Bartelstein Shuns Offers; Picks Chance to Prove Self at Michigan
Josh Bartelstein is taking the road less traveled.
Like many young players, Bartelstein grew up with a dream of playing college basketball on a big stage. When you grow up in the suburbs of Chicago that means you dream about playing in the Big 10.
But what sets this young man apart from so many others is that he’s willing to chase that dream at virtually any cost.
On Tuesday, Bartelstein accepted a preferred walk-on spot at the University of Michigan, and in so doing turned down a handful of scholarship offers from mid-major division I programs.
“Playing in the Big Ten, playing on the road at Duke, playing in the Maui Invitational…those are all things you dream about growing up,” Bartelstein told the New England Recruiting Report.
And while Bartelstein will have the opportunity to live out those childhood dreams next year it comes at a steep price as he turned scholarship offers from San Diego, Sacramento State, Elon, Detroit, Illinois-Chicago, and Wagner as well as recent recruitment from Northwestern and Iowa.
But that’s a price Bartelstein, who is the son of NBA and NFL agent Mark Bartelstein, is willing to pay, as this decision clearly had as much to do with proving himself as it did with fulfilling any childhood fantasy.
“I think because of my dad’s profession people sometimes think I have things handed to me,” he said. “But that’s not the case at all. I’ve worked very hard.”
And make no mistake about it, if Bartelstein is able to earn himself a role in Michigan’s rotation, there will be nothing left for any critic to say.
“I think I can contribute,” Bartelstein said. “I’m going to work even harder than I ever have before.”
Beilein, who was a walk-on himself during his college basketball career, has a long history of utilizing his non-scholarship players to the best of their ability, and rewarding them with scholarships if and when they prove they belong.
In fact, last year’s Michigan team, who spent the better part of the year in the top 25, had two starters who began their careers as walk-ons.
And there may not be a player better suited to contribute in that role than Bartelstein.
It’s not just the fact that he has the work ethic and quiet confidence to defy the limits that others would set for him, but it is a combination of circumstances that appear to have aligned.
First and foremost, Bartelstein is a perfect fit for the Princeton style offense that Beilein employs and has experience operating in that system under Exeter head coach Jay Tilton.
Secondly, Michigan’s roster was in desperate need of a guy who could make shots from the perimeter. One thing that is indisputable about Bartelstein is that he is an elite level shot maker. In fact, he connected on over 50% of his attempts from behind the class A three-point line last year (which is identical to the NCAA arc, one foot deeper than the high school line).
Thirdly, there are minutes to be had in Michigan’s backcourt. With the graduation of starting guards (and former walk-ons) C.J. Lee and David Merritt and only one point guard returning to the team next year, the pre-season is expected to be an open try-out for spots in the rotation.
These factors certainly weren’t lost upon Beilein as he was said to be very directly involved in Bartelstein’s recruitment.
“It’s a real honor to have an Exeter player going to Michigan,” said Tilton. “I was very impressed with the sincere interest that Coach Beilein personally displayed in Josh’s recruitment. It was evident that he values what Josh will bring to the Michigan program.”
“Coach Beilein guaranteed me that there would be an opportunity to play,” Bartelstein said, “and I plan on taking advantage of it.”
Josh Bartelstein