seven around the start of my season. So sometime in November, probably.
One of the cool things about the process is getting to know the coaches. They’re really interesting and funny guys. They’re really normal too. Like Coach K told me that his wife makes him clean the house on the weekend, and Coach Roy told me that he cleans out his garage all the time. I just thought that was cool that big-time coaches like that do things like that. I didn’t know those guys cleaned!
Anyway, thanks again for reading everyone. Until next time…
-Follow Muhammad @Phenom15balla
- Follow High School Hoop on Twitter at @HighSchoolHoop
Nice entry, Shabazz. Good luck with the process and know that Duke fans everywhere want you in our shade of blue.
word… Shabazz would accel in Duke’s full court and half-court offense especially with development in defensive pressure and transition baskets. Duke fans all want to see you healthy and competing at your best Shabazz.
Thanks Shabazz. We look forward to more insider info. Nice to see the UNC/Duke comments – both are great and respectable coaches. We’ll look for you in Chapel Hill on Oct. 15, and hopefully in Carolina Blue later on.
listen bruh, come to unc… we’ll take good care of you… don’t let coach k brainwash… real talk
Good luck Shabazz with your upcoming year!! Just know that all of us Dukies would love for you to come to the more manly shade of blue, lol. Oh by the way we already got a nickname for you man Sha”bad-azz” lol…
Yo Shabazz.
Good stuff man. I hope you enjoyed your development and rise with the AAU.
My opinion is that under Coach K and with the talent joining the Blue Devils, you can leave a lasting legacy and develop into a respected Nba superstar with sound fundamentals that any team would want to work with.
Come and represent so that you’ll be a household name and a role model for aspiring athletes around the world!
Who knows man? Shabazz Muhammad could be on a team with Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry, Marshall Plumlee, Andre Dawkins,Michael Gbinije, Tyler Adams, and Austin Rivers.
Clearly you haven’t seen a Kyrie Irving interview…all he cares about is one and done.
UNC Hall of Fame Players: 5
Duke Hall of Fame Players: 0
Lasting legacy….come leave a legacy at a true dynasty–UNC.
I know there’s a very good chance that Kyrie Irving could enter the NBA after his first year of college ala Kevin Durant, Luol Deng, Melo.
Still this give Shabazz opportunities to see what kind of athletes he could be competing with and playing on a team together with. Either way, Shabazz will have to earn his way into any NCAA college roster.
I for one believe he has the skills and the motivation to play on a team with Seth Curry, Austin Rivers, Alex Murphy, Tyler Adams, Andre Dawkins, and Marshall Plumlee.
Nothing in life is promised. With all the potential and talent that Shabazz Muhammad has he still needs to finish his HS years and make the most of them. He could represent with his athletic ability and basketball IQ and a school like Duke.
and why are we even talking about Hall of Fame already? Jordan and Pippen didn’t even get inducted into the Hall of Fame until way after they retired from the NBA. There’s so much life to live before people get honored by the Hall of Fame. Let’s talk about the here and now.
I think Shabazz Muhammad has the ability to be a great leader, role model, and champion in addition to being a gifted athlete. This is the type of legacy I’m speaking of … one that last on and off the court.
Keep on writing your diary entries. I enjoy hearing about your progress and enjoyment of HS and this time in your life. peace…
Nice job at the Elite 24, Shabazz. Come play for the best coach, and for a National Championship at DUKE. Hmmm, then I see you going 3rd overall to Phoenix or maybe the Knicks.
And remember, Roy Williams molests collies.
Shabazz! Tar Heel Nation is looking forward to having you at Late Night with Roy. It’s going to be an exciting (and at times exhausting) recruitment process, but we hope to be seeing you sporting Carolina blue in a couple of years. Good luck with everything!
Shabazz,
Come to UNC and be a part of the greatest basketball family on Earth. Just ask Jordan, Vince Carter, Antwan Jamison, Harrison Barnes etc etc etc.
We don’t care, if you stay 1 or 4 years because we all know at the end of the day you’ll play in the NBA. Might as well have some fun at UNC while you’re at it. Way better college experience with way hotter women. Just ask John Henson.
Love,
Roy
Just ask John Henson about the “college experience” of getting busted up by 30 on national tv by Duke, crying about how they don’t let you twitter at unc anymore and having Ol Roy openly question you and your teammates work ethic during press conferences throughout the year. The one plus to going to unc? They schedule NIT games on the nights that the big boys don’t play so you get a chance to watch DUKE every game as they go for the middle part of the 3-peat!
Ty Lawson and Tyler Hansbrough ain’t walking through that door. DUKE is the obvious choice.
