Senior guard Travis Trice became an NCAA Tournament hero with his weekly feats, helping the Spartans reach the Final Four for the first time since 2010. Whether or not his tournament play will translate to the next level remains to be seen. 

Senior forward Branden Dawson has long been considered a potential NBA prospect, but Trice hasn’t seen his name on draft boards until recently. nbadraft.net currently has Trice as the 38th pick of the 2015 draft, going to the Detroit Pistons. 

Trice is still a long shot for hearing his name called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver in June, but head coach Tom Izzo believes there is potential that Trice could have a professional career in front of him. 

Izzo said Trice first began building NBA buzz around Christmas last year, and talks resumed after Trice overcame his mid-season rough patch in January. 

Izzo watched the Pistons take on the Boston Celtics at The Palace of Auburn Hills on April 8, and watched a couple of shorter point guards, 5-foot-11-inch Pistons guard John Lucas III and 5-foot-9-inch Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, compete against each other.

Each guard overcame unfavorable odds to earn NBA roster spots — Lucas went undrafted in 2005 after declaring from Oklahoma State and Lucas was the 60th pick in the 2011 NBA draft, becoming the last player to hear his name called in that draft. 

Izzo said Trice could be a similar success story. 

“Is there a place for a guy that works his tail off, that understands the game, that has improved dramatically?” Izzo asked. “I look at some of the things (MSU athletic communications director Matt Larson) gave me, and to think (Trice) had more points this year than the other three years combined, it’s amazing.”

Injuries have limited Trice throughout his career at MSU, but if he stays healthy, Izzo thinks Trice will continue to improve.

“I think there will be some basketball for Travis after here. It will be interesting to see how it goes here in the next couple of weeks,” Izzo said.