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Michigan State Basketball: Robert Morris PF Braden Burke transfers to MSU

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 basketball has added former Robert Morris power forward Braden Burke as a preferred walk-on.

Depth in the post is something Michigan State basketball desperately needed prior to the 2016-17 season. The Spartans were thin down low, relying on true freshman Nick Ward and former walk-on Kenny Goins to get the job done.

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In 2017-18, that problem will seem like a lifetime ago. The Spartans are bringing back Ben Carter and Gavin Schilling who were out with injuries for the entire season. Moreover, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Xavier Tillman will be enrolling as part of the 2017 class.

Now, the Spartans will be adding another big in Robert Morris transfer Braden Burke. He announced on Wednesday via Twitter that he’d be committing to Michigan State.

With one final scholarship remaining (Carter took one of two remaining), fans began to wonder if that meant Brian Bowen would no longer be an option. However, Burke committed as a preferred walk-on and will likely earn that scholarship down the line.

On top of that, he will be forced to sit out during the 2017-18 season per transfer rules.

Burke is originally from Stevensville, Mich., and was an unranked recruit out of high school. He committed to Robert Morris and played 15.2 minutes per game as a true freshman, averaging 4.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Quite a walk-on get for Tom Izzo.

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The Spartans could decide to put him on scholarship next season if he develops rapidly this year, but it’ll be nice to have a 6-foot-11 walk-on with college experience, nonetheless.

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