MSU will reclaim its title as home to Michigan's reigning Mr. Basketball when Wyoming Park High School point guard Drew Neitzel, who won the award Monday, joins the men's basketball team for the 2004-05 season.
From 1999 to 2002, the award's winner committed to MSU until last year, when winner Dion Harris decided to commit to Michigan. Neitzel will be in the company of fellow Spartans Paul Davis (2002), Kelvin Torbert (2001), Marcus Taylor (2000) and Jason Richardson (1999) as recent winners to play for MSU.
The award is given to the state's top high school player in conjunction with the Detroit Free Press and is voted on by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.
Neitzel is a 6-foot point guard who is averaging 32.7 points and 8.9 assists for Wyoming Park, located near Grand Rapids. He said his presence at MSU next season should allow players such as juniors Alan Anderson and Chris Hill, who combined to handle most of the point guard responsibilities this season, to play their natural positions more.
"They haven't had a true point guard in a few years," Neitzel said. "I'm really looking forward to step up and lead them."
Considering the Spartans' early exit from the NCAA Tournament - Nevada defeated MSU, 72-66, in a first-round upset - and their glaring need for a true point guard, there figures to be pressure on Neitzel to fill the void at the position early on.
"I think I handle pressure pretty well," Neitzel said. "I just go out there and play. I know what I'm capable of doing, and hopefully, I'll help the Spartans out next year."
When Neitzel signed a letter of intent to play for MSU last November, head coach Tom Izzo said the high schooler brought many things to the table.
"He's a guard that can shoot as well with his right hand as his left hand," Izzo said in a statement. "He is a very intelligent player with a great desire to be at Michigan State University.
"He comes from a great family that has pushed him to be the best. With his skills on and off the court, the kid has a chance to be the best."
Thom Vander Klay, Neitzel's coach, said he was notified Saturday that Neitzel won the award.
"It really is amazing as a coach to have a player like Drew," he said. "It's been a great day."
In winning the award, Neitzel said he accomplished one of the goals he set before his season started.
"I've spent so much time in the gym over the years and made so many sacrifices, it makes it all worth it," he said.
But he still is eyeing another goal: winning a championship at Breslin Center - a high school state championship, that is.
Neitzel and his Wyoming Park teammates will face Paw Paw in the Class B, 2004 MHSAA Boys Basketball Quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. today at Grand Valley State University. The winner of that game will advance to the state semifinals, which take place at Breslin on Saturday. The state finals are the following day at Breslin.
"Everyone's going to want to show up the best player in the state," Neitzel said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
