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Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Vernon Carey Jr. will commit

By Connor Muldowney

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: Vernon Carey Jr. of University School poses for a portrait during the 2018 Spalding HoopHall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: Vernon Carey Jr. of University School poses for a portrait during the 2018 Spalding HoopHall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Five-star big man Vernon Carey Jr. is nearing his decision on Thursday afternoon but why could Michigan State basketball be his choice?

It’s been a long week for Spartan fans. Following a disappointing bowl reveal, fans were delivered news that five-star big man Vernon Carey Jr. would be choosing between Michigan State, North Carolina and Duke on Thursday afternoon.

Yes, four days of agony stood between Michigan State fans and either an early Christmas gift or Jabari Parker 2.0.

Michigan State has as good a chance as any to land the five-star from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and there are some experts who even believe the Spartans are the favorites. Some signs are pointing to the green and white, so it’s OK to be cautiously optimistic. Why not be fully optimistic?

Here’s why the five-star big man will pick Michigan State.

5. Witnessing Nick Ward excel

There had been chatter from rival fans about the non-developing factor Tom Izzo apparently brings to the table when it comes to big men. However, if Vernon Carey Jr. has watched any games this season, he would have seen Nick Ward take the next step.

Not only is Ward playing more minutes with improved conditioning and a slimmer frame, but he’s more aggressive in the paint, shooting 63 percent and averaging a career-best 15.9 points — and that’s with a five-point performance against UL-Monroe when he suffered an ankle injury in the first half and missed most of the game. In fact, if you take that game out of the mix, he’s averaging 17.3 points per game.

The emergence of Ward in the post, and watching the guards look for him deep in the paint as a priority on offense, has to be intriguing for Carey Jr.

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