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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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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

3. Recruiting help from Jaren Jackson Jr.

Having a lottery pick in Vernon Carey Jr.’s ear has to be a game-changer and if you were a casual basketball fan and heard that statement, you’d likely think it was in favor of Duke. Not so fast.

Michigan State’s NBA lottery selection from a year ago, Jaren Jackson Jr., has apparently been in close contact with the five-star big man from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and the former Spartan star has been talking up his school.

This may not seem like a huge deal, but any time a top recruit can hear about how great a program or coach is from a kid who was a one-and-done and developed into an all-conference player and top-five draft pick, it definitely causes some extra pondering and gives that program additional points.

While coaches are ultimately responsible for recruiting players, having a guy like Jackson Jr. in the Spartans’ corner is important.

How’s this for a pitch: “I was the last five-star big man Izzo recruited and I was a lottery pick.”

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