Michigan State Basketball: Xavier Tillman’s transformation is incredible

Putting in the hard work in the offseason, Xavier Tillman may have made the biggest transformation of any Michigan State basketball player.

The excitement for Xavier Tillman was on hold in 2017-18 because of the talented group of players the Spartans had in the post, led by Jaren Jackson Jr. and Nick Ward. Though Tillman was eventually going to be a banger down low, he, as well as Michigan State fans, knew that he’d have to wait for his opportunity.

One thing he could have done while waiting would have been remaining content with a backup role and don’t push to better himself both as a player and person and the other option would have been to push himself and force Tom Izzo’s hand late in the season, pushing for more time.

Tillman did the latter.

Instead of remaining content with his minor role, he worked hard and became a beast in the weight room and a menace and spark-plug on the court.

Tillman’s mom, Tanya Powell-May, posted a photo of her son’s progression on Twitter, showing that he’s become one of the most transformed players in Izzo’s tenure.

Everyone knows about Derrick Nix and even Ward’s transformations, but Tillman’s may take the cake. He went from a 6-foot-8, 272-pound slightly thick big man who could only rep eight times on the bench and do one chin-up to a 6-8, 245-pound cut machine who can rep 20 on the bench and do 14 chin-ups. This is all in a year’s span.

Incredible doesn’t even begin to describe this transformation.

The former Michigan Mr. Basketball runner-up will be an integral part of the playing rotation this year and we could see a breakout season from the improving sophomore.