Predicting Michigan State basketball’s starting 5 vs. Eastern Michigan

Power Forward: Joey Hauser, Sophomore

Could Joey Hauser end up being the No. 1 scoring option for the Spartans? It’s entirely possible.

After playing a season at Marquette and transferring to Michigan State, Hauser sat out a year and is now eligible to play for the Spartans. The coaches recruited Hauser hard in 2018, but he ended up going to Marquette initially. He righted his wrong in May 2019, announcing his commitment to the Spartans.

Hauser, along with Henry, were the only two players whose starting positions were guaranteed by Tom Izzo, and for good reason. In his one year at Marquette, Hauser was an immediate contributor, averaging nearly 10 points per game and shooting the 3-ball at a 42.5 percent clip. He’s an incredibly talented offensive player, and his defense is also quite good.

Izzo has raved about Joey Hauser throughout the entire offseason, mentioning his ability to do everything well on the court. He mentioned that Hauser is a “phenomenal passer” and you have to be if you want to play for Izzo.

Hauser is a strong 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds. He can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. He’s comfortable going to his left or right. He could stand to improve his free throw shooting, but he shot it at a solid 80 percent clip his freshman year. His best skill, though, is obviously his ability to hit from long range. He’s got unlimited range and provides a dangerous scoring option for Izzo. Hauser is going to be a name Spartan fans like for a long time.