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Michigan State Basketball: Is a Jaren Jackson Jr. return realistic?

By Connor Muldowney

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 18: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after being defeated by the Syracuse Orange 55-53 in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 18, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 18: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after being defeated by the Syracuse Orange 55-53 in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 18, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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After a tough ending to his freshman season with Michigan State, Jaren Jackson Jr. is going to sit down with his family and discuss his future.

As the final buzzer sounded, signifying the end of his first, and potentially only, season with Michigan State, Jaren Jackson Jr. had a tough time believing that the Spartans’ run was cut short in the second round.

Must Read: MSU Basketball: Tom Izzo delivers strong promise post-Syracuse loss

With all the talent on the team, Michigan State couldn’t get past an average, at best, Syracuse squad with essentially no depth and offensively challenged.

Jackson Jr. sat almost speechless in the locker room afterward and declined to talk about his immediate future, concerning a looming NBA decision.

It seemed like a foregone conclusion at the start of the year that Jackson Jr. would be in East Lansing for one season before making the jump to the NBA. Scouts drooled over his potential all season long as he averaged nearly 22 minutes per game, putting up 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game — he shattered the MSU single-season blocks record.

The Spartans are moving forward with the assumption that Jackson Jr. will declare for the NBA and he’s meeting with his family and Tom Izzo this weekend to discuss his future.

Is there even a slight chance he could return for his sophomore year, a-la Miles Bridges?

Anything is possible, but I wouldn’t count on this one. Jackson Jr. is nearly a lock to be a top-five pick in the upcoming NBA draft, even though he may not be the most polished big. He could afford to add some muscle and work on his all-around game, but he was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and an eye-popping talent.

The NBA drafts on potential and Jackson Jr.’s is through the roof.

While there is probably a 10 percent chance he returns, because he comes from a family that values education, his best move would likely be to head to the NBA and get stronger there.

Next: Predicting Michigan State's 2018-19 starting lineup

Hold out hope, Spartan fans, because if Bridges taught us anything, it’s to never be surprised when someone comes back for another season after being a sure one-and-done talent.

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