Gary Harris commits to MSU
now we each have our very own 5 star recruits for 2012. Harris on the dark side, McGary on the good. Basketball is fun again.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:45 PM ^
For the record, basketball was very fun last year.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
just re-stating it after seeing a rival get a 5 star soon after we got our first one in a long time. Can't wait.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:46 PM ^
....some bona fide good vs. evil matchups. Glad to see we may get them in the near future. Not to take away from last season, which was great. It only gets better from here, folks.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:50 PM ^
5 star SG from Indiana. #12 overall on Scout. Also, wow Indiana has gotten bad at the in-state recruiting thing, it seems.
EDIT: Nvm, their class this year is good and features highly rated in-state kids. Just not as highly rated as Harris and McGary (still counting McGary as from Indiana)
November 9th, 2011 at 7:56 PM ^
November 9th, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
Friday let alone next years team
November 9th, 2011 at 7:51 PM ^
I love it as much as you can when your rival pulls in a huge recruit. When it comes to basketball I'd love it if we were both contenders. I want some battles.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:53 PM ^
Though if state went to shit and we curbstomped them every year I wouldn't mind that either
November 9th, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^
I'll admit that I wouldn't hate it...
I just don't loathe their basketball program like I do their football program, so I can stomach losing a close one and appreciate it for being a well-fought basketball game.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
had me in his home, even knowing I was a Michigan fan. Not one sarcastic comment or remark was directed towards me, even in good nature. I gained a respect for him that day. He even introduced himself as if I was supposed to not know who he was.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
I've heard many similar stories. My high school team went to the state championships when my brother was on the team, and at some point he met Izzo for a few seconds. He couldn't resist the temptation to give Izzo a "Go Blue!" and he just laughed and shook my brother's hand.
It's amazing how different rivalries are when there's respect involved. That's what sports should always be like.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:06 PM ^
I always thought Izzo was good for the state and have heard similar stories. That said, it's probably a lot easier to laugh off a Go Blue when you've run all over Michigan for the majority of your career.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:43 PM ^
How did you wind up visiting Izzo?
November 9th, 2011 at 9:46 PM ^
my best friend from high school. Her dad is 1st cousins with Izzo. They hung out as children in the U.P. She went to go visit Izzo's kids and asked if I wanted to come meet "Uncle Tom" as she calls him.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
I've heard the same. Izzo cares about beating UM, but he doesn't seem the type to derive an undue fascination/obsession with the prospect. Probably has something to do with the nature of basketball - most teams play 30+ games a year, so getting too "up" for a couple doesn't benefit you. Also, Izzo isn't a jerk, which helps.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:45 PM ^
Not to mention a regular season basketball game doesn't weigh as much as a regular season football game.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:52 PM ^
November 9th, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^
Tough to say, but the biggest thing is that both classes seem to fit their respective teams really well. Our matchups with MSU will depend a whole lot on who sticks around on both sides over the next few years.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:16 PM ^
November 9th, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^
Telep just tweeted this:
Michigan State has to be the big winner of the day. Gary Harris is a T-10 player, No. 1 SG and vaults class to No. 3 in ESPNU rankings
November 9th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
Wow, I don't agree with that at all.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
Rivals had Harris the #10 player overall, now he's down to 25 and the # 3 SG overall.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^
MSU is still the cream of the crop for B1G basketball....solid class. You can make the argument it is better than ours.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:06 PM ^
This sucks.
<br>
<br>Which is why we need to pull in McGary types regularly...because Michigan State isn't going to stop getting them.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
with 5 stars lately. Roe was never the player he could have been because of his high school injuries, Marquise Gray didn't do much of anything, and Adreian Payne didn't make as big an impact last year as they'd hoped. Their last unquestioned hit on a 5 star guy was Shannon Brown.
If Payne, Dawson, and Gary Harris pan out they'll probably put last season behind them pretty quickly. I'm glad Beilein has already put together a very nice 2013 class.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
Not reach their potential, some people were ready to throw dirt on them. But the odds will always be in your favor hoping high rated guys don't crash and burn vs. hoping lower rated one's overachieve. Izzo's not going to forget how to recruit, so they were bound to bounce back up eventually. Going to have to fight fire with fire. And it finally looks like we might be able to come to the battle without being outgunned, and just hoping we're a better shot.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
November 9th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
Who? Oh yeah the SECOND best player from the state of Indiana. MCGARY FOR HEISMAN
November 9th, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
When was the last time a 5 star kid going to MSU actually panned out though? It amazes me that Izzo continues to pull them in even after he shows he has much better teams when they're based around 3 star guys than he does around 4 and 5 star guys. Sure, you can chalk it up to fluke injuries, but someone has to realize sooner or later than no highly touted kids get better at State even though they typically stay longer than kids ranked in the same area (who end up with bigger paychecks).
