Farewell to Max Montana, the streakiest, stylin’-est shooter San Diego State men’s basketball has ever known.
Montana, who is graduating this summer despite one year of eligibility remaining, plans to hoop professionally in the European Union, where he can already work legally. He should do well there, both on the court where his versatile game should translate, and in the continent’s many bastions of sophisticated style and culture. Lord knows his wardrobe is ready.
You know … everyone assumes Max is going to go play in Germany, because of his family roots, but I’m thinking Milan.
Or Ibiza. Does Ibiza have a team?
Zeigler’s story on the matter frames Max’s departure as a scholarship opening up for SDSU rather than a hole that just got punched in the roster. That might sound a little cold, but it’s probably right. Montana never really established himself as the consistent deadeye sharpshooter we were hoping for when he arrived as a transfer from Indiana. He was the kind of player who could go absolutely bananas in the second half of a blowout, then promptly disappear for a couple of games.
Assuming Jalen McDaniels returns to the fold (note: Jalen, please return to the fold) Max probably wasn’t going to start at the 3. And with various Mensahs and other assorted youngsters about to enter the picture, it wasn’t completely clear where, exactly, he would fit.
Regardless, we shall long remember Max Montana, the hooping hipster who changed his name to sound like an adult filmstar, wore the absolute hell out of some skinny jeans and — oh yeah — turned in the greatest 4-point play in SDSU history.
Thanks for everything, Max. You did a lot here, and you did it colorfully. And stylishly.
Bis spater!
KABEER THIRTY 