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Michigan State Basketball: All-time Tom Izzo era “what if” team

By Connor Muldowney

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 27: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Chris Allen #3 during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks in the Midwest Regional semifinals of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 27, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 27: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Chris Allen #3 during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks in the Midwest Regional semifinals of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 27, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – FEBRUARY 09: Deyonta Davis #23 of the Michigan State Spartans jogs up the court during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on February 9, 2016 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – FEBRUARY 09: Deyonta Davis #23 of the Michigan State Spartans jogs up the court during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on February 9, 2016 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

This one hurts a little more than most. Deyonta Davis came to Michigan State as a quiet, yet highly-regarded four-star recruit, ranked No. 26 in the nation. He was listed as a power forward, but he would have undoubtedly been a center on the 2016-17 team.

Why does this hurt? For two reasons.

One, he could have been a first-rounder in a later draft instead of slipping to the second round in the 2016 NBA Draft and two, he would have aided a 2016-17 MSU team that was incredibly thin in the post. Just imagine a post with Nick Ward at power forward and him at center. That would have allowed Miles Bridges to play more on the wing instead of in the post.

Michigan State still made the tournament that season, but with Gavin Schilling injured and Davis shockingly declaring for the draft, the Spartans were left with minimal post contributors.

Sure, Ward was forced to grow up quickly, but he could have used a partner in crime who was a true post player and that team could have been special. Instead, the Spartans finished 20-15 and just snuck into the NCAA Tournament, beating Miami before getting smacked by Kansas.

If Davis were on the roster for a sophomore season, he would have become a star big man, one of the best shot-blockers in Michigan State history and potentially a better NBA prospect.

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Instead, he fell to the second round, bounced around a bit despite having extreme potential and never truly stuck. He’s currently playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League.

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