Michigan Basketball: 2019 Offeree Joe Girard III Breaks N.Y. Scoring Record
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Michigan offered junior guard Joe Girard III a scholarship over the weekend, days after head coach John Beilein saw him put up 52 points in a game.
Three days later, Girard III broke the New York state scoring record when he scored 44 points — a season low — in a 74-68 win over Amsterdam to improve Glens Falls to 14-2.
"It was a big game with Amsterdam. It was a really great game," Girard told TimesUnion.com of his two-loss opponent. "To seal the victory with the accomplishment kind of makes it better."
Girard III needed one free shot to become the state's all-time leading scorer and made both with 1:41 remaining. He entered the game averaging a whopping 50.1 points per game and improved his career scoring total to 2,952 points … and again, he’s only a junior. He has a year and a half to build on his record.
"This is great, but know what? What makes this even better is winning," Girard said. "In my time at Glens Falls, we've won a lot of games and had a lot of good teams. That makes it even better."
TimesUnion.com also reports that when Girard surpassed BYU legend Jimmer Fredette to become the top scorer in Glens Falls history Dec. 15, it came in a 74-73 loss against Scotia. He missed a free throw that could have helped them win.
"I had an accomplishment and milestone in that Scotia game, but it didn't really mean much when we lost," Girard said. "To know that I did this with a win makes it even better. I will remember this much more than the other stuff with losses."
Girard’s father, Joe Jr., played for Beilein at LeMoyne College. A cousin, Rob Girard, is his head coach, and there are four Girards on the varsity team, all cousins.
Girard III didn’t think he played well in front of Beilein, but Beilein was impressed enough to offer.
“He was up there last Friday and had 52 but didn’t play great, had to force a few,” Rob Girard told TheWolverine.com. “He didn’t feel good about himself after the game.
“Coach Beilein talked to me afterward. He was so impressed with his release, the way he got to the basket. Joe didn’t think he played well, but Coach B. can see what kind of player he is.”
Girard is now being recruited by Duke, Ohio State and others and is planning trips to a few schools yet this winter. Boston College, Penn State, St. John’s, BYU and others have offered.
Watch for a more in-depth recruiting article on him in the days to come.
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