The Rolling Meadows varsity basketball roster lists Max Christie as a freshman.
Watching the Mustangs guard play, even for just a short time, invites a second glance just to make sure.
Any age-related skepticism stems from the fact that Christie, in less than two months of varsity basketball, has shown skills that take years of experience to develop.
And he has the confidence to match.
“I don’t think of myself as a freshman. I’m a varsity basketball player,” Christie said. “I feel I’m the best player on the court and that no one can stay with me, mostly because my teammates and coaches have my back.”
Christie’s mindset, though unmistakably confident, does not come across as arrogant. He has been the Mustangs’ No. 1 scoring option since the first day of practice in the fall and merely goes about fulfilling that role the best he can.
The Arlington Heights resident doesn’t have any particular attributes that stand out above the rest. He simply does everything well and does not get fazed when his shot isn’t falling or when defenses make it difficult for the Mustangs to get the ball in his hands.
“He’s seen double teams and all kinds of pressure from opposing defenses, but nothing seems to bother him,” coach Kevin Katovich said. “He’s also a great teammate as well who looks to pick other kids up and encourage them.”
Christie, who already has an offer from DePaul, is only the second freshman to play on Rolling Meadows’ varsity squad in the 16 years Katovich has been at the helm. Christie’s ability to overcome two key hurdles — the speed of the varsity game and its inherent physicality — has helped him succeed as a rare freshman on varsity.
He finds ways into the lane and can finish near the hoop despite his slender 6-foot-4 frame.
After the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York, Christie was averaging 18 points per game. He poured in at least 20 points in each of his first three games in Elmhurst, including a 21-point effort in a 66-57 win against Schaumburg on Thursday. Christie was 12-for-12 from the free-throw line in the victory and is shooting almost 90 percent from the line this season.
Christie said his ballhandling, shooting and leadership are strengths, and he plans to improve his physique and mental fortitude in the years to come.
“I take pride in being able to knock down shots and creating contact,” Christie said. “At this level, your weaknesses can get exploited, and once I improve them, my game will go to a whole other level.”
While Christie’s impact for the Mustangs (5-8) was clear from the start, he’s already refining his game. He averaged about 12 shots per game at the Jack Tosh tournament, which is an improvement on his tendency to hoist numerous questionable shots earlier in the season.
Becoming more selective not only makes Christie more efficient but also opens additional scoring opportunities for seniors Ryan Carney and Gio Carrillo to help keep opponents on their toes.
“He’s always known how to score, but he’s adapted his game and now knows how to look for his shots,” Carney said of Christie. “Him being guarded so closely allows me to get a screen or screen for someone else to break open.”
Christie also can get plenty of basketball advice at home. His mother, Katrina Hannaford Christie, played at Northwestern and is second all-time on the Wildcats’ career field-goal percentage list. His father, Max Christie Sr., played at Wisconsin-Superior.
“They’re probably the biggest reason I’ve been so involved in basketball for so long,” the younger Christie said of his parents. “They grew my love and passion for the game.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
