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Izzo focusing on potential roster departures after season

April 1, 2014
<p>Sophomore guard Gary Harris talks to head coach Tom Izzo on March 28, 2014, during the game against Virginia at Madison Square Garden in New York City during the NCAA tournament. The Spartans won, 61-59. Julia Nagy/The State News</p>

Sophomore guard Gary Harris talks to head coach Tom Izzo on March 28, 2014, during the game against Virginia at Madison Square Garden in New York City during the NCAA tournament. The Spartans won, 61-59. Julia Nagy/The State News

Photo by Julia Nagy | The State News

The men's basketball season just ended two days ago, and Spartan fans know what that means — the next season has already begun.

Seniors Keith Appling and Adreian Payne won't be on next year's roster, and there could be a few more departures this offseason as well.

Two names that are on the top of every MSU fan's "worry list" are Gary Harris and Branden Dawson, who could make the jump to the NBA Draft. Head coach Tom Izzo told the media he thinks Harris should leave, but that Dawson should stick around.

"From what I gather, (Harris’) status is still very, very high,” Izzo said. “And when it's that high, my advice over the years has been if you're ready mentally, you should go."

Izzo said he will be talking with agents and NBA general managers in the next week to discuss the outlook on Harris' potential. ESPN, CBS Sports and DraftExpress.com all have Harris as a top-15 pick, but Izzo said he is more focused on where he ranks among guards rather than overall players.

Izzo also added he expects Harris to make a decision within the next two weeks.

As for Dawson, Izzo said he views him as he did Payne last season, in the sense he thinks he can grow a little more. Dawson ended the season on a high note, averaging 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in the NCAA Tournament. “I think he is just starting to get there,” Izzo said on Dawson. “He reminds me of (Payne) last year to be honest with you ... but I will do some checking on Branden.”

Two players that have the option of leaving are Alex Gauna and Russell Byrd. As two redshirt seniors, they have the option of transferring to a different school or quitting the game as opposed to coming back for fifth year at MSU. Izzo assured neither player will be “run off” by him or the staff.

Izzo said the decision will be tough for Byrd since he has suffered many injuries throughout his career, and those injuries have hampered the way he used to play.

"Russ has got some big decisions to make,” Izzo said. “Basketball is the most important thing in Russell Byrd’s life, and injuries kind of took that out in the last year.”

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