Ager. Brown. Davis. The leaders, the headliners, the playmakers.
The Spartans' Big Three have awed MSU fans with spectacular play, set benchmarks in college statistics and student athleticism, competed in wrenching battles of tournament competition and painted the covers of magazines in shades of Spartan green and white.
For years, the Big Three have ruled Breslin Center hardwood, ignited the Izzone crowd and captured the courts of rival teams. Men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo has watched Maurice Ager, Shannon Brown and Paul Davis transform from great potential into potential greats.
"You know, they were all awesome. They really were," Izzo said. "I think when it's all said and done, those guys had some tough shoes to fill after three Final Fours, and a complete rebuilding process. We stuck out through an Elite Eight, we got to a Final Four and they've all done an incredible job."
Now, after all the points, games, dunks and plays, the Spartan stars are forced to do something they are not accustomed to doing — they must wait.
Tonight is the 2006 NBA Draft, an event that can make the dreams of professional hopefuls a reality or bring them crashing down. For three former MSU ballers — Brown, Ager and Davis — during the course of tonight's draft, anything can happen. The mood is tense.
"I think it's awfully neat to almost know you're gonna get three guys drafted," Izzo said. "What is awfully scary this year is there's just been so little information; nobody has been showing their cards. I think it's the most confusing draft I've seen in the last 10 years."
Chris Monter, the Midwest region recruiting analyst for both Scout.com and http://collegebasketballnews.com, offered his opinion on the three Spartans' draft chances.
"I have Brown going 26th, Maurice going 28th, and I have Paul Davis going 37th," said Monter. "So I think they'll all go, especially those first two. I think they'll go pretty close."
Monter has been monitoring the progress of the MSU draft entries as they each announced entering the draft.
"I know Shannon has had really good workouts. I know Ager has worked out for like 15 teams, and Davis hasn't worked out for quite as many, but he's been on the West Coast this week working out for somebody," Monter said.
"Looking at what I've heard, I think Paul has a chance, and I think Shannon and Mo have a great chance," Izzo said. "Paul has had some good workouts, just not as many teams are maybe looking for that, which is normal, so his pool of potentials is smaller. I think Mo and Shannon definitely have a shot of getting into the first round."
After a quick tournament exit last season, Spartan fans were worried that losing seniors Ager and Davis to the NBA would damage the team's future tournament hopes. The situation got worse with a sudden announcement in April.
Brown, the Spartans' high-flying shooting guard, made the decision to head for the pros after an impressive season and after establishing good relationships with professional teams. The now former Spartan sealed the deal when he acquired agent Mark Bartelstien of Priority Sports and Entertainment for representation in the NBA. Bartelstien was confident about Brown's first-round chances.
"He's held the whole thing in a terrific way," Bartelstien said. "I think he got great support from the coaching staff at Michigan State. They played a great role in helping sort through everything, and I think he's ready to go."
Izzo made it clear that he is in full support of Brown's decision.
"I was very happy with the way he handled it. He made the right decision with the information he was given, and that's all he could do," Izzo said. "The problem is, this year, here we are a day before the draft, and we still don't have any clue other than the fact it looks like they'll be in the first round."
Bartelstien spoke about Brown's demeanor and mood during this stressful time. "He's very excited, and obviously he's a little nervous. This is a big moment in his life."
With Brown joining Ager and Davis in tonight's draft, the MSU men's basketball team is starting to look critically deprived of top tier talent for next season. Spartan fans are bracing for what could be a rather unimpressive year.
"I think it's going to be a little bit of a rebuilding year; we just lost too much," Izzo said. "But at the same time, we'll find a way to get it done. We've been through it in 2002, so we're gonna do the same thing."
Role-players like Travis Walton, Goran Suton and Drew Neitzel will all have to step up if the Spartans are to have any chance in a tournament. The road might prove to be a tough one without the leadership of NBA-bound Spartans like Ager, Brown and Davis, who became the only trio in the nation with three players averaging more than 17 points per game.
No three players from MSU have ever been chosen in the first round of the same NBA draft, although two Spartans were selected together in 1979, 2000 and 2001. If selected, Brown and Davis will celebrate at private family parties in Chicago, while Ager watches the draft from New York.
As the trio leaves to pursue new heights, Izzo not only remembers three amazing athletes, but three great men, each celebrated for their individual efforts.
"You know, Paul has been under scrutiny since he got here. Shannon is an incredible athlete and a great worker; so is Mo," he said. "They've all done well in school, and they've just been a treat to have."
