OT - Byron Wesley Turns Down MSU / Indiana - Final 3 is Pitt, Gonzaga, and Oklahoma State
Posting this here because of the rumors and supposed interest Wesley had to come to U of M as a 5th year transfer (which apparently were not returned from the UM staff, with Caris / Irvin roadblocking his playing time), plus if he went to MSU or Indiana we'd be facing him next year.
As of last week, MSU was in a final 3 per Wesley's dad and could offer Wesley a perfect fit of monster playing time at the SG position with Gary Harris off to the NBA and lightly recruited Alvin Elvis III being the next option up. (Unless Kaminski starts for them at 4, Dawson drops from a 4 to a 3, and Valentine turns into a 2) But obviously the fit and need was there.... but Pitt, Gonzanga and OK State are now the final 3. The train wreck that is 2014 Indiana basketball also appeared to be in play for his services.
Michigan State was in the running for Wesley’s services soon after he announced his intention to transfer earlier this month, and his father told Yahoo! last week that East Lansing was among the top three destinations.
Must have been those Izzo to NBA rumors. ;)
LINK.
I surely don't want Sparty or the Hoosiers to have him. His lack of infatuation with them is probably due to Izzo's dalliance with the NBA and Crean being Crean.
Ok, thanks.
Will be interesting to see what happens at MSU once Izzo actually leaves. That coaching tree isn't too fruitful, and it already looks like recruiting is taking a bit of a hit.
Yes I am wondering if Izzo is getting to his "late Carr" era. An early national championship, some great runs/teams with some very high end recruits that didn't finish the job, and then a bit of a tailoff at the end. We'll see. Izzo seemed to change his recruiting focus for 2 years - going all in on Parker in 2013 and then in 2014 he was all over a bunch of the top 20 recruits but missed on all. He seems to be going back now to recruiting guys more in the 20-50 range - they have a nice kid out of Muskegon in '15 in Davis, and from the type of kids they seem to be targetting now its not the Cliff Alexander's and Jabari Parker's but more like the Chatman to Nik S level of recruit where he doesn't have to go up vs UNC, Duke, Kansas, UK.
That said near term he is replacing a bevy of HS All Americans and 5 stars with a bunch of 3/4 stars - that 2013-2014 team was really his last near term chance at the very top as the development over there is not like it is here. Next 2 years are going to be a step down from the potential of his last 2 teams due to these recruiting misses. Which is partly why the Izzo to NBA narrative is still floating - at age 59 and with a step back in the program for maybe 2 years (still NCAA tourney type team but not a final 4 potential team), if he is ever going to go ... this would be the window.
One less chip for him to play is alright with me.