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Michigan State Recruiting: 4-star 2017 PG Mark Smith receives offer

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo looks on before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo looks on before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State recruiting has extended an offer to 2017 four-star point guard Mark Smith, Illinois’ Mr. Basketball.

You can never be too safe when it comes to recruiting. In fact, Michigan State recruiting, led by Tom Izzo, is living by that philosophy these days, and it shows. The Spartans just offered four-star point guard Mark Smith, a 2017 prospect from Edwardsville, Ill.

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I know what you’re thinking — why is Izzo offering a point guard when the needs are wings and bigs? The answer: Smith can also play on the wing.

While he’s listed as a point guard, Smith stands 6-foot-5 and weighs a healthy 215 pounds. He plays a lot like Denzel Valentine did and that’s what’s attractive to Izzo and the Spartan coaching staff. He could play anywhere from the 1-3, presumably, which makes him that much more valuable.

Just watch his film and tell me he’s not a valuable asset who could do a little of everything for the Spartans.

Smith can shoot, he can drive to the hole and he’s quite the floor general. Izzo would love a wing-type player who could also play a little point guard if Tum Tum Nairn isn’t getting the job done and Cassius Winston needs a breather.

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The Spartans’ interest has come on quickly for Illinois’ Mr. Basketball winner. In fact, they just contacted him over the weekend and Izzo didn’t take long to plan an in-home visit, taking a trip to Illinois on Tuesday night to make the offer. No visit to East Lansing has been planned yet.

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