The Michigan State basketball program will look a lot completely different within the 2024-25 season. One notable departure is ahead Xavier Booker.
Booker performed two seasons at Michigan State for Tom Izzo with 5 begins. In 2024-25, Booker averaged slightly below 13 minutes a sport and 4.7 factors with 2.2 rebounds, however he was anticipated to take a step ahead this 12 months and past in East Lansing.
Within the offseason, Booker left Michigan State and transferred to UCLA, so he stays within the Huge Ten Convention and heads to Los Angeles to play for Mick Cronin.
Throughout Huge Ten media days on Thursday, Izzo spoke about Booker’s exit and admitted it wasn’t simple to see him go away, by way of Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Occasions
“We had conferences about it and an virtually tearful departure, if you would like the reality. However I simply didn’t get his motor going like I wanted to; I believe Mick has an opportunity, however I believe he’s matured and grown and I believe he’s going to be an excellent participant,” Izzo stated.
Booker was anticipated to do quite a lot of issues at Michigan State, particularly since he was a five-star recruit and a McDonald’s All-American at Indianapolis Cathedral Excessive Faculty.
However, after Michigan State misplaced to Auburn within the Elite Eight, he entered the portal and landed at UCLA in an honest pickup for Cronin and the Bruins.
Jon Rothstein even reported that the Bruins plan to play Booker on the 5 regardless of him enjoying on the 4 throughout his two seasons with Izzo, so it’s a new wrinkle for the proficient huge man as he strikes to the West Coast.
UCLA plans to play Xavier Booker primarily on the 5 after two years of enjoying PF at Michigan State.
His manufacturing stage will dictate the ceiling in Westwood in 2025-26. pic.twitter.com/08xQExbAUp
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 17, 2025
Booker will make his highly-anticipated return to East Lansing on Tuesday, February 17, when UCLA faces Michigan State in a Huge Ten showdown, and it is going to be fascinating to see the alternate between him and Izzo.