“Everything happens for a reason.”
That’s the moldy maxim Reed Baker heard again and again as one college after another crushed his basketball dreams.
On Wednesday, Baker realized his consolers were right.
The former Bishop Verot High School standout accepted a full basketball scholarship from the University of Michigan, just hours after returning from a whirlwind visit to the Ann Arbor campus.
“Everything that happened, it was all definitely worth it,” Baker said. “Millions of guys would love to be in my shoes right now. It’s a great opportunity that I’m going to take advantage of.”
Bruce Madej, Michigan’s director of media relations, said the school and coach Tommy Amaker cannot comment on Baker until it receives his signed letter of intent.
Signing with the Wolverines ends a seven-month odyssey for Baker, who first signed with The Citadel in November. In March, however, coach Pat Dennis resigned and the school made it clear Baker was no longer a desired commodity, releasing him from his commitment.
Baker landed at Birmingham Southern in April but learned in late May that the school would be dropping from NCAA Division I status to Division III in 2007-08 because of finances. The school offered to let Baker keep his scholarship but the 6-foot-1 guard asked for and received his release.
Earlier this month, the Air Force Academy offered Baker a full scholarship but pulled it after learning he had a peanut allergy, which violated the academy’s extensive physical requirements.
About two weeks ago, however, a Michigan assistant contacted Bishop Verot coach Matt Herting and inquired about Baker.
“They were sitting on one scholarship and were waiting for the right guy,” Herting said.
Herting sent Michigan some of Baker’s game tapes and the school flew Baker in Monday. In Ann Arbor, Baker played in a pickup game with current and former Michigan players, who were then grilled by Amaker about Baker’s performance. NCAA regulations prevented Amaker from actually watching Baker play.
“When (Amaker) talked to the players, they all said he was the guy,” Herting said.
Amaker then called Baker with the scholarship offer at 11 a.m. Wednesday, just nine hours after Baker arrived back in Fort Myers.
“He said I was the first guy he gave a scholarship to without seeing him play,” Baker said of Amaker. “He said he liked my court savvy and the intelligence of my game.”
Baker said he always had the confidence he could play at college basketball’s highest level. But the prospect of playing in the Big Ten had Baker gushing Wednesday.
“Oh man, it’s crazy; this is something I’ve dreamed about ever since I picked up a basketball,” he said. “To play in a packed house in front of 20,000 fans screaming with every game on ESPN, it’s going to be incredible.”
A two-time News-Press All Area Basketball Player of the Year, Baker is Bishop Verot’s all-time leader in both scoring and assists.
Michigan finished 22-11 last season, losing 76-64 to South Carolina in the NIT Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Wolverines graduated four guards from last year’s team, including leading scorer Daniel Horton.
