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Michigan State Basketball: Final player grades for 2018-19 season

By Connor Muldowney

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Kenny Goins #25, Xavier Tillman #23 and Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans huddle up prior to the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Kenny Goins #25, Xavier Tillman #23 and Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans huddle up prior to the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Junior. CASSIUS WINSTON. A. . PG

There aren’t many words to describe Cassius Winston’s season that haven’t already been said. He was impressive, clutch and basically everything Michigan State needed, and more.

If it weren’t for Winston, the Spartans never would have been able to make a run to the Final Four, let alone get out of that first weekend. He put the team on his back multiple times throughout the year — three times against Michigan — and won Big Ten Player of the Year while helping the Spartans to the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles.

Winston was probably the most fun player to watch in the Big Ten because he wasn’t the most athletic guy on the floor, but he could dribble, cross you over and step back on you while retaining that dribble and driving to the hoop nearly uncontested with a defender left in the dust wondering what just happened.

Crafty is probably the word that best describes Winston’s game. He’s a crafty point guard who can pass better than anyone in the Big Ten (7.5 assists) and hunt for his own shot. He averaged 18.8 points per game and shot 46 percent from the floor and 40 percent from beyond the arc.

The junior point guard from Detroit might decide to explore his NBA options, but almost all signs are pointing to him returning for his senior year and he’d have to be the favorite for national player of the year if that’s the case.

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