ESPN Basketball Insider, Jeff Goodman, reported Monday night that Michigan senior Spike Albrecht was granted a release and will pursue ‘grad transfer’ opportunities elsewhere. News of plans to compete again comes less than four months after Albrecht originally announced his “retirement” from U-M hoops – in early December of his senior season – citing ongoing struggles following multiple hip surgeries.
In a previous interview with Detroit Free Press sports writer Mark Snyder, Albrecht opened up about his decision to forgo the rest of the 2015-16 campaign, admitting that leaving behind both the physical and mental aspects of competition would be the most difficult part of the process.
“You see the way I play, I’m not afraid to sacrifice my body but mentally, in my heart of hearts,… I just knew it was the right thing for me and what’s best for the future….But if I had to choose one or the other, it’s a lot tougher to come to grips mentally.”
U-M staff and Albrecht were careful to heed every precaution following two surgical hip repairs for torn labrums, but doctors warned that continuing to play would only further aggravate his genetic hip condition; he had not yet regenerated enough soft tissue to be cleared.
Albrecht’s on-court career at Michigan would officially end during the second half of competition against SMU when he couldn’t return to play due to both hips locking. Despite the fact that the Wolverines would eventually lose both senior co-captains – this one known as the overachieving walk on who became the enduring model for underdogs – Coach Beilein never questioned the decision.
“It’s not something we envisioned…. We’ve got to do what’s best for him right now, for his long-term health…. I’m not going to discount a miracle…[or] any opportunity down the line,…but we can’t even think about him playing right now.”
Albrecht spent the remainder of his senior season championing team building opportunities and guiding younger players from the sidelines, further solidifying his legacy as the unassuming leader who proved all his doubters wrong. Better yet, as U-M assistant coach Bacari Alexander shared via Twitter, “He’ll always be remembered as the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ what an incredible heart of a champion. #We100.”
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