It’s only a matter of time before that all changes.

Kearney and the Jungaleers took on Costello’s Warriors on Friday in the Class A state semifinals at Breslin Center, with Detroit Southeastern capturing the 53-49 win. In a year and a half, though, the two will step on the same floor as teammates, as Kearney (class of 2011) and Costello (class of 2012) both are committed to join the MSU men’s basketball team after high school.

So, when the two met in the handshake line following the game, they both briefly acknowledged that it wouldn’t be the last time they see each other at Breslin.

“We didn’t really say much,” Costello said. “He just said to me, ‘See ya in a little bit,’ and just kept on walking.”

Friday’s meeting between the two future Spartans was more of an “until next time” than a goodbye. Kearney will come to MSU next season as one of the top wings out of the state of Michigan. The following year, Costello will join him as a versatile forward with the ability to score from all over the floor.

But Friday, Kearney and Costello met as opponents. In the fourth quarter, Kearney even matched up against his soon-to-be teammate. Kearney, though, said he never thought about the fact he was defending a future teammate. Instead, he was all business, focusing on what he needed to do to stop Costello.

“I was trying to force him left because he was going to his right all game,” Kearney said. “We went into halftime and said we have to keep him left.”

Although the meeting between Kearney and Costello — both the best players on their respective teams — presented the opportunity for a friendly rivalry to develop, both players said that was not the case Friday.

“There was no trash talk or anything like that, actually,” Kearney said. “We just played basketball.”

Costello said he didn’t think about the fact he was taking on a future teammate until Friday morning. The thought of playing on what one day will be his home floor also was not heavy on Costello’s mind, as the 6-foot-9 forward was too busy controlling the nerves of playing on a bigger stage than he is accustomed to.

“I was just excited to get the opportunity to play here because it’s the Breslin Center,” Costello said. “I didn’t really think about college that much, but I was excited to play here.”

However, Kearney’s story was a little bit different.

Although he said his focus during the semifinal and championship games was on what he had to do with Detroit Southeastern, Kearney said after losing the championship Saturday his mind is on moving to the next level.

“I already turned my focus to MSU, just the mental aspect,” Kearney said. “Just thinking about what I’m going to do when I get up there and asking around about what to expect.”

And as far as Kearney’s coach at Detroit Southeastern, George Ward Jr., is concerned, head coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans will be more than happy with Kearney once he comes to East Lansing.

“You’re going to see it next year when he comes up,” Ward said. “He’s an excellent teammate, he makes great passes. He thinks team first. He doesn’t come out and say, ‘Alright, I’m going to score 35 tonight.’ He does what the team needs.”

MSU fans will need to wait a little longer to see Costello in the Green and White, though, as he has one more year of high school basketball remaining. With that year, Costello said he hopes to improve different aspects of his game so he can be an immediate contributor with the Spartans.

And if he returns to Breslin next season as a senior in high school, that wouldn’t be so bad either.

“I have a job to do with my high school team still,” Costello said. “As long as I continue to focus on getting better, everything else will work out.”