Michigan State Basketball: Constructing all-athlete team from Tom Izzo era

Tom Izzo has landed plenty of elite athletes as Michigan State basketball coach but here’s who would top the all-athlete team from his tenure.

Over the years, Tom Izzo has landed numerous McDonald’s All-Americans, five-star recruits and freak athletes. He’s a Hall of Fame coach for a reason and the nation’s best recruits love playing for him.

We could make a list of all the McDonald’s All-Americans from Mateen Cleaves to Shannon Brown to Gary Harris to Jaren Jackson Jr., but that would be too easy with 15 in the Izzo era. That’s an impressive number, but making a team with backups wouldn’t be difficult as there have been some clear underachievers.

No, we’re going to piece together a team of the most athletic players to ever suit up for Izzo in the green and white.

There will be some quick ones that come to mind such as Shannon Brown and Jason Richardson who have been involved in dunk contests as well as guys like Adreian Payne and Miles Bridges.

Did they make the list? How would they fit on two-deep depth chart?

Which Spartans in the Izzo era have been the most athletic, by position?

Also considered: Delvon Roe, Keith Appling, Maurice Ager, Gary Harris