{"id":8946,"date":"2017-08-07T14:58:19","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T18:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=8946"},"modified":"2017-08-07T14:58:19","modified_gmt":"2017-08-07T18:58:19","slug":"michigan-state-spartans-exciting-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2017\/08\/07\/michigan-state-spartans-exciting-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan State Spartans Heading for Exciting Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michigan State Spartans Heading for Exciting Season<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With just over three months until college basketball begins, take a minute to time travel back to April 13 of this year. For most people, it was probably just a regular Thursday. However, for fans of college basketball, especially those who root for the green and white, it was an exciting day.<\/p>\n

Miles Bridges<\/a><\/strong>, his family, and Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo<\/strong> sat outside on a cloudy afternoon in East Lansing, surrounded by hundreds of fans. Bridges made an unexpected announcement, stating that he would forgo the NBA Draft and stay at Michigan State for his sophomore season. “One-and-done” \u2013 when players stay one year at their respective school before entering the draft \u2013 has become common for many college basketball stars. It was refreshing for many fans of the game to see someone with as much potential as Bridges stay another year and continue to grow at the collegiate level.<\/p>\n

Recruiting Additions to the Team<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not only is Bridges staying, but the team has picked up two top recruits \u2013 Jaren Jackson Jr.<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and Xavier Tillman<\/strong>. Jackson is a five-star, 6’11” power forward out of Indianapolis, Indiana. Tillman is a four-star power forward standing at 6’9″ out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both players will add much-needed size to a roster that’s tallest\u00a0active member last season was forward\u00a0Nick Ward<\/a><\/strong>, who stood at 6’8″.<\/p>\n

Jackson is a versatile player with quick feet, who can finish well at the rim. He’s also tall and has a well-developed shot. Watch some of his highlights below:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/QkxacMJvzk4<\/p>\n

Tillman is a great post player with solid rebounding skills. Like Jackson, he provides height and another big body in the paint. Here are some of Tillman’s highlights:<\/p>\n