Going professional in their respective sport is a difficult choice certain college athletes face. Arguably even more difficult is who to listen to when advice is coming from all directions. MSU sophomore guard Gary Harris and senior center Adreian Payne both faced this decision at the end of the 2012-13 basketball season, and both decided to return.
Former MSU center Derrick Nix signed a three-year contract with Krka, a professional basketball club based in Nova Mesto, Slovenia. “Congratulations to client Derrick Nix for signing with Adriatic & Eurochallenge club Krka in Slovenia,” Nix’s agent, Daniel Moldovan, tweeted Wednesday afternoon. Nix was not selected in the 2013 NBA Draft and attended workouts with the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. Moldovan said on Twitter that Nix had numerous offers across Europe and chose Krka because of the level of competition and their coach. Nix thanked his teammates and coaches for helping him get through his “shenanigans” last year on his Twitter feed Wednesday. Formerly Michigan’s Mr. Basketball in 2009, Nix averaged 9.9 points and 6.6 rebounds during his senior season at MSU.
It can be tough to consistently win with a target on your back, and MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo knows this well. “Expectations are definitely high this year, and they should be high,” Izzo said.
There really is no “off-season” for student-athletes at a Division 1 university, and this is especially true if you are Adreian Payne. While his teammates are at home working on fundamentals and getting healthy, the senior center is in Kazan, Russia, representing the U.S.
ESPN analyst Jeff Goodman named MSU as the No. 2 powerhouse team when it comes to potential NBA talent for the 2013-14 season.
MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced Monday that Amaka ‘Mox’ Agugua will be joining the Spartan women’s basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach.
MSU senior center Adreian Payne made the final cut for the USA Basketball Men’s World University Games in Kazan, Russia on Saturday. Training camp, which began June 24, featured 26 of the best college players in the nation and was narrowed down to the final 12-man roster Saturday. Payne joins Big Ten athletes Yogi Ferrell and Will Sheehey from Indiana and Aaron White from Iowa. According to USA Basketball, the team will depart for Russia on Monday and begin tournament play July 7 against United Arab Emirates.
MSU women’s basketball associate coach Tempie Brown is departing MSU for an assistant coaching job with Stanford, the MSU athletics department announced Tuesday.
MSU senior center Adreian Payne accepted an invitation to try out for the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team that will compete at the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia from July 6-17. Twenty-nine of the top college basketball players from across the country will attempt to crack the 12-man roster.
MSU’s women basketball recruit Tori Jankoska of Freeland High was named to the 2013 PARADE High School All-American team.
Moments after junior center Adreian Payne delayed his professional career late Sunday night for his senior season at MSU to chase a national championship, it drew flashbacks of 2010.
After a period of going back and forth on his decision to declare for the draft, junior center Adreian Payne ultimately decided to fulfill a promise he made to his late grandmother Mary Lewis — to finish his degree at MSU.
After weeks of speculation, MSU junior center Adreian Payne has made a decision to return to school for his senior season, according to Yahoo! Sports reporter Adrian Wojnarowski.
The MSU men’s basketball team added another recruit for next year’s class, as 6-foot-4 shooting guard Alvin Ellis III signed with MSU on Wednesday afternoon.
After weeks of speculation, freshman guard Gary Harris will return for his sophomore season with MSU men’s basketball program.
After being hired by WKAR in 1974 and taking over WKAR’s “Sportstalk/870” in 1985, it’s been the soft and welcoming tone of Earle Robinson’s voice coming across the airwaves, always polite and eager to discuss the most pressing local sports news.
The thoughts of many surrounding the MSU basketball program at the moment have to do with the status of junior center Adreian Payneand freshman guard Gary Harris.
Charlie Bell is fighting for another chance. During his time at MSU, Bell appeared in three Final Fours and established himself as one of the greatest defensive players ever to play for Tom Izzo. Since his departure. Bell has played eight seasons in the NBA, as well as several more in international leagues.
Following a full season of MSU basketball can be stressful. Shooting a full season of MSU basketball is enough to drive you insane.
With MSU’s 2012-13 season coming to a close in the Sweet 16 this past weekend, Tom Izzo made his way to the podium one final time to wrap up the season that was.