Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: 4 former Spartans primed for NBA success

By Carlos Araoz

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 31: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks the ball during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 31: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks the ball during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Michigan State basketball
Jaren Jackson Jr., Michigan State basketball (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

Jaren Jackson Jr. is the future of Memphis basketball along with 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year, Ja Morant — an athletic, fearless point guard whose slashing prowess compliments Jackson’s stretch four skillset perfectly. They give the Grizzlies a formidable one-two inside-out punch.

Last year, JJJ averaged more than 17 points per game while shooting nearly 40 percent from beyond the three point line (sinking 145 from deep).

Jackson Jr. also fits nicely next to towering center and throwback big Jonas Valanciunas who has the strength and size to dominate the paint, which in turn allows JJJ to operate freely as the Grizzlies attack on offense.

Xavier Tillman will slide behind his close friend and prior MSU teammate Jackson Jr. in the pecking order but should be able to spell either frontcourt players, depending on matchups, for some action each game.

Home/Spartans Basketball