Shabazz,
I know a man with your intelligence and basketball IQ has already done research on all the schools you have mentioned. No one, absolutely no one will question how close knit the UNC family is. No one, absolutely no one will question the now famous Coach K quote to one of his players leaving school “you’re f*****g up my program” was his response…Roy Williams equals class and NBA stardom, Coach K equals fake smile,fake hair, and NBA mediocrity.
UNC has not put out anything worth mentioning either… Vince… don’t think so… rasheed… nope… antawn?? Nah… so the argument is irrelevant that UNC puts out good pros…
Shabazz is bright young man with a high basketball IQ and skills on the basketball court. Duke tries to model it’s teams around family as well. Ask Elliot Williams who just got drafted last year by the Portland Trailblazers. His mother had some health problems last year and although he would have been one of the most athletic, dynamic guards on Duke’s Championship team, he decided to go to school near home at Memphis to be available to help his mother.
As family, Coach K and the entire Duke staff let the young man do what was best for his blood family. It was not an easy thing to do but it was the right thing for Eilliot Williams family and he’s still getting a chance to play his professional career in the NBA.
Ask Battier, Laettner, Brand, Boozer, Redick, and Grant Hill about how they keep in touch with Coach K.
Hope you join the Duke family man and get to develop in the AAU and your current basketball teams.
Potential Duke Basketball team:
Shabazz Muhammad, Kyrie Irving, Alex Murphy, Josh Hairston, Austin Rivers, Tyler Adams, Seth Curry, Michael Gbinije, and Andre Dawkins.
Hey Shabazz Muhammad,
Enjoy your teenage years man. It’s great to hear about your Elite 24 experiences hanging with other athletes like John Wall, Kyle Anderson, Eric Bledgsoe, and Alex Murphy. High school and an NCAA college life come around only once.
All of those schools (UNC, Duke, UCLA, Arizona, UT, SU, UK, KU, USC)are good schools man. It’s probably pretty crazy with all of the possibilities and choices right now but you come from a recognized family of athletes and champions.
Sure Carolina’s “Roy Williams” from above would mention Jordan, Vince Carter, etc. but be yourself and live the journey of Shabazz Muhammad.
Duke’s got some decent players in the NBA too:
Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Grant Hill, Shane Battier, Elton Brand, J.J. Redick, Corey Maggette, Shavlik Randolph, etc.
You could be part of a new Fab Six Group that would even make Calipari jealous:
Shabazz Muhammad, Michael Gbinije, Austin Rivers, Tyler Adams, Alex Murphy, J.P. Tokoto.
Think long term because you could be playing for USA Basketball, be an Olympian Gold Medalist, NBA professional, All-American, Future Hall of Fame, World Leader and Entrepreneur.
Come and become a leader amongst men! I think as a Man-child you are developing what it takes to hit the $Big Time$ even in the NBA but think about the accolades and medals you could achieve as an athlete in addition to a professional NBA career. Duke has a long legacy and history of Olympic athletes and Leaders in Business, Entertainment, and Sports. We’d love to see you representing Duke Blue someday man.
Just looking out for you man cuz there will be a lot of shortcuts that may leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Do what’s right for you and for your loved ones.
Take the Red Pill and see how deep the rabbit hole goes Shabazz. God bless… peace.
- Not Roy Williams…
Good read Shabazz!
I knew you were a great basketball player, but I never knew you were such a good writer. Keep up the great work on/off the court.
Hey Shabazz, you’re a very good writer let me tell you, good luck with your college decision and all, enjoy it, and just have the most fun with it that you can, you have an amazing opportunity in front of you that alot of other people don’t have. As much as I’d love to see you in a Kentucky uniform, Just pick whatever school you want, make sure you make a good college decision for yourself too! I hope you pick UK, but if not, oh well. You’re still a great player, and have fun at the Midnight Madness event at UNC, just make sure to watch some of the UK midnight madness too haha.
Shabazz,
Good stuff and just remember the 1000′s of fans that showed up at the Jayhawk Invitational tourney last May.
There is only one shade of “Blue” and that’s the Crimson and Blue of the Kansas Jayhawks. Rock Chalk Jayhawk
Five first round picks for the NBA. At least three this next year. Come to the school and coach that will elevate you to the next level when you’re ready, not when they are. That’s UK and Coach Cal!
Shabazz Muhammad,
Don’t believe all the hype about UK or KU. They’re both good schools recruiting decent basketball players. I hope you get to wear a
winning shade of blue and join a championship team
at Duke. The more masculine shade of Blue:
Smell like a man, Man…
Swan dive!