November 9th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
Lulz.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
Kalin Lucas and Raymar Morgan were both successful players that came in as 4*s. Until a class leaves without a Final Four appearance under Izzo, he will be able to drop that line every time he sees a recruit.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^
Lmao, flamebait? Lots of programs would kill for guys like Lucas and Morgan. Also to be able to say that nobody has ever gone through his program for four years and not gone to the Final Four is a huge recruiting tool.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:45 PM ^
'Nuff said!
November 9th, 2011 at 8:54 PM ^
seen this picture of Dantonio before. Interesting that Greg Mattison appears to be looking on in a police uniform.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:01 PM ^
He does more with less IMO so now that he finally has more, look out! ... Hail, Hail
November 9th, 2011 at 9:31 PM ^
I'm in no way shape or form a respected authority on evaluation of basketball recruites. That being said, I don't see top 10 athleticism in his game. The skills are definitely there, but for him to be a dominant college player he's going to need to get more athletic. Wouldn't be shocked by an iffy Freshman year followed by 2-3 years of very, very good contribution.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:46 PM ^
I'm from Indianapolis and went to highschool during a time that saw my school play the likes of Josh McRoberts, Eric Gordon, Jeff Teague, Greg Oden, and Mike Conley. While this kid is a bit younger I got the chance to see him play over the winter last year. I'm no expert but to me he looked a lot like Gordon with a bit more defense. He can't handle the rock like Gordon though.
November 9th, 2011 at 10:11 PM ^
Sorry, but it's not flamebait. 3 star guys would love to go to a final four, but 4 and 5 star guys should be wanting that if possible but looking moreso at an NBA career. Manny Harris got that and he's the only one of the highly ranked in-state kids from his class to get it. No for Summers and Lucas. No for Morgan. The last highly ranked guy to get more than a cup of tea in the league was Shannon Brown, but he was the #3 player in the country - only behind Lebron and Loul Deng.
This would be flamebait if it were an MSU board, but I don't understand why it's an issue here. Yeah, Izzo is a good guy. But he does better with role players than he does with stars. Draymond Green was a 3 star. So was Mo Pete. Paul Davis and Neitzel? Ranked much higher.
So if I were a 5 star player, I would notice a trend and be far more likely to go someplace like Kentucky, who was another finalist. There he's more likely to do both - Final Four AND high draft choice. Why is it flamebait to point out that being a first round pick - likely a goal of every 5 star guy - is not something that happens among MSU players very often?
btw, met Izzo at a high school game once and I was wearing UM gear and he shook my hand and was nice as could be. I have nothing against him. If I were a 3 star tweener I would love to play for him. He could get me to overachieve I'm sure.
November 10th, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^
In the last 10 years, MSU has had 2 5-star guards. 1 of them panned out nicely (Brown) and 1 of them was a bust (Summers).
November 9th, 2011 at 10:26 PM ^
this gets an upvote just for being not related to psu
November 9th, 2011 at 10:48 PM ^
this is going to be a war in bball next year
November 10th, 2011 at 12:18 AM ^
not impressed at all. We got the number 2 player in the country. Big difference from 2 to 12. Also having Tim Hardaway Jr and Glenn Robinson Jr doesn't hurt. The momentum is in Michigan;s hands.. Yep, University of Michigan. Overtake Basketball once again and football is on track too. Back to the days of dominating the sports world in Basketball and Football. MSU ain't got shit on UM.
November 10th, 2011 at 2:43 AM ^
But I'm referring to your comment.
November 10th, 2011 at 8:04 AM ^
With Michigan and Indiana catching up to msu and osu talent wise along with Purdue staying strong they will be the elite BBall conference with the ACC.
November 10th, 2011 at 8:19 AM ^
Nebraska is no Syracuse/Pitt when it comes to basketball.
November 10th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
Honestly, that's fine. We've been working hard enough to get to .500 in the conference for long enough that we don't need perennial sweet sixteen / final four teams joining in at this point.