Michigan's Spike Albrecht Announces Retirement Following Hip Surgery

Michigan basketball standout Spike Albrecht called it a career Friday after four seasons with the Maize and Blue.  

According to the school's athletic department, Albrecht is stepping away after undergoing offseason bilateral hip surgery that has hindered his ability to stay on the floor. 

"This has been the toughest decision I have ever had to make," Albrecht said, per Michigan's official website. "After taking a hard look at what is best for me, and this team, I will be stepping away from the game that has meant so much to me."

Albrecht averaged a modest 2.2 points over the course of 39 appearances as a freshman, but he burst onto the scene in the national championship game against Louisville. With a title on the line, Albrecht came off of the bench and scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting (4-of-5 from three) in the 82-76 loss. 

"He is a tremendous young man, who has had a very special career," Michigan head coach John Beilein said, according to the press release. "His important role in our 2013 NCAA tournament run and his incredible performance in the national title game were straight out of a storybook. His sophomore year we would not have won the Big Ten title or made a second straight trip in the Elite Eight without him."

Beilein added Albrecht would have a job offer from him the day he graduates, per Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com

Former Michigan star and current member of the Philadelphia 76ers Nik Stauskas tweeted following Albrecht's announcement: 

Albrecht's averages ticked up across the board as a sophomore, and his figures continued to climb throughout a prosperous junior campaign. Last season, Albrecht averaged a career-high 7.5 points while ranking 10th in the Big Ten with 3.9 assists per game. 

The Crown Point, Indiana, native appeared in nine games this season before calling it quits. 

After announcing his arrival with authority against Louisville and flashing a confident three-point stroke ever since, Albrecht should remain a fan favorite in Ann Arbor for years to come.