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Michigan State Basketball: Tom Izzo’s top recruiting victories

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 13, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo coaches on the sidelines against the Purdue Boilermakers during the Big Ten conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Michigan State defeats Purdue 66-62. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo coaches on the sidelines against the Purdue Boilermakers during the Big Ten conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Michigan State defeats Purdue 66-62. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 14, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard/forward Branden Dawson (22) reacts after making a basket against the Maryland Terrapins during the second half in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard/forward Branden Dawson (22) reacts after making a basket against the Maryland Terrapins during the second half in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

I remember watching Branden Dawson during my junior season at Michigan State. Dawson was a freshman and I recall thinking to myself, “This guy is going to be really, really good.”

That he was.

Dawson was ranked the No. 20 player in the country by Rivals and considered one of the top forward prospects in the nation. He was an athletic freak and his athleticism resembled that of Shannon Brown nearly a decade before him.

Built like a truck, the 6-foot-6, 200-pound forward from Gary, Ind., looked like he would be a force on the wing, creating mismatch problems for opposing small forwards and shooting guards. He had a ridiculous leaping ability and often got hit head above the rim to grab a rebound.

Many believed he was going to stay close to home and attend Purdue, but he spurned the Boilermakers and picked Michigan State, much to the dismay of Matt Painter. This was a huge victory for Izzo and the Spartans.

Dawson looked like the type of player who could leave early for the NBA Draft, but a knee injury in his freshman season prevented that. It took him a couple of years to get back to 100 percent comfortability with that knee and he averaged 10.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over his four-year stint with the Spartans.

Next: 5. Gary Harris

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